How to freeze a row (or column) in Google Sheets

Freeze rows

1. Click View → Freeze.
2. Pick 1 row for a header, or 2 rows.
3. For more, click a cell in the last row you want frozen first, then pick Up to row N.

Everything above the thick gray line stays put while you scroll down.

Freeze columns

1. Click View → Freeze.
2. Pick 1 column or 2 columns.
3. For more, click a cell in the last column you want frozen first, then pick Up to column X.

Video: How to freeze columns in Google Sheets.

Freeze rows and columns together (freeze panes)

Google Sheets has no single "Freeze panes" button like Excel. Do it in two picks:

1. Click the bottom-right cell of the area that should stay visible. To lock rows 1–3 and columns A–B, click B3.
2. View → Freeze → Up to row 3.
3. View → Freeze → Up to column B.

Drag the freeze bar

In the top-left corner, above row 1 and left of column A, there are two thick gray bars. Drag the horizontal one down to freeze rows, or the vertical one right to freeze columns. Quick demo: Cool trick: freeze the top row.

Unfreeze

View → Freeze → No rows, and No columns if columns are frozen too. Or drag the gray bar back to the top-left corner. Video: How to unfreeze a row.

When freezing doesn't work

• Merged cells across the line. You can't freeze through part of a merged cell. Unmerge it (Format → Merge cells → Unmerge) or freeze one row or column further.
• "The current window is too small." The frozen area is taller or wider than your screen. Freeze fewer rows or columns, or zoom out.

Frozen rows repeat when you print

In File → Print → Headers & footers, tick Repeat frozen rows to print your header on every page. More on repeating frozen rows.

Go further

• How to freeze the top row (video)
• How to unfreeze columns (video)
• Freeze, explained