Freeze Columns in Excel

If you’re working with a multi-column spreadsheet, you might want to keep certain columns in view at all times. This is especially useful if you have a column containing row labels, for example. This is easy to set up in a spreadsheet. Let’s learn how to freeze columns in Microsoft Excel.

How to Freeze the First Column in Excel

Consider a spreadsheet with multiple columns of data. Column A contains a User ID number that you want to keep visible, even if you scroll out of view of column A to the right. Your solution? Excel’s built-in Freeze Panes feature.

To freeze the first column in any spreadsheet, click into any cell on your worksheet. Then, go to the View tab on Excel’s ribbon. On the right side, you’ll see the option to Freeze First Column. Click on the button.

Now, when you scroll to the right, column A will remain in view on the left. In essence, Excel places it above your other data, so you’ll always be able to see the data contained inside it, no matter how far you scroll.

To undo this, simply click Unfreeze Panes on the View tab.

How to Freeze Multiple Columns in Microsoft Excel

Now, imagine that you want to freeze the first three columns, with the User ID, First Name, and Last Name. With Excel, you can freeze as many columns as you want.

There’s a quick rule of thumb to use. To freeze multiple columns, always select the column to the immediate right of the last column that you want to freeze.

Here, click on column D‘s header to select the column. Then, on the View tab, click Freeze Panes.

When you scroll, columns A, B, and C are now frozen, always remaining in view.

As you can see, it’s easy to freeze columns in Excel so that you can always see data that’s important to your work.