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How to Set Rows as Print Titles in Excel (Easy & Fast)

October 12, 2023 1.2K views

Printing long Excel sheets often leads to lost headers and disorganised documents. But with print titles, you can effortlessly repeat the top rows on every printed page. No more flipping pages back and forth to decipher what information columns contain! Print titles keep your data neatly formatted by locking key header rows. Using Excel's handy print title feature, this quick guide will teach you how to enable row repetition across printouts.

3 Easy Ways to Set Rows as Print Titles in Excel (Step-by-Step)

Method 1: Using Print Titles Option

The simplest way to repeat header rows when printing Excel sheets is using the Print Titles function in Page Setup. With just a few clicks, you can designate select rows to display on each page.

Step 1: Open your spreadsheet and click the sheet with the headers you want to repeat. On the Page Layout tab, go to Page Setup. In the menu that pops up, go to the Print Titles section.

how to set repeat header row in excel

Step 2: Click inside the "Rows to repeat at top" box and highlight your header row cells—for example, $1:$2. Click OK to save these print title settings.

click inside the "Rows to repeat at top" box and highlight your header row cells

Step 3: Before printing, use the print preview feature to verify your header rows will repeat adequately. Check that the selected titles appear on each preview page.

Check that the selected titles appear on each preview page

That's it! You can seamlessly repeat header rows across all printed pages by leveraging Excel's built-in Print Titles tool. Your Excel sheets will maintain readability and organization.

Next time you need printable titles, don't reinvent the wheel. Use this quick and easy method to format your sheet printing in seconds. Page Setup makes repeating headers a breeze.

Method 2: Using Keyboard Shortcut

If you want a speedy way to enable print titles in Excel, try using handy keyboard shortcuts. With a few quick hotkey combinations, you can swiftly designate rows to repeat at the top of each printed page.

Step 1: Press Alt + P on your keyboard to open the Page Setup dialog. Then press S and P again to jump right to the Print Titles settings.

press Alt + P on your keyboard to open the Page Setup dialog

Step 2: In the Rows to repeat at the top field, input the cell reference for your header rows, such as $4:$5. Click OK to save the settings.

input the cell reference for your header rows

Step 3: Finally, use Ctrl + P to open print preview and verify that your selected rows will repeat properly. Arrow through the pages to check the formatted headers.

Arrow through the pages to check the formatted headers

This hotkey method is the fastest route when setting print titles rapidly. Just a couple of quick shortcuts will get those crucial header rows repeating on each printed page. For efficiency experts, keyboard shortcuts are the top technique.

Method 3: Applying Freeze Panes Function

The Freeze Panes feature in Excel allows you to lock rows or columns in place so they remain visible when scrolling through a large worksheet. This is handy when printing as it keeps your header rows static at the top of each page. Follow these simple steps to utilize Freeze Panes for print titles:

Step 1: First, select the row right before where you want the freeze to occur. In our example, we'll choose row 6 since we wish to have rows 1 through 5 frozen.

select the row right before where you want the freeze to occur

Step 2: Go to the View tab and click the Freeze Panes drop-down menu in the Window group. Select the Freeze Panes option. It will insert a gray line showing your frozen rows.

‘Select the Freeze Panes option’

Step 3: Now, rows 1-5 will stay locked at the top, even when scrolling downward. Go to File > Print for a preview with the frozen rows repeating at the top of each page.

Go to File > Print to see a preview with the frozen rows repeating at the top of each page

Go to File > Print to see a preview with the frozen rows repeating at the top of each page

Note: Freezing panes takes just a few clicks but makes printing titles a breeze. As you work in more extensive spreadsheets, it's a real-time saver over repeatedly setting the print area. You can also freeze columns using the same method.

Pro Tip: Double-check your frozen rows in the print preview before printing a large job. Adjust the freeze position if needed, so your titles capture the correct rows.

How to Print Rows with Column Headers on Top of Every Page?

To print column headers on top of each page in Excel, follow these steps:

Step 1: Select the worksheet you want to print. Go to the Page Layout tab and click the Print Titles button.

set rows 1/2/3 as print titles in excel

set rows 1/2/3 as print titles in excel

Step 2: In the Print Titles dialog box, under Rows to repeat at the top, enter the reference for the rows with your column headers (e.g., $1:$1). You can also use the Collapse Dialog button to select the column header rows in the worksheet directly.

how to set rows to print on every page in excel’

how to set rows to print on every page in excel’

Step 3: Click OK to save the print titles setting. The selected rows will now print at the top of every page. Review the print preview before final printing to ensure the column headers repeat correctly.

Review the print preview before final printing to ensure the column headers are repeating properly

Review the print preview before final printing to ensure the column headers are repeating properly

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FAQs

What Are Print Titles In Excel?

Print titles in Excel are rows or columns that repeat at the top or left of each printed page to maintain necessary headers or labels. It ensures data clarity and context is maintained across multiple printed pages.

Why Are My Print Titles Greyed Out Excel?

Print titles may appear greyed out and unselectable if the worksheet is protected or viewed in Page Layout mode. To enable print title selection, exit these modes by unprotecting the sheet and returning to the Normal view.

Can I Use A Macro To Set Rows As Print Titles?

Yes, macros can be used to automate setting rows as print titles in Excel. By recording a macro while defining print titles, you can replay it later to bypass manually selecting them each time you need repeating rows.

Summary

Excel provides several straightforward methods to set rows as print titles, including the Print Titles dialog, keyboard shortcuts, and freezing panes. These allow easy repeating of headers across all printed pages for clarity. Reviewing the print preview ensures the defined titles print as expected before the final output.

For users looking for an accessible alternative to Microsoft Office apps, I recommend WPS Office. It delivers full Excel spreadsheet compatibility and features without subscription fees or limits. Whether you need to edit documents, crunch numbers, make presentations, or collaborate online, WPS Office matches the functionality of Microsoft 365 for most home and small business needs across Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.