Excel is great for looking at lots of data, but when you can’t see the column or row headers, you have to scroll back and forth to check what the data means. Did you know there’s a great time saver which can lock the headers in place? Here’s how to do it.
Working with large spreadsheets? Excel’s Freeze Pane feature makes it easy to keep your headers visible as you scroll, so you never lose track of your data.
How to Freeze Headers
- Select the cell: Click the cell directly below the rows and to the right of the columns you want to lock.
- Tip: To freeze just the top row, click any cell in Row 2.
- Go to the View tab: Find it in the top ribbon.
- Freeze Panes: Click Freeze Panes and select Freeze Panes from the dropdown.
Quick Alternatives
- Freeze Top Row: Locks the very first row instantly.
- Freeze First Column: Locks the leftmost column instantly.
To unlock, simply go to View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes.
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