How to Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel (5 Methods)

We have the following dataset regarding customer information, where you want to freeze the top row and the first column.

dataset


Method 1 – Freezing the Top Row Only

  • Go to the View tab and click on Freeze Panes from the Window ribbon.
  • The Freeze Panes menu will appear.
  • Click on Freeze Top Row.

freeze panes

  • If you scroll down, the top row will always remain visible.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

Read More: How to Freeze Rows and Columns at the Same Time in Excel 


Method 2 – Freezing the First Column Only

  • Go to the View tab and click on Freeze Panes from the Window ribbon.
  • Select Freeze First Column.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

  • If you scroll right, the first column will always remain visible.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

Read More: Keyboard Shortcut to Freeze Panes in Excel


Method 3 – Freezing the Top Row and the First Column Simultaneously in Excel

  • Select cell B2.

The reference cell must be exactly below the row and to the right of the column you want to freeze.

  • Go to the View tab and click on Freeze Panes from the Window ribbon.
  • Select Freeze Panes.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

  • When you navigate through your worksheet, the top row and the first column will always remain visible.

Freeze row and column


Method 4 – Splitting Panes to Freeze the Top Row and the First Column in Excel

  • Select the cell B2

The split cell must be below the row and to the right of the column you want to freeze.

  • Go to the View tab and click on the Split icon.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

  • The top row and the first column of your dataset will be frozen. The data is separated into four windows.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

Read More: How to Freeze Multiple Panes in Excel


Method 5 – Using the Excel Freeze Pane Button to Fix the Top Row and the First Column

  • Click on the drop-down icon from the top bar of the Excel files.
  • Select More Commands.

toolbar

  • The Quick Access Toolbar tab of the Excel Options window will appear.
  • Select Choose Not in the Ribbon in the Choose Command from box.
  • Select Freeze Panes from the list and click on Add.
  • This will add the Freeze Panes option to the list on the right.
  • Click on OK.

excel options

  • You will see a Freeze Panes icon in the top bar of your Excel file.

freeze panes icon

  • Select cell B2 and click on the Freeze Panes icon.

Freeze Top Row and First Column in Excel

Read More: How to Apply Custom Freeze Panes in Excel


Things to Remember

Freeze and split panes cannot be used at the same time.

If you want to freeze rows and columns at the same time, the reference cell must be below the row and to the right of the column, you want to freeze.


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Prantick Bala
Prantick Bala

PRANTICK BALA is a marine engineer who loves exploring Excel and VBA programming. Programming, to him, is a time-saving tool for efficiently managing data, files, and internet tasks. He is proficient in Rhino3D, Maxsurf, C++, MS Office, AutoCAD, Excel, and VBA and goes beyond the basics. Armed with a B.Sc in Naval Architecture & Marine Engineering from BUET, he has transitioned into the role of a content developer. Beyond his work, find him immersed in books, exploring new... Read Full Bio

2 Comments
  1. Thanks Prantick. Method four actually works; I’m much obliged to you.

    Why they have to make things so difficult these days astounds me. In the old days there was a little “handle” that you could grab & drag to whre you wanted a split. So much simpler…

    • Hello M Wilson,

      You’re most welcome! I’m glad Method four worked for you. I agree, sometimes it feels like the simpler solutions from the past were more intuitive. But at least we have these new methods to work with now!

      Regards
      ExcelDemy

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