Freeze Panes in Excel is a great feature that can help manage a large table of data, which can sometimes be hard to view in Excel. Freeze Panes in Excel helps hold one section of the spread sheet (either rows, columns, or some of both) in place while the rest of the spreadsheet can scroll.
The Freeze Panes command is under the View ribbon of Excel. Under Freeze Panes there are three options: Freeze Panes, Freeze Top Row, and Freeze First Column. Freeze Panes is the most versitale and allows you to freeze rows, columns or both. Freeze Top Row and Freeze First Column only allow you to freeze the top row and first column, respectively.
Table of Contents
How to Freeze Panes (Rows and Columns)
Use the steps below to freeze both rows and columns of data.
- Select the cell one row below the row you would like to freeze, and one column to the right of the column you would like to freeze. In this example D6 is selected as we are freezing row 5 and column C.
- Select the View ribbon and select Freeze Panes
- Select Freeze Panes (again)
Now the rows and columns are frozen and you can scroll down and to the right, while column C and row 5 remain in place.
How to Freeze Panes – Multiple Rows
The Freeze Panes command can be used to freeze multiple rows (without freezing columns).
- Select the cell one row below the row you would like to freeze. In this example A6 is selected as we are freezing rows 1 through 5.
- Select the View ribbon, select Freeze Panes, and select Freeze Panes (again).
Now rows 1 through 5 are frozen and you can scroll down while those rows remain in place.
How to Freeze Panes – Multiple Columns
The Freeze Panes command can be used to freeze multiple columns (without freezing rows).
- Select the cell one column to the right of the column you would like to freeze. In this example D1 is selected as we are freezing columns A through C.
- Select the View ribbon, select Freeze Panes, and select Freeze Panes (again).
Now columns A through C are frozen and you can scroll right while those columns remain in place.
How to Unfreeze Panes
To Unfreeze Panes select the View ribbon, select Freeze Panes, and select Unfreeze Panes. Note, panes must be frozen in order to unfreeze panes.
How to Freeze Top Row
To Freeze the top row select the View ribbon, select Freeze Panes, and select Freeze Top Row.
How to Freeze First Column
To Freeze the top row select the View ribbon, select Freeze Panes, and select Freeze First Column.
