You scroll down a huge spreadsheet, and suddenly you can’t remember which column holds the dates and which one holds the dollar amounts. You can fix that fast, and you’ll learn how to lock your headers in under 60 seconds.

Quick Answer

1. Click any cell in your sheet.
2. Click View, hover over Freeze, and select 1 row.
3. Scroll down. Your top row stays put.

Prefer your mouse? Drag the thick gray bar in the top-left corner of the sheet down below the row you want to lock.

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Method 1: Freeze a Row in Google Sheets (Desktop)

This is the fastest way to freeze your top row. It works in any desktop browser, like Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Click the View menu at the top of the screen.
3. Hover over Freeze.
4. Select 1 row to freeze your top row, or 2 rows to freeze the top two.
5. Scroll down to test it. Your frozen rows stay visible at the top.

Freeze More Than Two Rows

Need to freeze a bigger header section? Click any cell in the last row you want to keep visible.

Then click View, hover over Freeze, and select Up to row followed by that row’s number.

The Mouse Shortcut

Look for the thick gray bar in the top-left corner of your sheet. Click and drag it down to sit just below the last row you want to freeze.

Let go, and Google Sheets locks everything above the line.

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Method 2: Freeze a Column in Google Sheets (Desktop)

Freezing a column works almost the same way. It keeps your row labels in view while you scroll right.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your spreadsheet in Google Sheets.
2. Click the View menu.
3. Hover over Freeze.
4. Select 1 column to lock column A, or 2 columns to lock columns A and B.
5. Scroll right to test it. Your frozen columns stay on the left.

Lock Columns Beyond Column B

Click any cell in the last column you want to keep visible. Then click View, hover over Freeze, and select Up to column followed by that column’s letter.

You can also drag the thick gray bar to the right, past the last column you want to lock.

Freeze Rows and Columns Together

Yes, you can do both at once. Freeze your rows first, then repeat the steps for columns.

This works well for big tables where you need to keep both headers and labels visible.

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How to Freeze a Row or Column on Mobile (iPhone and Android)

The Google Sheets app lets you freeze rows and columns too. The steps match on iPhone and Android.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your spreadsheet in the Google Sheets app.
2. Tap the row number (or column letter) you want to freeze.
3. Tap the arrow or three-dot menu that appears.
4. Select Freeze.

Your row or column now stays visible as you scroll. Menu labels can shift slightly between app versions, so look for the Freeze option in the menu.

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Troubleshooting and FAQ

Why can’t I freeze my row?

Merged cells are the most common culprit. Frozen ranges can’t cut through a merged cell, so Google Sheets blocks the freeze.

Try this fix: select the merged cells, click Format, hover over Merge cells, and select Unmerge. Then freeze your row again.

How do I unfreeze a row or column?

Click View, hover over Freeze, and select No rows. To unfreeze columns, select No columns from the same menu.

You can also drag the thick gray bar back to the top-left corner. On mobile, tap the frozen row or column, then choose the unfreeze option from the menu.

Why does my frozen row take up so much screen space?

Frozen rows stay on screen all the time, so a tall header can crowd your view. Try freezing fewer rows, or shorten the row height.

Do frozen rows show up when I print?

Frozen rows only affect how your sheet looks on screen. If you want a header row to repeat on every printed page, open File, select Print, then look for the Headers & footers options.

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Quick Recap

• Freeze a row: Click View, hover over Freeze, and select 1 row or 2 rows.
• Freeze a column: Use the same menu and select 1 column or 2 columns.

You’re all set. Go lock those headers and enjoy a spreadsheet that finally stays readable.

Related guides:

• How to Sort Data in Google Sheets
• How to Merge Cells in Google Sheets
• How to Create a Drop-Down List in Google Sheets