Freeze rows and columns in excel

In this exercise, we will learn about how to freeze rows and columns in excel.

Whenever we are working with large datasets in Excel, it can be difficult to compare our workbook information. We may often want to lock certain rows or columns so that we can view their contents while scrolling to another area of the worksheet.

Freezing rows or columns ensures that certain cells remain visible as we scroll through the data.

Case 1: How to Freeze Top Row
Follow the following steps to lock the top row in Excel:
Step 1: Create a dataset on an excel worksheet.
Step 2: Go to the View tab and click Freeze Panes.
Step 3: Then select the Freeze Top Row from the dropdown list.

This will lock the very first row in our worksheet so that it remains visible when we navigate through the rest of our worksheet.
Step 4: Excel automatically adds a dark grey horizontal line to indicate that the top row is frozen.

Unfreeze Panes
To unlock or unfreeze the rows, execute the following steps.
Step 1: Click on the View tab in the Window group.
Step 2: And again, click Freeze Panes.
Step 3: Then click on the Unfreeze Panes in the dropdown list.

After click on the Unfreeze Pane, it unlocks the first row and the worksheet change back to an old worksheet without any gray line.

Case 2: How to Freeze the First Column To freeze the first column, execute the following steps.
Step 1: Click on the View tab in the Window group.
Step 2: Go to Freeze Panes.
Step 3: And click on the Freeze First Column in the dropdown list.

Step 4: Scroll to the right of the worksheet.
Step 5: Excel automatically adds a dark grey vertical line to indicate that the first column is frozen.

How to Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns
In case we want to freeze any number of rows and columns:
Step 1: Select a cell below the last row and the right of the last column you need to freeze. For example, if we want to freeze the top two rows and first column in a single step, select cell B3.

Step 2: Click on the View tab.
Step 3: Go to the Freeze Panes.
Step 4: And click on the Freeze Panes in the dropdown list.

Step 5: It will lock the first two rows and the first column in place, as indicated by the thicker and darker border, enabling us to view the cells in frozen columns as we move across the worksheet.

NOTE: • We can only freeze columns on the left side of the sheet. We cannot freeze Columns in the middle of the worksheet. All the columns to be locked should be visible. Any columns that are out of view will be hidden after freezing.
• Microsoft Excel allows freezing only rows at the top of the spreadsheet. It is not possible to lock rows in the middle of the sheet. Make sure that all the rows to be locked are visible at the moment of freezing.