Google Sheets Freeze Rows on iPad: A Practical Guide

Yes. In the Google Sheets app on an iPad, open the spreadsheet, touch and hold the number of the row you want to keep visible, then tap Freeze in the menu. To keep several top rows visible, choose the last row in that group; Sheets freezes that row and the rows above it.

How to freeze a row in the iPad app

Freezing is useful when a sheet is long and its headings disappear as you scroll. The row stays at the top of the sheet while the rows below it move. These steps apply to the Google Sheets app for iPad:

Open the spreadsheet in the Google Sheets app and make sure you are on the worksheet tab you want to change.
Find the row number along the left side of the grid. For a single header row, that is usually row 1.
Touch and hold the row number until the row’s context menu appears. Holding the number is more reliable than pressing a cell inside the row.
Tap Freeze. The row, and any rows above it, will stay in view when you scroll down.

Try scrolling several screens down to confirm the result. The frozen area remains at the top while the regular grid moves beneath it. If you do not see the menu immediately, keep your finger on the row number briefly rather than tapping repeatedly; a regular tap may simply select the row.

What freezing rows does

Freeze is a viewing aid, not a way to lock cells. It keeps selected rows visible during vertical scrolling so you can match data with its labels. For example, a sales sheet might have product names in column A, monthly figures in later columns, and headings in row 1. Freezing row 1 lets you scroll to December while still seeing which column contains December’s totals.

Freezing does not prevent edits, protect formulas, or stop someone from deleting a row. It also does not change the order of records or create a repeated heading when you print. Those are separate tasks: use the appropriate sharing or protection controls to restrict editing, and check print settings if you need headings on printed pages.

Rows and columns can be frozen independently. A frozen column stays visible while you move horizontally across a wide sheet; frozen rows stay visible while you move vertically. This is helpful on an iPad in landscape orientation, where a sheet may be wider than the screen. It does not make the sheet fit on the screen or change its zoom level.

Freeze more than one heading row

If your sheet has a title row followed by a column-heading row, keeping only the first row visible may not be enough. Touch and hold the number of the last row you want included, then tap Freeze. For example, to keep rows 1 through 3 visible, choose row 3. The frozen section starts at the top and includes the rows through the one you selected; you cannot freeze a disconnected row while leaving the rows above it scrolling.

Before freezing several rows, consider how much screen space they will use. On an iPad, three or four frozen rows can leave less room for the data, especially in portrait orientation or at a high zoom level. A practical arrangement is often one row of column labels, or a compact title-and-label area, rather than a large block of notes.

If the row you want is far down the sheet, scroll to it first and then use its row number. Check that you have selected the intended last row: freezing row 12, for instance, keeps rows 1 through 12 in place, not just row 12. If that occupies too much space, unfreeze and repeat the operation on an earlier row.

How to unfreeze rows

To remove a freeze, touch and hold a row number in the frozen section and choose Unfreeze from the menu. The wording or placement can vary with app updates, but look for the freeze control in the row’s context menu. Once unfrozen, those rows scroll with the rest of the sheet.

Unfreezing is safe to try: it does not delete content or rearrange data. If you froze too many rows, unfreeze and set the boundary again at the correct row. If the menu does not offer the option you expect, make sure you are holding a row number, not a cell, and that the spreadsheet is open for editing rather than in a view-only state.

Using Google Sheets in a browser on an iPad

The iPad app is usually the most straightforward way to manage a freeze with touch controls. The Google Sheets website is designed around a desktop-style interface, and its available controls can depend on the browser, screen layout, and whether the site is showing a mobile or desktop view. If you are using Safari and cannot find the app’s row menu, you can try Safari’s aA > Request Desktop Website option, then look for the desktop Sheets menu.

In the desktop web version of Google Sheets, the usual menu path is View > Freeze. It offers choices such as freezing a set number of top rows or freezing up to the currently selected row. That path describes the web interface; do not assume its menus will appear in exactly the same place in the iPad app. If the browser view is awkward with touch, open the file in the Sheets app instead.

A keyboard and trackpad can make the desktop-style website easier to use, but they are not required for freezing in the app. If a link opens in the browser when you meant to use the app, open Google Sheets and locate the file there. Also check that you are signed into the account that has access to the spreadsheet.

Common problems and fixes

The Freeze option is missing: Long-press the row number at the left edge, not a cell in the grid. If the file is view-only, ask for editing access or use an account with permission to change the sheet.
The wrong rows stay on screen: The selected row sets the bottom edge of the frozen group. Unfreeze, then choose the row that should be the last frozen row.
The sheet seems stuck while scrolling: A frozen section is supposed to remain stationary. Swipe within the scrolling part of the grid, below the frozen rows, and check whether the rows underneath move.
There is too little room to see data: Reduce the number of frozen rows, rotate the iPad to landscape, or adjust the view’s zoom. Zoom changes how much fits on screen; it does not change which rows are frozen.
The freeze seems to have disappeared: Confirm that you reopened the same spreadsheet and worksheet tab. Freeze settings apply to a sheet, so a different tab in the same file can have a different arrangement.

When troubleshooting, distinguish a freeze from a filter or a fixed header in another app. A filter changes which records are displayed or how they are sorted; a freeze only keeps part of the grid visible while scrolling. If rows are hidden rather than stationary, check whether a filter or hidden-row setting is involved.

Planning a useful frozen layout

Freeze only the information readers need to interpret the rows below. For a simple list, that is often the column-heading row. For a schedule, the first row might identify weekdays while the next row gives dates; freezing both can keep the context clear. For a wide inventory sheet, a useful combination may be a heading row and the column containing item names, so labels remain visible during both vertical and horizontal scrolling.

Think about the iPad’s orientation and the people who will open the sheet on other devices. A freeze is stored as part of the spreadsheet’s sheet layout rather than being merely a temporary scroll position on your iPad, so collaborators may see the same frozen arrangement. Keep it modest enough that it remains helpful on a smaller screen, and check the result after changing it.

For shared workbooks, tell collaborators if you make a layout change that affects how they navigate the sheet. Freeze does not alter the underlying values, but it can change the visible working area for everyone using that worksheet. If someone reports that the sheet looks different, ask them to check which worksheet tab is open and whether they are viewing the same file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I freeze the top row in Google Sheets on an iPad?
Yes. In the Sheets app, touch and hold row 1’s number and tap Freeze. Scroll down to confirm the heading remains visible.

Can I freeze two or more rows?
Yes. Choose the last row in the group you want to keep at the top. Freezing row 2, for example, keeps rows 1 and 2 visible.

Can I freeze a column as well as rows?
Yes. Use the column header and its freeze control to keep a column visible while scrolling sideways. You can use frozen rows and columns together when a sheet is both tall and wide.

Does freezing rows lock them against editing?
No. Freeze only affects scrolling and visibility. It does not protect cells or prevent edits; use the sheet’s protection and sharing options if you need to manage editing access.

Will the frozen rows show for other people?
Freeze is a sheet layout setting, not just an iPad scroll preference. Other people viewing that worksheet can see the same frozen layout, although a different worksheet tab may have different settings.

Can I freeze rows in Safari instead of the app?
Possibly, but the website’s controls depend on how it is displayed on the iPad. The app’s row-number context menu is generally the simpler touch workflow; in desktop Sheets, use View > Freeze.

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

More in How-to basics

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

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