What is freeze panes in excel

Freeze panes to lock rows and columns

To keep an area of a worksheet visible while you scroll to another area of the worksheet, go to the View tab, where you can Freeze Panes to lock specific rows and columns in place, or you can Split panes to create separate windows of the same worksheet.

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Freeze rows or columns

Freeze the first column

  • Select View Freeze Panes > Freeze First Column.

            The faint line that appears between Column A and B shows that the first column is frozen.

Freeze the first two columns

  1. Select the third column.

  2. Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Freeze columns and rows

  1. Select the cell below the rows and to the right of the columns you want to keep visible when you scroll.

  2. Select View Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Unfreeze rows or columns

  • On the View tab > Window > Unfreeze Panes.

    Unfreeze Panes

    Note: If you don’t see the View tab, it’s likely that you are using Excel Starter. Not all features are supported in Excel Starter.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.

See Also

Freeze panes to lock the first row or column in Excel 2016 for Mac

Split panes to lock rows or columns in separate worksheet areas

Overview of formulas in Excel

How to avoid broken formulas

Find and correct errors in formulas

Keyboard shortcuts in Excel

Excel functions (alphabetical)

Excel functions (by category)

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Freezing panes in excel helps freeze one or more rows and/or columns so that they remain fixed while scrolling through the database. Freezing panes is helpful when the dataset is large and there is a need to view certain sections of the data at all times.

For example, to freeze the first three rows and the first three columns of a blank Excel worksheet, we undertake the following steps:

  • Select the cell D4.
  • Click the “freeze panes” drop-down from the View tab of the Excel ribbon.
  • Select the option “freeze panes.”

Rows 1, 2, and 3 and columns A, B, and C are frozen. Hence, by freezing panes, the user knows the kind of data contained in these fixed rows (1, 2, and 3) and columns (A, B, and C). Moreover, since these rows and columnsA cell is the intersection of rows and columns. Rows and columns make the software that is called excel. The area of excel worksheet is divided into rows and columns and at any point in time, if we want to refer a particular location of this area, we need to refer a cell.read more can be viewed at any point of time, one need not go back to them again and again.

Likewise, freezing excel panes can be applied to the row and column headers of a database. This allows one to constantly view the headings.

With the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the View tab), one can freeze any of the following areas of a worksheet:

  1. The first row or the first column
  2. The panes, which includes:
    • one or more rows beginning from the top and/or
    • one or more columns beginning from the left

Let us consider some examples to understand the working of freezing panes in Excel.

Table of contents
  • Freeze Panes in Excel
    • Freeze Panes in Excel Examples
      • Example #1–Freeze the Top Row in Excel
      • Example #2–Freeze the First Column in Excel
      • Example #3–Freeze the Top Row and the First Column Together
    • Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns Together in Excel
    • Shortcut to Freeze Panes in Excel
    • Unfreeze Panes in Excel
    • The Purpose of Freezing Panes in Excel
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Recommended Articles

Freeze Panes in Excel Examples

You can download this Freeze Pans Excel Template here – Freeze Pans Excel Template

Example #1–Freeze the Top Row in Excel

The following image shows the sales revenueSales revenue refers to the income generated by any business entity by selling its goods or providing its services during the normal course of its operations. It is reported annually, quarterly or monthly as the case may be in the business entity’s income statement/profit & loss account.read more (in $ in column B) generated in various countries (column C) by the different sales personnel (column A) of an organization. The entire data relates to the four quarters of a year.

We want to freeze the top row (row 1) of the given dataset.

Freeze the top row Example 1

The steps for freezing the first row in Excel are listed as follows:

  1. Click the “freeze panes” drop-down from the “window” group of the View tab. Select “freeze top row” as shown in the following image.

    Freeze the top row Example 1-1

  2. The entire first row (row 1) is frozen. A horizontal gray line appears right below row 1. This line indicates that the row immediately above is frozen.
    To cross-check, one can scroll down the worksheet. The row containing the column headers is fixed. The same is shown in the following image.

    Freeze the top row Example 1-2

Example #2–Freeze the First Column in Excel

Working on the data of example #1, we want to freeze the first column (column A) of the given dataset.

Freeze the First Column Example 1

The steps for freezing the first column of Excel are listed as follows:

Step 1: From the “window” group of the View tab, click the “freeze panes” drop-down. Select “freeze first column,” as shown in the following image.

Freeze the First Column Example 1-1

Step 2: The entire first column (column A) is frozen. A vertical gray line appears right next to column A (or between columns A and B). This line indicates that the column immediately to the left is frozen.

If one scrolls from left to right, column A stays at its place. The same is shown in the following image.

Freeze the First Column Example 1-2

Example #3–Freeze the Top Row and the First Column Together

Working on the data of example #1, we want to freeze the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A) simultaneously.

Freeze Panes Excel example 1

The steps to freeze the first row and the first column simultaneously are listed as follows:

Step 1: Select the cell B2. From the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the View tab), select “freeze panes.” The same is shown in the following image.

Freeze Panes Excel example 1-1

Step 2: Row 1 and column A, both are frozen. A horizontal grey line appears below row 1 and a vertical grey line appears right next to column A. The same is shown in the following image.

The row immediately preceding the active cell (B2) is frozen. Likewise, the column immediately to the left of cell B2 is also frozen.

Note: One must select the cell (in step 1) cautiously. This is because the “freeze panes” option works on the basis of the current selection. It freezes the rows and columns immediately preceding the active or the selected cell.

Freeze Panes Excel example 1-2

Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns Together in Excel

The steps to freeze multiple rows and columns are listed as follows:

Step 1: Select the correct cell. The selected cell should be positioned as follows:

  • a. The selected cell should be immediately below the last row to be frozen.
  • b. The selected cell should be to the immediate right of the last column to be frozen.

Follow both the pointers a and b to freeze multiple rows and columns simultaneously.

Step 2: Select “freeze panes” from the “freeze panes” drop-down of the View tab.

The rows and columns immediately preceding the selected cell (selected in step 1) are frozen.

Note: It is also possible to freeze either multiple rows or multiple columns. One can freeze as many rows and/or columns as one wants. However, the freezing of multiple rows and/or columns should begin from the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A) respectively.

Shortcut to Freeze Panes in Excel

The shortcuts to freeze panes in excel are mentioned as follows:

  • To freeze rows and columns both: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+F” one by one. This freezes rows and columns preceding the currently selected cell.
  • To freeze the top row only: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+R” one by one. This freezes the first row (row 1) of the worksheet irrespective of the currently selected cell.
  • To freeze the leftmost column only: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+C” one by one. This freezes the first column (column A) of the worksheet irrespective of the currently selected cell.

Unfreeze Panes in Excel

The steps to unfreeze panes in excel are listed as follows:

Step 1: Click the drop-down arrow of “freeze panes” in the “window” group of the View tab.

Step 2: Click “unfreeze panes,” as shown in the succeeding image. The gray lines, which appeared as a result of freezing, will disappear.

The “unfreeze panes” option is quite useful when one is unable to figure out where the freezes have been applied in the worksheet.

Note 1: The “unfreeze panes” option appears (under the drop-down of “freeze panes”) after one or more rows and/or columns are frozen by the user.

Note 2: Once the “unfreeze panes” option is clicked, the rows and columns are no longer fixed. So, the worksheet prior to freezing is displayed.

Freeze Panes Excel example 1-3

The Purpose of Freezing Panes in Excel

The objectives of freezing panes in excel are listed as follows:

  • To prevent referring to the same set of data repeatedly, thus saving the scrolling time of the user
  • To know which row or column represents which data
  • To facilitate comparisons of the different sections of the worksheet

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What does freezing panes mean and where is this option in Excel?

Freezing panes helps lock or fix certain rows and/or columns of a worksheet so that they remain stationary with a movement through the database. For instance, while working with large datasets, the user may need to keep the row or column headers visible at all times.

By freezing panes, the scrolling time of the user is reduced. This is because the need to refer to the same worksheet area repeatedly is eliminated. Moreover, making comparisons between the different rows or columns becomes easier.

The “freeze panes” option is available under the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the “window” group) of the View tab of Excel. This option freezes one or more rows and/or columns based on the current selection.

In addition, one can use the options “freeze top row” and “freeze first column” (under the “freeze panes” drop-down) to freeze the first row and the first column respectively.

2. How to freeze panes horizontally and vertically in Excel?

To freeze panes horizontally, the user needs to freeze one or more rows. To freeze panes vertically, one or more columns need to be frozen.

The steps to freeze one or more rows and/or columns are listed as follows:

a. Select the relevant cell. This cell should be immediately below the last row to be frozen. Further, it should be to the right of the last column to be frozen.
b. From the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the “window”d group) of the View tab, select “freeze panes”.

The row preceding the active cell (selected in step a) is frozen. Moreover, the column to the left of this cell is also frozen. The gray lines appear which indicate the frozen panes.

Note: With this method, one can freeze any number of rows and columns. The condition is that the freezing of panes must begin from the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A). In other words, the rows and columns in the middle of the worksheet cannot be frozen.

3. How to freeze multiple panes in Excel?

It is possible to freeze multiple rows and columns simultaneously in Excel. However, one cannot freeze panes in the middle of the worksheet. For instance, one cannot create a horizontal pane consisting of rows 9, 10, and 11.

The user can create a horizontal pane which consists of stationary rows beginning from row 1. Likewise, a vertical pane consisting of stationary columns, beginning from column A, can be created.

Apart from one horizontal pane and one vertical pane, it is not possible to create additional panes in the middle of the worksheet. Hence, one cannot create multiple horizontal or multiple vertical panes in Excel.

In other words, a horizontal pane (rows 1, 2, and 3) followed by a scrollable area (rows 4, 5, and 6), and again a horizontal pane (rows 7, 8, and 9) cannot be created.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to freezing panes in Excel. Here we discuss how to freeze the rows and columns in Excel by using the “freeze panes” option. We also went through some examples. You can download an Excel template from the website. You may also look at these useful functions of Excel–

  • Freeze Excel CellFreezing cells in excel is when we move up or down in the sheet, we freeze desired cells, not to be moved. To freeze cells in excel, select the cells to freeze. Then, in the View tab of the windows section, click on freeze panes.read more
  • Freeze Columns in ExcelFreezing columns in excel fixes or locks them so that they remain visible while scrolling through the database. A frozen column does not move with the movement of the remaining columns.read more
  • Insert Multiple Excel Rows
  • How to Unhiding Columns in Excel?

Freeze Panes is a useful tool located in View Bar. In larger sheets, we have the data headers in the top rows and first columns. And on scrolling down or to the right, these headers do not appear.

The Excel Freeze Panes tool allows us to freeze the column/row or multiple columns/rows headings so that when we scroll down or move to the right to view the rest of the sheet, the rows/columns are that are frozen remain on the screen. After freezing, below that row and column, a grey line appears to make the partition. 

In the window group (View tab), we can see its variations :

  1. Freeze Panes
  2. Freeze Top Row
  3. Freeze First Column

Let’s discuss them and the other possibilities.

Freeze Top Row:

On clicking Freeze Top Row, the First row gets frozen and on scrolling down, we can still see the top Row throughout the pages. 

Freeze First Column:

On clicking Freeze First Column, the First Column gets frozen and on moving to the right, we can still see the First Column and can match the data values to the headers present in the first column. 

Freezing First Column and Top Row only freezes the one row/column to the screen. To freeze multiple, the Freeze Panes option is used.

Freeze Multiple Rows: 

To freeze the multiple rows, select the cell in the first column(A) below the last row we want to freeze and then click on Freeze Panes. On scrolling down, frozen rows will stay fixed.

Cell A4 is selected so that the 3 rows above it get frozen.

Freeze Multiple Columns:

To freeze the multiple columns, select the cell in the first row(1) right to the last column we want to freeze and then click on Freeze Panes. On moving to the right, frozen columns will stay fixed.

Cell C1 is selected, and after clicking on Freeze Panes, columns A and B get frozen.

Freeze Cells:

We can also Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns together as per requirement. The tool Freeze Panes will do the work for us. To freeze, we have to select the cell whose left columns need to be frozen and whose above rows need to be frozen and then click on Freeze Panes in the View Bar under Window Group. 

Cell C4 is selected to freeze the rows above it and the columns left to it. 

Unfreeze Panes:

Unfreeze Panes is the tool used to unfreeze the formerly frozen row/column and the sheet gets back to normal view.

After freezing, the option Freeze Panes gets changed to Unfreeze Panes.

Freeze Panes in Excel

Excel Freeze Panes (Table of Contents)

  • Freeze Panes in Excel
  • How to Freeze Panes in Excel?

Introduction to Freeze Panes in Excel

Freeze Panes in Excel is used to fix any frame or row or section of the table to access the data located so down below so that the user can see the header’s name as well. There is 3 type of Freeze Panes option available in View menu tab under Window section, Freeze Panes, Freeze Top Row and Freeze First Column. Freeze Panes is used to freeze the worksheet from the point where we keep our cursor. This freezes both the row and column both. Then to freeze a Row and a Column, we have a separate option to freeze each of them. Once we do that, we will see some portion of the worksheet will not move until we unfreeze it.

  • A Frozen top row to know which parameters we are looking at during a review:

Before Freezing Top Row:

Freeze Panes example 1-1

After Freezing Top Row:

Freeze Panes example 1-2

This shows how the same dataset looks like with a frozen row. This makes it easy to know which parameter we are referring to when analysing data beyond the first few records in the workbook.

  • A frozen first column to know which record we are evaluating for a particular parameter.

Before freezing first column:

Freeze Panes example 1-3

After freezing the first column:

Freeze Panes example 1-4

The figure above compares the same dataset with and without the first column frozen in place. Freezing Panes also enable us to split the dataset into multiple parts to ease analysis: The worksheet gets split into different parts, which can be browsed independently. The Grey Lines in the middle of the worksheet indicate where the rows and columns have been frozen in place.

How to Freeze Panes in Excel?

The Freeze Panes feature is not very complicated to use if we know the database we are working with. In the next few paragraphs, we will learn how to use the features associated with freezing panes and using them for analysis.

Here are a few examples of Freeze Panes in Excel:

You can download this Freeze Panes Excel Template here – Freeze Panes Excel Template

Freeze Top Row – Example #1

To do this, we have to perform the following steps:

  • Select View from the Excel toolbar. Select Freeze Panes from the view options; this will open a dropdown menu where there are options to select the rows or columns which we want to freeze. Select Freeze Top Row; this will freeze the top row of the active worksheet in place and allow us to browse the rest of the data without disturbing the top row.

Freeze Panes example 1-5

  • A Tiny grey straight line will appear just below the 1st row. This means the first row is locked or frozen.

Freeze Panes example 1-6

Freeze First Column – Example #2

Next, we take a look at the next most commonly used function in the Freeze Pane feature, freezing the first column. This can be done using the following steps:

  • Select Freeze Panes from the view options. From the dropdown menu, select Freeze First Column and this would freeze the first column in place, allowing us to browse the rest of the data without disturbing the first column.

Example 2-1

A Tiny grey straight line will appear just below the 1st Column. This means the first column is locked or frozen.

Example 2-2

Both of these features can be used simultaneously and make it easier for us to analyze data. As we have seen in the examples, knowing the table’s basic structure helps us decide what we want to freeze.

Freeze First Row and First Column – Example #3

Freeze first row and first column

Here is an example of the practice table with the first row and first column frozen.

Example 3-1

This brings us to the most useful function in the freeze panes feature, freezing multiple columns and rows.

This is a function I like to use the most because it enables the user to freeze rows and unfreeze rows and columns based on any number of parameters depending on the structure of the worksheet’s data.

To freeze the first row and first column, we need to perform the following steps:

  • Select Cell B2 from the worksheet.

Example 3-2

  • Now, from the view options, select Freeze Panes. From the dropdown that appears, select the first option, Freeze Panes.

Example 3-3

These actions freeze the first row and first column in place.

Freeze Multiple Columns – Example #4

We can use similar steps to freeze multiple rows and columns. The following steps illustrate this:

  • Select any cell above which the rows and columns have to stay in place:

Example 4-1

  • Repeat steps 2 and 3 from the previous illustration to freeze all rows and columns above and left of the selected cell.

The solid grey lines that appear indicate that the rows and columns on the top left of the sheet have been frozen. We can also choose either a whole row above which we need data to stay in place or a column.

Example 4-2

Unfreezing rows and columns to their default state is very simple. We just have to go into the freeze panes dropdown and click on Unfreeze Panes as shown below.

Example 4-3

Freeze panes in excel is an option that makes it very easy for us to compare data in large datasets. In fact, freezing panes in excel are so useful that software providers provide additional features based entirely on freezing panes in excel. One such example is the ability to freeze and unfreeze multiple worksheets and tables at once, which is provided as a product by many software vendors.

Things to Remember

  • Freeze Panes does not work while we are editing something inside a cell, so care must be exercised while selecting the cell we want as the frozen data boundary; never double click that cell before freezing the data.
  • Freeze panes in excel is a default configuration that can freeze data to the left of the boundary column or above the boundary row depending on what we choose as a boundary. There are add on available from various software providers to enhance these.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Freeze Panes in Excel. Here we discussed how to freeze panes in excel and different methods to freeze panes in excel, along with practical examples and a downloadable excel template. You can also go through our other suggested articles to learn more –

  1. Freeze Panes and Split Panes (Detailed)
  2. Excel Move Columns
  3. Freeze Columns in Excel
  4. Excel Freeze Rows

Содержание

  1. Freeze panes to lock rows and columns
  2. Freeze rows or columns
  3. Unfreeze rows or columns
  4. Need more help?
  5. Freeze panes to lock rows and columns
  6. Freeze rows or columns
  7. Unfreeze rows or columns
  8. Need more help?
  9. How to freeze rows and columns in Excel
  10. How to freeze rows in Excel
  11. How to freeze top row in Excel
  12. How to freeze multiple rows in Excel
  13. How to freeze columns in Excel
  14. How to lock the first column
  15. How to freeze multiple columns in Excel
  16. How to freeze rows and columns in Excel
  17. How to unlock rows and columns in Excel
  18. Freeze Panes not working
  19. Other ways to lock columns and rows in Excel
  20. Split panes instead of freezing panes
  21. Use tables to lock top row in Excel
  22. Print header rows on every page
  23. Freeze Panes in Excel
  24. Freeze Panes in Excel
  25. Freeze Panes in Excel Examples
  26. Example #1–Freeze the Top Row in Excel
  27. Example #2–Freeze the First Column in Excel
  28. Example #3–Freeze the Top Row and the First Column Together
  29. Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns Together in Excel
  30. Shortcut to Freeze Panes in Excel
  31. Unfreeze Panes in Excel
  32. The Purpose of Freezing Panes in Excel
  33. Frequently Asked Questions
  34. Recommended Articles

Freeze panes to lock rows and columns

To keep an area of a worksheet visible while you scroll to another area of the worksheet, go to the View tab, where you can Freeze Panes to lock specific rows and columns in place, or you can Split panes to create separate windows of the same worksheet.

Freeze rows or columns

Freeze the first column

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze First Column.

The faint line that appears between Column A and B shows that the first column is frozen.

Freeze the first two columns

Select the third column.

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Freeze columns and rows

Select the cell below the rows and to the right of the columns you want to keep visible when you scroll.

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Unfreeze rows or columns

On the View tab > Window > Unfreeze Panes.

Note: If you don’t see the View tab, it’s likely that you are using Excel Starter. Not all features are supported in Excel Starter.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.

Источник

Freeze panes to lock rows and columns

To keep an area of a worksheet visible while you scroll to another area of the worksheet, go to the View tab, where you can Freeze Panes to lock specific rows and columns in place, or you can Split panes to create separate windows of the same worksheet.

Freeze rows or columns

Freeze the first column

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze First Column.

The faint line that appears between Column A and B shows that the first column is frozen.

Freeze the first two columns

Select the third column.

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Freeze columns and rows

Select the cell below the rows and to the right of the columns you want to keep visible when you scroll.

Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes.

Unfreeze rows or columns

On the View tab > Window > Unfreeze Panes.

Note: If you don’t see the View tab, it’s likely that you are using Excel Starter. Not all features are supported in Excel Starter.

Need more help?

You can always ask an expert in the Excel Tech Community or get support in the Answers community.

Источник

How to freeze rows and columns in Excel

by Svetlana Cheusheva, updated on March 16, 2023

The tutorial shows how to freeze cells in Excel to keep them visible while you navigate to another area of the worksheet. Below you will find the detailed steps on how to lock a row or multiple rows, freeze one or more columns, or freeze column and row at once.

When working with large datasets in Excel, you may often want to lock certain rows or columns so that you can view their contents while scrolling to another area of the worksheet. This can be easily done by using the Freeze Panes command and a few other features of Excel.

How to freeze rows in Excel

Freezing rows in Excel is a few clicks thing. You just click View tab > Freeze Panes and choose one of the following options, depending on how many rows you wish to lock:

  • Freeze Top Row — to lock the first row.
  • Freeze Panes — to lock several rows.

The detailed guidelines follow below.

How to freeze top row in Excel

To lock top row in Excel, go to the View tab, Window group, and click Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row.

This will lock the very first row in your worksheet so that it remains visible when you navigate through the rest of your worksheet.

You can determine that the top row is frozen by a grey line below it:

How to freeze multiple rows in Excel

In case you want to lock several rows (starting with row 1), carry out these steps:

  1. Select the row (or the first cell in the row) right below the last row you want to freeze.
  2. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes >Freeze Panes.

For example, to freeze top two rows in Excel, we select cell A3 or the entire row 3, and click Freeze Panes:

As the result, you’ll be able to scroll through the sheet content while continuing to view the frozen cells in the first two rows:

  • 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. If some of the rows are out of view, such rows will be hidden after freezing. For more information, please see How to avoid frozen hidden rows in Excel.

How to freeze columns in Excel

Freezing columns in Excel is done similarly by using the Freeze Panes commands.

How to lock the first column

To freeze the first column in a sheet, click View tab > Freeze Panes > Freeze First Column.

This will make the leftmost column visible at all times while you scroll to the right.

How to freeze multiple columns in Excel

In case you want to freeze more than one column, this is what you need to do:

  1. Select the column (or the first cell in the column) to the right of the last column you want to lock.
  2. Go to the View tab, and click Freeze Panes >Freeze Panes.

For example, to freeze the first two columns, select the whole column C or cell C1, and click Freeze Panes:

This will lock the first two columns in place, as indicated by the thicker and darker border, enabling you to view the cells in frozen columns as you move across the worksheet:

  • You can only freeze columns on the left side of the sheet. Columns in the middle of the worksheet cannot be frozen.
  • All the columns to be locked should be visible, any columns that are out of view will be hidden after freezing.

How to freeze rows and columns in Excel

Besides locking columns and rows separately, Microsoft Excel lets you freeze both rows and columns at the same time. Here’s how:

  1. Select a cell below the last row and to the right of the last column you’d like to freeze.
  2. On the View tab, click Freeze Panes >Freeze Panes.

Yep, it’s that easy 🙂

For example, to freeze top row and first column in a single step, select cell B2 and click Freeze Panes:

This way, the header row and leftmost column of your table will always be viewable as you scroll down and to the right:

In the same fashion, you can freeze as many rows and columns as you want as long as you start with the top row and leftmost column. For instance, to lock top row and the first 2 columns, you select cell C2; to freeze the first two rows and the first two columns, you select C3, and so on.

How to unlock rows and columns in Excel

To unlock frozen rows and/or columns, go to the View tab, Window group, and click Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes.

Freeze Panes not working

If the Freeze Panes button is disabled (greyed out) in your worksheet, most likely it’s because of the following reasons:

  • You are in cell editing mode, for example entering a formula or editing data in a cell. To exit cell editing mode, press the Enter or Esc key.
  • Your worksheet is protected. Please remove the workbook protection first, and then freeze rows or columns.

Other ways to lock columns and rows in Excel

Apart from freezing panes, Microsoft Excel provides a few more ways to lock certain areas of a sheet.

Split panes instead of freezing panes

Another way to freeze cells in Excel is to split a worksheet area into several parts. The difference is as follows:

Freezing panes allows you to keep certain rows or/and columns visible when scrolling across the worksheet.

Splitting panes divides the Excel window into two or four areas that can be scrolled separately. When you scroll within one area, the cells in the other area(s) remain fixed.

To split Excel’s window, select a cell below the row or to the right of the column where you want the split, and click the Split button on the View tab > Window group. To undo a split, click the Split button again.

Use tables to lock top row in Excel

If you’d like the header row to always stay fixed at the top while you scroll down, convert a range to a fully-functional Excel table:

The fastest way to create a table in Excel is by pressing the Ctl + T shortcut. For more information, please see How to make a table in Excel.

In case you’d like to repeat top row or rows on every printed page, switch to the Page Layout tab, Page Setup group, click the Print Titles button, go to the Sheet tab, and select Rows to repeat at top. The detailed instructions can be found here: Print row and column headers on every page.

That’s how you can lock a row in Excel, freeze a column, or freeze both rows and columns at a time. I thank you for reading and hope to see you on our blog next week!

Источник

Freeze Panes in Excel

Freeze Panes in Excel

Freezing panes in excel helps freeze one or more rows and/or columns so that they remain fixed while scrolling through the database. Freezing panes is helpful when the dataset is large and there is a need to view certain sections of the data at all times.

For example, to freeze the first three rows and the first three columns of a blank Excel worksheet, we undertake the following steps:

  • Select the cell D4.
  • Click the “freeze panes” drop-down from the View tab of the Excel ribbon.
  • Select the option “freeze panes.”

Rows 1, 2, and 3 and columns A, B, and C are frozen. Hence, by freezing panes, the user knows the kind of data contained in these fixed rows (1, 2, and 3) and columns (A, B, and C). Moreover, since these rows and columns Rows And Columns A cell is the intersection of rows and columns. Rows and columns make the software that is called excel. The area of excel worksheet is divided into rows and columns and at any point in time, if we want to refer a particular location of this area, we need to refer a cell. read more can be viewed at any point of time, one need not go back to them again and again.

Likewise, freezing excel panes can be applied to the row and column headers of a database. This allows one to constantly view the headings.

With the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the View tab), one can freeze any of the following areas of a worksheet:

  1. The first row or the first column
  2. The panes, which includes:
    • one or more rows beginning from the top and/or
    • one or more columns beginning from the left

Let us consider some examples to understand the working of freezing panes in Excel.

Table of contents

Freeze Panes in Excel Examples

Example #1–Freeze the Top Row in Excel

We want to freeze the top row (row 1) of the given dataset.

The steps for freezing the first row in Excel are listed as follows:

    Click the “freeze panes” drop-down from the “window” group of the View tab. Select “freeze top row” as shown in the following image.

The entire first row (row 1) is frozen. A horizontal gray line appears right below row 1. This line indicates that the row immediately above is frozen.
To cross-check, one can scroll down the worksheet. The row containing the column headers is fixed. The same is shown in the following image.

Example #2–Freeze the First Column in Excel

Working on the data of example #1, we want to freeze the first column (column A) of the given dataset.

The steps for freezing the first column of Excel are listed as follows:

Step 1: From the “window” group of the View tab, click the “freeze panes” drop-down. Select “freeze first column,” as shown in the following image.

Step 2: The entire first column (column A) is frozen. A vertical gray line appears right next to column A (or between columns A and B). This line indicates that the column immediately to the left is frozen.

If one scrolls from left to right, column A stays at its place. The same is shown in the following image.

Example #3–Freeze the Top Row and the First Column Together

Working on the data of example #1, we want to freeze the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A) simultaneously.

The steps to freeze the first row and the first column simultaneously are listed as follows:

Step 1: Select the cell B2. From the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the View tab), select “freeze panes.” The same is shown in the following image.

Step 2: Row 1 and column A, both are frozen. A horizontal grey line appears below row 1 and a vertical grey line appears right next to column A. The same is shown in the following image.

The row immediately preceding the active cell (B2) is frozen. Likewise, the column immediately to the left of cell B2 is also frozen.

Note: One must select the cell (in step 1) cautiously. This is because the “freeze panes” option works on the basis of the current selection. It freezes the rows and columns immediately preceding the active or the selected cell.

Freeze Multiple Rows and Columns Together in Excel

The steps to freeze multiple rows and columns are listed as follows:

Step 1: Select the correct cell. The selected cell should be positioned as follows:

  • a. The selected cell should be immediately below the last row to be frozen.
  • b. The selected cell should be to the immediate right of the last column to be frozen.

Follow both the pointers a and b to freeze multiple rows and columns simultaneously.

Step 2: Select “freeze panes” from the “freeze panes” drop-down of the View tab.

The rows and columns immediately preceding the selected cell (selected in step 1) are frozen.

Note: It is also possible to freeze either multiple rows or multiple columns. One can freeze as many rows and/or columns as one wants. However, the freezing of multiple rows and/or columns should begin from the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A) respectively.

Shortcut to Freeze Panes in Excel

The shortcuts to freeze panes in excel are mentioned as follows:

  • To freeze rows and columns both: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+F” one by one. This freezes rows and columns preceding the currently selected cell.
  • To freeze the top row only: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+R” one by one. This freezes the first row (row 1) of the worksheet irrespective of the currently selected cell.
  • To freeze the leftmost column only: Press the keys “Alt+W+F+C” one by one. This freezes the first column (column A) of the worksheet irrespective of the currently selected cell.

Unfreeze Panes in Excel

The steps to unfreeze panes in excel are listed as follows:

Step 1: Click the drop-down arrow of “freeze panes” in the “window” group of the View tab.

Step 2: Click “unfreeze panes,” as shown in the succeeding image. The gray lines, which appeared as a result of freezing, will disappear.

The “unfreeze panes” option is quite useful when one is unable to figure out where the freezes have been applied in the worksheet.

Note 1: The “unfreeze panes” option appears (under the drop-down of “freeze panes”) after one or more rows and/or columns are frozen by the user.

Note 2: Once the “unfreeze panes” option is clicked, the rows and columns are no longer fixed. So, the worksheet prior to freezing is displayed.

The Purpose of Freezing Panes in Excel

The objectives of freezing panes in excel are listed as follows:

  • To prevent referring to the same set of data repeatedly, thus saving the scrolling time of the user
  • To know which row or column represents which data
  • To facilitate comparisons of the different sections of the worksheet

Frequently Asked Questions

Freezing panes helps lock or fix certain rows and/or columns of a worksheet so that they remain stationary with a movement through the database. For instance, while working with large datasets, the user may need to keep the row or column headers visible at all times.

By freezing panes, the scrolling time of the user is reduced. This is because the need to refer to the same worksheet area repeatedly is eliminated. Moreover, making comparisons between the different rows or columns becomes easier.

The “freeze panes” option is available under the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the “window” group) of the View tab of Excel. This option freezes one or more rows and/or columns based on the current selection.

In addition, one can use the options “freeze top row” and “freeze first column” (under the “freeze panes” drop-down) to freeze the first row and the first column respectively.

To freeze panes horizontally, the user needs to freeze one or more rows. To freeze panes vertically, one or more columns need to be frozen.

The steps to freeze one or more rows and/or columns are listed as follows:

a. Select the relevant cell. This cell should be immediately below the last row to be frozen. Further, it should be to the right of the last column to be frozen.
b. From the “freeze panes” drop-down (in the “window”d group) of the View tab, select “freeze panes”.

The row preceding the active cell (selected in step a) is frozen. Moreover, the column to the left of this cell is also frozen. The gray lines appear which indicate the frozen panes.

Note: With this method, one can freeze any number of rows and columns. The condition is that the freezing of panes must begin from the first row (row 1) and the first column (column A). In other words, the rows and columns in the middle of the worksheet cannot be frozen.

It is possible to freeze multiple rows and columns simultaneously in Excel. However, one cannot freeze panes in the middle of the worksheet. For instance, one cannot create a horizontal pane consisting of rows 9, 10, and 11.

The user can create a horizontal pane which consists of stationary rows beginning from row 1. Likewise, a vertical pane consisting of stationary columns, beginning from column A, can be created.

Apart from one horizontal pane and one vertical pane, it is not possible to create additional panes in the middle of the worksheet. Hence, one cannot create multiple horizontal or multiple vertical panes in Excel.

In other words, a horizontal pane (rows 1, 2, and 3) followed by a scrollable area (rows 4, 5, and 6), and again a horizontal pane (rows 7, 8, and 9) cannot be created.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to freezing panes in Excel. Here we discuss how to freeze the rows and columns in Excel by using the “freeze panes” option. We also went through some examples. You can download an Excel template from the website. You may also look at these useful functions of Excel–

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