How to Freeze an Entire Row in Excel While Scrolling

To keep the first row visible while you scroll, select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row. To keep a different row visible, select a cell in column A directly below the row you want to keep, then choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes. Excel freezes that row and every row above it, not an isolated row by itself.

Freezing a row is useful when a worksheet has headings, dates, or notes you need to see while reviewing records farther down the sheet. The frozen row stays in view as you scroll vertically; it does not stop you editing the worksheet or change its data.

What You’ll Need

A workbook open in Microsoft Excel for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The steps are similar in Excel for Mac and Excel for the web, with the version-specific notes below.
A clear idea of which row should remain visible. Excel can freeze the top row, or a block of rows starting at row 1.
If the sheet already has frozen panes, be ready to unfreeze them before setting a different freeze.

Step-by-Step

Open the worksheet you want to change. Click the worksheet tab at the bottom of Excel and confirm that it is the sheet where you want the row to stay visible. Freeze settings apply to the current worksheet, not every sheet in the workbook.
For row 1, use Freeze Top Row. On the ribbon, select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row. Excel keeps worksheet row 1 visible while you scroll down. You do not need to select the row first. This is the simplest option for a column-heading row at the top of a list.
For a different row, decide whether the rows above it should remain visible too. Excel freezes panes from the top edge of the worksheet. For example, if you want row 5 to stay visible, Excel must also freeze rows 1 through 4. There is no standard Freeze Panes setting that keeps row 5 visible while letting rows 1 through 4 scroll away.
Select the cell immediately below the last row you want frozen. To freeze rows 1 through 5, click cell A6. To freeze rows 1 through 3, click A4. Use column A if you want to freeze rows only; selecting a cell in a later column can freeze columns to its left as well.
Apply the custom freeze. With the correct cell selected, choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes. Be careful to choose the first Freeze Panes command in the menu, not Freeze Top Row, which always freezes worksheet row 1. Excel draws a thin boundary to show where the frozen area ends.
Check that the right rows stay put. Scroll down using the mouse wheel, trackpad, or vertical scroll bar. The frozen rows should remain at the top of the worksheet while the remaining rows move. Scroll back up if you need to inspect the boundary or make a correction.
Keep the frozen row visible during horizontal scrolling, if needed. Frozen rows stay at the top as you scroll vertically and remain visible when you move horizontally across the sheet. If you chose a cell such as B6 instead of A6, Excel may also freeze column A. To freeze rows without freezing columns, use a cell in column A before applying Freeze Panes.
Save the workbook. Freeze settings are part of the worksheet view and are retained with the workbook. Save as usual after you have confirmed the result.

Excel for Mac: Select View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row for the first row, or select the cell below the rows to retain and choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes. Menu wording or ribbon layout can vary slightly by Excel version, but the selection rule is the same.

Excel for the web: Open the View tab and choose Freeze Panes, then select the available top-row option or freeze command. To freeze a custom set of rows, select a cell beneath the desired rows first. If the browser version does not offer the exact control you need, open the workbook in the desktop app and set the panes there.

Keyboard access: Excel for Windows does not provide one universal, dedicated shortcut that directly freezes any chosen row. You can press Alt to show ribbon KeyTips, then follow the letters displayed for the View tab and Freeze Panes menu in your version. On Mac, use the View menu; the Windows Alt KeyTips sequence does not apply.

Common Mistakes

Selecting the row you want instead of the cell below it. Freeze Panes uses the active cell as a boundary. If you want rows 1 through 5 frozen, select A6 before choosing Freeze Panes. Selecting A5 would freeze rows 1 through 4, not row 5.
Expecting one middle row to freeze on its own. Freeze Panes retains rows from the top down. Freezing row 8 also retains rows 1 through 7. If you only need to refer to one heading while moving through distant sections, consider copying that heading into a top row or using a separate view rather than expecting Excel to freeze a standalone middle row.
Choosing a cell too far to the right. Selecting C6 and freezing panes retains rows above row 6 and columns to the left of column C. If you meant to freeze rows only, select A6 instead.
Using Freeze Top Row for a custom row. That command always targets row 1, even if another cell is selected. Use the general Freeze Panes command after selecting the correct cell for a custom boundary.
Forgetting that a previous freeze is active. An existing freeze can make the menu show an unfreeze command or prevent the new boundary from behaving as expected. Remove the old setting before applying a different one.
Thinking the frozen row is locked against editing. Freeze Panes only affects what stays visible while scrolling. It does not protect cells, prevent changes, or lock a row in place for editing purposes.

Tips

Use Freeze Top Row for ordinary headings. If your column labels are in row 1, this one-command option is easier than selecting a cell and setting a custom boundary.
Keep the frozen area compact. Freezing many rows leaves less room to view the data that scrolls beneath them. Keep only the headings or context you need on screen.
Use a freeze boundary that matches the layout. For a sheet with a title in row 1, a note in row 2, and headings in row 3, selecting A4 freezes all three rows. If only the headings matter, consider moving them to row 1 or accept that rows 1 and 2 will also remain visible.
Look for the boundary line after setting panes. The thin line beneath the frozen area helps confirm the location. If it appears below the wrong row, unfreeze and repeat with the correct cell selected.
Remember that each worksheet has its own view. Setting a freeze on one tab does not automatically apply it to another. Repeat the steps on each worksheet where you need a persistent heading.
Use a Table when appropriate. If your data is a structured list, converting it to an Excel table can make column headings easier to recognize as you work. A table is not a substitute for freezing arbitrary rows, but it can be a helpful alternative for lists whose labels are in the header row.

Troubleshooting

The row scrolls out of sight. Check whether you chose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row for row 1, or selected the correct cell below the intended frozen rows before using the general Freeze Panes command. Then test by scrolling down. If a freeze was already active, choose View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes and set it again.

The wrong number of rows stays visible. Count from the top of the worksheet to the boundary you want. To retain rows 1 to 4, select A5; the selected row itself is below the frozen area. If you selected a cell in column B or farther right, check whether columns have been frozen too.

The Freeze Panes command is unavailable or grayed out. First click into a normal worksheet cell and check that you are working in the correct window and worksheet. If the sheet is displayed in a view that does not support the command, switch to View > Normal and try again. If the workbook is opened in a restricted browser or editing mode, open it in the desktop version of Excel and repeat the steps.

The sheet already has a freeze, and a new one will not apply. Choose View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes first. Then select the cell that defines the new boundary and apply Freeze Panes again. Unfreezing does not delete data or remove rows; it only restores normal scrolling.

You cannot freeze only a middle row. That is a limitation of the Freeze Panes feature: frozen rows must form a continuous block beginning at row 1. To keep a particular label available without all preceding rows, move or duplicate the label near the top, or restructure the sheet so the needed heading is in row 1.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze just one row in Excel?
Yes, if it is row 1: choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Top Row. For a row lower down, Excel also freezes every row above it, so it cannot freeze that one row alone using Freeze Panes.

How do I freeze row 2?
Select cell A3, then choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes. This keeps rows 1 and 2 visible. Excel does not have a built-in option to keep row 2 while allowing row 1 to scroll.

Can I freeze a row and a column at the same time?
Yes. Select the cell below the rows and to the right of the columns you want frozen, then choose View > Freeze Panes > Freeze Panes. For example, selecting B2 freezes row 1 and column A. The rows above and columns to the left of the selected cell remain visible.

How do I remove a frozen row?
Choose View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes. This removes the freeze boundary from the current worksheet, but it does not change or delete any worksheet content.

Does freezing a row protect it from edits?
No. Freezing only keeps the row in view while scrolling. To restrict editing, use worksheet protection separately; that is a different feature and requires its own settings.

Will my frozen row stay visible when I print?
Not automatically. Freeze Panes controls the on-screen worksheet view, not printed page headings. To repeat heading rows on printed pages, use the print titles settings rather than Freeze Panes.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

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Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

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