Keep Spreadsheet Headings in View

Q. When I’m scrolling deep into a large Excel worksheet, I often forget the title of a column or row at the beginning of the worksheet because I can’t see the column heading—it’s buried either on the top or the left side of the screen. Is there a way to see the column or row headings no matter where I am in the worksheet?

A. Excel’s Freeze Panes tool allows you to freeze rows and columns on the screen. If you freeze the headings, no matter how far you scroll down or to the right, those headings remain visible.

To freeze a row, choose the row number or the cell that’s immediately beneath the last row you want frozen. Then go to the toolbar and click on Window, Freeze Panes. Excel inserts a thin line to show you where the frozen pane starts. To freeze a column, pick the column letter or the cell in the row immediately to the right of the last column you want frozen. You can engage the Freeze Panes tool anywhere in the worksheet.

To freeze horizontal and vertical headings at the same time, select the cell that’s in the upper-left corner of the range you want to remain scrollable and then invoke the Freeze Panes feature. To restore the workbook to its standard view, click on Window, Unfreeze Panes.

Note how row 1 and column A continue to show no matter how far you scroll into the worksheet.