Generally when you are working with large data table in Excel, you have to move your cursor up down, left right often. If you not use Freeze, then it would be difficult for you to recognize the field title or row header. If you use Freeze feature then it becomes very easy to identify the row and column header and for this you can work smoothly on your large data table even you move from one area to another area of the same data table.
In this tutorial I've tried to present how to lock some areas of rows and columns as Row or Column Title or Header to visible always while scrolling in Excel Worksheets. This feature is known as Freeze in Microsoft Excel. This feature allows you to keep freezes rows and column visible while you navigate to another area of the same worksheet.
You will find the detail steps on how you can freeze one row or multiple rows, freeze one column or more columns, and freezing rows and columns at once.
How to freeze top row in Excel:
This is very easy to apply in your data table. Just follow the below steps:
1. Click on View tab
2. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
3. Click on Freeze Top Row
A "Grey line" marked the lower border of your very first row.
Now move your cursor down of the large data table (minimum 2 pages) to see the magic of Freeze Top Row. Freeze Top Row locked your very first row in your current data table so that it is visible even you scroll down of the same data table.
How to freeze multiple rows in Excel:
If you want to freeze few rows from top, then first place your cursor in next row and apply the "Freeze Panes" option. For example, if you want to Freeze Row Number 1 to 2, then follow below steps:
1. Place your Cursor in Row number 3
2. Click on View tab
3. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
4. Click on Freeze Panes
Again a "Grey line" marked the lower border of Row Number 2. If you move your cursor down of the large data table, you will see the Top 2 Rows are locked and always visible while you are moving your cursor down to the large data table.
Note:
* Microsoft Excel allows you to visible few Top Rows as header. It will not allows you to make freeze some rows from middle or at the end of your data table.
* Also Microsoft Excel Freeze Top Row feature will be different for your device view area. The more wider your display, the more top rows you can Freeze from top of the data table.
How to Freeze First Column in Excel:
To lock the first column of your data table for visible while you are moving your cursor at various point in the same data table, follow the below steps:
1. Click on View tab
2. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
3. Click on Freeze First Column
A "Grey line" marked as the ending line of your very first column "A".
Now move your cursor right of the large data table. See, Freeze First Column feature locked your very first column in your current data table so that it is visible even you scroll right of the same data table.
How to freeze multiple columns in Excel:
If you want to freeze few columns from left, then first place your cursor in next column and apply the "Freeze Panes" option. For example, if you want to Freeze Column A to Column B, then follow below steps:
1. Place your Cursor in C1 cell
2. Click on View tab
3. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
4. Click on Freeze Panes
Again a "Grey line" marked as the ending line of Column B. If you move your cursor right of the large data table, you will see the Column A and Column B are locked and always visible while you are moving your cursor right of the large data table.
Note:
* Microsoft Excel allows you to visible few Left Columns as header. It will not allows you to make freeze some columns at the middle or right side.
* Also Microsoft Excel Freeze Top Row feature will be different for your device view area. The more wider your display, the more top row you can Freeze from top of the data table.
How to freeze rows and columns at once in Excel:
This is the most commonly used Microsoft Excel Feature. You can freeze Row or some Rows and Column or some Columns at the same time besides freezing rows and columns separately.
For example, if you want to freeze Top 2 Rows and Very First 2 Columns at once, then here is the steps how you can do it:
1. Select C3 Cell.
Reasons behind selecting C3 cell:
* To freeze top row (Row number 2), place the Cursor at A3 cell.
* Now to freeze very first 2 columns (Column "A" and "B"), move your Cursor from A3 cell to C3 cell.
2. Click on View tab
3. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
4. Click on Freeze Panes
This time the "Grey" line will mark or separate the Row Number 1 and Column A. That means these are locked and will visible while you move your cursor right or down of the same data table.
By following these "Reasons behind selecting C3 cell" you can freeze as many rows and columns as you need. If you select D3 then, Column A to Column C and Row number 1 to Row number 2 will freeze.
How to Unfreeze Rows and Columns in Excel:
This is very simple. If your data table set as frozen, then first you need to Unfreeze it. Here is how you can do it:
1. Click on the View tab
2. Click on Freeze Panes down arrow
3. Click on Unfreeze Panes
Note:
If you don't know which freeze feature already has set, don't worry. Just Click on the Freeze Panes down arrow. There you will see the "Freeze" name changed to "Unfreeze". Now just click on "Unfreeze Panes" to unfreeze.
Alternative way to Lock the Top rows in Excel:
1. Select your data table.
2. Press Ctrl + T to convert your data table to Table format.
Trouble Shooting:
(A) Freeze Panes greyed out or disabled:
While you are going to use the Freeze Panes option, and you found that the Freeze Panes options are "greyed out" or disabled, then below might be the reason:
1. You are in Editing mode (your cursor is blinking in the cell and waiting for your input). Press Enter or Esc button to exit from Edit Mode.
2. You Microsoft Excel Worksheet Protected. You need to make it protected it first.
(B) Excel data table is not showing Cursor while I move it on data table:
1. That means this worksheet freezes at that point where your display is out. Just unfreeze it.
Video Tutorial:
How to freeze or Unfreeze Rows and Columns in Excel 2016 from Faysal Easy Excel YouTube Channel:
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