How To Freeze Row In Google Sheets (Quick Tips 2022)

Written & Technically reviewed by Channa S Bandara.
Publish Date : June 10, 2021 | Review Date : June 12, 2021 | Updated on Nov 12, 2021
Google Sheet, Spread Sheet
how to freeze panes in google sheets

Google sheets are now becoming smarter and it can be used for operating with a collaborative team with a large data set. When you deal with a large data set you may need to compare data with each other. If you already work with google sheets, you already know that google sheets can scroll vertically and horizontally.

When scrolling a large data set, you cannot imagine what is the header and how related data is in each. But if you can keep the header row fixed in spreadsheets, you can scroll data and easily find related header in each cell. To implement, you can use freeze row in google sheets to freeze your spreadsheet’s columns, rows, or cells to make it easier to scroll through content in the rest of the document.

This is the basic step to use the Freeze or unfreeze row in google sheets. 

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. 
  2. Select the rows or columns which you want to freeze.
  3. At the top, On the top of navigation click View( middle of Edit and Insert )   >  Freeze then choose the number of columns or rows you want to freeze.
  4. If you need to unfreeze a column or row click No column or No Row in Freez Dropdown.

Using freeze row in Google Sheets, make it easier to scroll through inside content in the rest of the datasheet document.

Google Sheets is an extremely powerful platform, in a single sheet or multiple sheets, that can contain Up to 5 million cells data in 40,000 new rows of data in a maximum of 18,278 columns.

About This Article
In this article describe bet way to implement freeze rows in google sheets with example and what are the features of exit.

Features of Freeze Row in Google Sheets

The freeze pane in google Sheets, simple meaning is freeze column and brown in google sheets. but you cannot freeze rows or columns together either you select both of them at the same time. Also, you can use any formula and sorting in google sheets & that does not impact the freeze row in google sheets.

Let‘s check what are the features in the Freeze row in google sheets.Features of Freeze Panes in Google Sheets

There are 2 sections in freeze dropdown in google sheets

Row section

This section operates all horizontal freeze and unfreezes in google sheets. It can be used for freeze rows for vertical scrolling.

  1. No Rows: that means unfreeze Rows if already applied freeze into the spreadsheet. You don’t need to select any freeze rows while triggering the no row option.
  2.  1 Row: this is to freeze 1st row (1:1) in spreadsheets.
  3. 2 Rows: this is to freeze the first 2 rows (1:2) spreadsheets.

  4.  Up to Current Row (N): this is a type of important feature in the row section. Think you need to freeze a bunch of rows or specific rows in a spreadsheet, if you need to do that you just select the last row of the freezing range and you open the freeze > row section. You can see that your selected row number has been updated up to the current row bracket. Then just click that option and your row range will freeze perfectly.

Column Section 

This section operates all vertical freeze and unfreezes in google sheets. It can be used as a frozen column for horizontal scrolling.

  1.  No Columns: unfreeze Columns if already applied freeze into the spreadsheet. You don’t need to select any freeze columns while triggering the No Columns option.
  2. 1 Column: this is to freeze the 1st column (A: A) in spreadsheets.
  3. 2 Columns: this is to freeze the first 2 Columns (A: B) in spreadsheets.
  4. Up to Current Columns (N): this behavior is the same as up to the current row section. if you need to freeze a batch column or specific column in a spreadsheet, then just select column ( if range selects the last column in range). Then your column will freeze with horizontal scrolling.

About example

The school held an exam for grade 9 students. This school has 5 classrooms for grade 9 & students participate in 7 subject. If getting a total mark average more than 65 students will be PASSED otherwise FAILED.

Download Sample Sheet

To Import the example datasheet into your spreadsheet,

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
  2. On the top of navigation click File > Import (import datasheet)

Let’s continue all our particle topics based on the above example datasheet.

How to freeze rows in google sheets?

Based on the example sheet, I need to freeze the row header (1:1), to determine how to scroll down the data sheet based on the row header.

To freeze Row Header in Google sheets,

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. 
  2. On the top of the navigation click View > Freeze.
  3. Then select 1 Row in the Freeze Sub dropdown.On the top of the navigation click View - Freeze - How to freeze rows in google sheets
  4. Now your top row is frozen (Fixed on top), and you can always see it while scrolling vertically.result - How to freeze rows in google sheets

Awesome, this is the way to freeze rows in google sheets. As I describe in the feature of freeze row in the google sheets section I can choose to optimize various (Ex. 1 column, 2 columns, or a range of columns). way to freeze row-related data in google sheet. 

How to freeze columns in google sheets?

Based on the example sheet, I need to scroll horizontally to analyze each user’s data record easily. So I need to freeze the user’s first name and last name column let check how to do that.

To freeze columns in google sheets,

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. 
  2. Select the last Column which you need to freeze in the column range. Based on our example sheets I need to freeze the A and B columns (A: B). Then I select the B column in the datasheet. select column - How to freeze Columns in google sheets
  3. Next On the top of navigation click View > Freeze.On the top of the navigation - How to freeze Columns in google sheets
  4. Then select Up To Current Column (B). you can see that the inside bracket will identify ( B ) as the last column in the freeze column range..How to freeze Columns in google sheets

Ok, then the first name and last name column will freeze in the google sheets and  I can scroll horizontally spreadsheets to get a good visualization in each student data record.

How to freeze merged cells in google sheets?

Most of the time we use merge cells to describe the same type of data as one group of values. For example, we all know the user’s full name has a first name, last name, and middle name. We can describe 3 fields under one parent field called user full name.  Most of the time we have to group that kind of situation.

This is the important part, when merging cells in google sheets. you can’t freeze columns that contain only part of a merged cell. Try to break apart merged cells or freeze more columns to include the complete merged cells. Because you’re measuring a cell working as one cell in a spreadsheet.

Still don't have any idea about merge cells in google sheets, we highly recommend reading How To Merge Cells In Google Sheets Article.

Let check how to freeze the merged column in google sheets,

Based on the above example sheet we merge related student data and group under one parent cell. under student detail row header grouping student first name, last name and gender and under all subjects are groups in subject row header which students are facing.

Then, I need to freeze the student detail group of columns (merged) to validate horizontal data in data sheets.

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. 
  2. You can see that the Student details row header created using the first 3 columns in this spreadsheet (A: C).  the first column in A and last column C. Then select the last column ( C ) in student detail and merge column cells. freeze the merged column in google sheets
  3. Next On the top of navigation click View > Freeze.
  4. Then select Up To Current Column (C)On the top of the navigation - freeze the merged column in google sheets
    Now the spreadsheet will freeze the student detail column group and allow scrolling horizontally.result - freeze the merged column in google sheets

How to Unfreeze Row in Google Sheets?

As described on features on freeze row in google sheets, you don’t need to select any of the existing freeze rows or columns before unfreeze in google sheets. If you want to unfreeze a row or column,

  1. Open a spreadsheet in Google Sheets. 
  2. Next On the top of navigation click View > Freeze.
  3. Then select No Rows or No Columns base on your purpose

How to Unfreeze panes in Google Sheets

Ok, I hope, now you have an idea about how to freeze row in Google sheets. Enjoy!

Conclusion

Google sheets is an extremely powerful web-based multifunctional application. It becomes more and more featured day by day. When you are working with a large data set, you always need to verify and compare data with each other. Freeze row in google sheets are one of the most useful features that help to visualize data horizontally and vertically in spreadsheets.

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