How to Freeze First 3 Columns in Excel (4 Quick Ways)

For the purpose of easy navigation, we may be required to freeze some of the rows or columns of a worksheet. Freezing columns in a worksheet is a fairly simple and easy operation. In this article, we will show you 4 easy ways how to freeze the first 3 columns in Excel. These ways are quick and easy to apply.

Consider the following dataset. It has 7 columns. First, 3 columns are pertaining to student profiles and the next 4 columns show students’ marks on 4 subjects- Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and History. We want to scroll the marks of the students while keeping the first 3 columns fixed.

How to Freeze First 3 Columns in Excel: 4 Quick Ways

In this article, we have shown 4 ways to freeze the first 3 columns in Excel. We have done so using the Freeze Panes option, keyboard shortcuts, VBA, and Magic button.

1. Freeze First 3 Columns Using Freeze Panes

The Freeze Panes option of Excel is available in the View tab. We can use the Freeze Panes option to freeze the first 3 columns in Excel.

STEPS:

• To do so, first, we need to select the column next to the columns we want to freeze. In this case, we want to freeze the first 3 columns. So, we will select the E column.

• We will open the View tab >> from Freeze Panes >> select Freeze Panes

• A grey bar will appear denoting that the columns left to it have been frozen.

• If we scroll, the first 3 columns will remain fixed and the rest of the sheet will move.

Read More: How to Freeze 2 Columns in Excel

2. Using Keyboard Shortcut ALT + W + F + F to Freeze First 3 Columns

We can use a useful keyboard shortcut to freeze columns.  We can press ALT + W + F + F together to freeze columns.

STEPS:

• To do so, first, we need to select the column next to the columns we want to freeze. In this case, we want to freeze the first 3 columns. So, we will select the E column.

• Press ALT + W + F + F keys. A grey bar will appear denoting that the columns left to it have been frozen.

• If we scroll, the first 3 columns will remain fixed and the rest of the sheet will move.

Read More: How to Freeze Columns in Excel

3. Freeze First 3 Columns Using VBA

We can use VBA code to freeze the first 3 columns in Excel.

To use the VBA editor,

STEPS:

• Open the Developer tab >> select Visual Basic

A new window will open.

• Go to Insert and select Module.

A new Module will open.

• Copy the code below and paste it into the Module.

Sub FreezeFirst3Columns()
Columns("E:E").Select
ActiveWindow.FreezePanes = True
End Sub

Here, we have initiated a Sub Procedure named FreezeFirst3Columns. We have used the Select method to select the columns we want to freeze. We have written Columns(“E:E”) in the code as we want to freeze up to column D. You may change the columns according to your worksheet requirement.

• To run the code from the Run tab select Run Sub/UserForm. Or you can also use the F5 key to run the code. You will see the first 3 columns have been frozen.

Read More: How to Freeze Top Row in Excel

4. Lock First 3 Columns Using Magic Freeze Button in Excel

We can insert any button of our choice in the toolbar using Magic Button. In this case, we will insert the Freeze Panes button, and using that button we will freeze the first 3 columns.

STEPS:

• To do so, we will click on the Customize Quick Access Toolbar icon and then click on the More Commands

• Set Choose commands from to Popular commands. Then, select Freeze Panes >> Add >> Ok

A new button will appear in Quick Access Toolbar.

• Select column E and from the Freez button>> select Freeze Panes

• If we scroll, the first 3 columns will remain fixed and the rest of the sheet will move.

Related Content: How to Unfreeze Columns in Excel

Things to Remember

◊ Always select the column right to the column(s) you want to freeze before using Freeze Panes.

◊ To use the VBA code edit it according to the column you want to freeze.

Practice Section

We have included a practice section in the worksheet provided so that you can exercise the methods yourself.

Download Practice Workbook

Conclusion

In this article, we have demonstrated 4 quick ways to freeze the first 3 columns in Excel. Go through the method and implement those in your worksheet. Hope these methods will guide you to perform this operation in Excel. Please leave your comments and feedback below. Our team would be happy to help you out.

Related Articles

• How to Freeze Top Two Rows in Excel 
• How to Freeze Top 3 Rows in Excel
• Unfreeze Rows in Excel
• How to Freeze Random Selection in Excel
• How to Lock Cells in Excel When Scrolling
• How to Unlock Cells in Excel When Scrolling
• How to Lock Rows in Excel When Scrolling 

<< Go Back to Freeze Panes | Learn Excel