Hey there, Excel enthusiasts! If you’ve spent any time working in Microsoft Excel, you likely know how important it is to freeze rows and columns to keep your headings and labels visible while you navigate your spreadsheet. But did you know that you can freeze both rows and columns at the same time? It’s a little-known trick that can save you tons of time and hassle.
Whether you work with spreadsheets every day or you’re just getting started, freezing rows and columns can be a game-changer. Here’s everything you need to know to freeze rows and columns simultaneously in Excel.
First, open the Excel spreadsheet that you want to freeze rows and columns in. This can be any spreadsheet that you’ve created or that someone else has shared with you.
Next, take a moment to determine which rows and columns you want to freeze. Typically, you’ll want to freeze the top row or rows (so you can see your column headings) and the leftmost column or columns (so you can see your row labels).
For example, let’s say you have a spreadsheet that looks like this:
| January | February | March | |
| East | $10,000 | $6,000 | $8,000 |
| West | $5,000 | $7,000 | $9,000 |
In this case, you’ll likely want to freeze the top row (so you can always see the month names) and the leftmost column (so you can always see the geographic region names).
Now, select the cell that’s below and to the right of the area that you want to freeze. This will ensure that everything above and to the left of that cell will be frozen, while everything else can move around as needed.
In our example, you’d select the cell B2, which is to the right of the leftmost column and below the top row.
Next, head to the “View” tab at the top of your screen. From there, find the “Freeze Panes” button in the “Window” section of the ribbon. (It looks like a little calendar with lines on the left and top.)
Click that button, and you’ll see a few different options:
But we don’t want to freeze just one row or one column—we want to freeze both! So, select “Freeze Panes” from the dropdown.
That’s all there is to it! Now, you should be able to scroll through your worksheet and still see your top row and leftmost column no matter where you are. This can be incredibly helpful when you’re working with lots of data and want to make sure you don’t lose track of where you are.
If you ever need to unfreeze your rows and columns so you can scroll through your spreadsheet freely, simply head back to the “View” tab, click the “Freeze Panes” button dropdown, and select “Unfreeze Panes.”
And there you have it! By following these simple steps, you can freeze rows and columns simultaneously in Excel. It’s a small yet powerful trick that can make a big difference in how you work with your spreadsheets.
If you’re new to Excel or you’ve never worked with freezing panes before, I encourage you to give it a try. It might take a little getting used to, but I think you’ll find that it’s a game-changer.
That’s all for now—happy Excel-ing!
