Mukesh Dipto
While working with a big dataset sometimes we need to know how to Freeze Columns in excel as well as Rows, or both of a worksheet. It’s necessary to make a particular area visible at the time of scrolling. Microsoft Excel provides us with excellent features to solve this problem. It should be noted that in this article, we will learn how to freeze columns in Excel.
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5 Effective Methods of How to Freeze Columns in Excel
1. Freeze Column with View Tab in Excel
1.1 Use of View Tab to Freeze the First Column
View Tab is an option in the Ribbon of Microsoft Excel. There is an option named Freeze Panes in the dropdown of the View Tab. This feature helps to freeze different Columns and Rows.
Suppose we have a dataset of twelve salespersons and their amount of sales for January to June. We want to freeze the first Column. We will solve this problem step by step.
STEP 1:
Firstly, In this step click on the View Tab. Secondly, go to the Freeze Panes drop-down. Then, select the Freeze First Column option.
In short: View Tab > Freeze Panes > Freeze First Column
- After clicking on the Freeze First Column option, a new vertical line will appear before Column B.
STEP 2:
- Next scroll left to right. We can see that we can scroll through the sheet content while continuing to view the frozen Column A.
1.2 Freeze Multiple Column with View Tab
Sometimes we need to freeze multiple Columns. In this method, we will freeze multiple Columns of a dataset. We will be able to move other frozen columns.
For this example, we will use our earlier dataset.
To solve this problem we need to go through the following steps.
STEPS:
- Firstly, select the Column that is immediate to the right of the last column that we want to freeze. In our vase, we will select Column C as we want to freeze columns A & B.
- Next, click on the View Tab. Go to Freeze Panes. Select the Freeze Panes option.In short: View Tab > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes
- Finally, we can see Column A & B is frozen now. There is a thin vertical line on the left side of column B. It’s the freezing line. Scroll left to right. We will be able to scroll through the worksheet while Columns A & B remain visible.
Read More: How to Select an Entire Column in Excel (5 Quick Methods)
2. Excel ‘Freeze Panes’ Option to Freeze Multiple Columns and Rows Together
In Excel ‘Freeze Panes’ option refers to Freeze Row and Column together. We can apply this when we need to freeze particular Rows and Columns at the same time.
To do this, we will use the earlier method’s dataset of twelve salespersons. So let’s see how easily we can figure out this problem.
STEPS:–
- Firstly, we will select Cell C5.
- Next, select the View option from the ribbon. Then select Freeze Panes. From the dropdown select the first option Freeze Panes.
In short : View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes
- After that, we will see a horizontal and a vertical line intersecting the selected Cell’s top left corner.
- Finally, if we scroll left to right, we will see that Columns A & B are frozen. We can scroll through the worksheet keeping Columns A & B visible.
- In addition, if we scroll top to bottom we will see the Rows above Row 4, containing Cell C5 is also frozen.
3. Excel Freeze Multiple Columns Using Split Option
The split window is a unique option to freeze multiple columns. The split option allows us to view different parts of a worksheet at the same time.
We will continue our explanation with our previous dataset.
STEPS:
- Firstly, to use the Split option, we will select Cell C5.
- Next, from the Ribbon, we will select the Split option under the View tab.
- Then we can see two different areas of the worksheet divided by two lines in the following figure.
- Finally, If we scroll the right window left to right we will see the left window remains frozen. It means Columns A & B are also frozen.
- In addition, if we scroll top to bottom we will see Row 4 is frozen and other Rows are moving.
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4. Add Magic Freeze Button to Freeze ColumnsÂ
Magic Freeze Button is a Customized Quick Access Toolbar. We can freeze columns with this feature also. It’s somehow similar to previous Method 1 but very convenient sometimes. Again we will use the dataset of our previous methods to understand this one.
Let’s demonstrate the feature to you.
STEPS:
- Firstly, go to the Quick Access Toolbar and select the Customized Quick Access Toolbar drop-down. From the drop-down, select the More Commands option.
- Next, a new window will open. From the window, select the Freeze Panes option. Click on Add button to add the option in Quick Access Toolbar. Then click the button OK.
In short: Select Freeze Panes > Add > OK
- After that, select the Column immediately right to the Column that you want to freeze. We will select Column C as we want to select Columns A & B.
- Select the new Freeze Panes option in Quick Access Toolbar. From the drop-down click the option Freeze Panes.
- Finally, we will see that Columns A & B are frozen now. Here we will be able to scroll through Columns A & B.
Read More: How to Select Every Other Column in Excel (3 Methods)
5. Use of Keyboard Shortcut to Freeze Columns in Excel
5.1 Freeze First Column Using Keyboard Shortcut
In Microsoft Excel, there are lots of keyboard shortcuts to make the process of solving any problem easier and faster. In the case of freezing columns, the keyboard shortcut is also an effective and easily used method. Here we will learn how to freeze the first column using the keyboard shortcut.
The shortcut to freeze the first Column using keyboard shortcut is:
Alt + W + F + C
Let’s break down the keyboard shortcut step by step with figures.
STEPS:
- Firstly, press the Alt key of the keyboard. We can see a Ribbon like this.
- Next, press W, which will select the View tab.
- All the features of the View tab will be available then.
- Then, press F, which will select Freeze Panes from the available options of the View Tab.
- Now, It will give a dropdown of available options under the Freeze Panes option.
- After that, press keyboard key C to which will select the Freeze First Column option.
- Finally, we can see a thin vertical line at the right side of Column A. It indicates that Column A is frozen now. If we scroll left to right, we will be able to scroll through the sheet continuing to view the frozen Column A.
5.2 Freeze Multiple Columns Using Keyboard Shortcut
In a previous method, we learned how to freeze the first column using a keyboard shortcut. We can also freeze multiple columns using keyboard shortcuts. In this method, we will learn how to freeze multiple columns using keyboard shortcuts.
We will also use the same dataset that we have used earlier.
The keyboard shortcut to freeze Multiple Columns using the keyboard shortcut is:
Alt + W + F + F
Let’s go through this keyboard shortcut elaborately.
STEPS:
- Firstly, we will select Column C. We are selecting Column C because we want to freeze columns A & B.Â
- Next, press the Alt key of the keyboard. We can see a Ribbon like this.
- Then, press W, which will select the View Tab.
- Moreover, all the features of the View tab will be available then.
- Now, press F, which will select Freeze Panes from the available options of the View Tab.
- Here, it will give a drop-down of available options under the Freeze Panes.
- After that, press keyboard key F, which will select the Freeze Panes option.
- Finally, we will see that Column A & B is frozen now. We can scroll through the sheet without moving Columns A & B.
Conclusion
However, freezing Columns is an important thing in Excel. Especially when you are working with a large worksheet. Download the practice workbook added to this article. Go through the problems. If you feel any confusion just leave a reply in the box below. We will try our best to help you. Stay tuned with us for more interesting solutions to various problems with Microsoft Excel.
