Fix Excel Power Query Refresh Resetting Column Widths with Freeze Panes
Question details
User asks why refreshing a Power Query table resets Excel column widths to a default size after Freeze Panes is enabled.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel with Power Query
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user has a Power Query table in an Excel workbook, has applied Freeze Panes, and refreshes the query to update data.
- Observed behavior
- After refresh, all column widths reset to a default size.
Open the workbook containing the Power Query table, note your custom column widths and the freeze pane location, and make sure you can undo or restore the layout after testing a refresh.
Restore column widths manually after a Power Query refresh
Use this immediate workaround when you need to recover your intended layout without changing the query connection.
The reset occurs because the Power Query refresh re-creates the output table, which can discard existing column width formatting and freeze pane layout.
Go to the Data tab, click Refresh All or right-click the Power Query table and select Refresh, then wait for the query to finish.
Click the first column letter, hold Shift, and click the last affected column letter to select the range.
Right-click the selected column headers and choose Column Width, enter the desired width, and click OK.
If Freeze Panes was lost, select the cell below and to the right of the frozen rows/columns, go to the View tab, click Freeze Panes, and choose Freeze Panes.
Automate column width restoration with an Office Script
Use this when you refresh frequently and want a repeatable script to reapply widths after the query updates.
Report the Power Query refresh issue through Excel feedback
Use this to notify Microsoft so the column width reset behavior can be fixed in a future update.
Use WPS Office as a Lightweight Excel Alternative for Spreadsheet Workflows
If the Power Query refresh issue keeps disrupting your Excel workflow, WPS Office Spreadsheets is a free, lightweight alternative that opens and saves .xlsx files with a familiar ribbon interface, supports freeze panes and column width controls, and lets you migrate existing workbooks without a subscription.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Go to the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer for your platform.
- 2. Open your Excel workbook: Launch WPS Spreadsheets, click Menu, choose Open, and select your existing .xlsx file.
- 3. Apply Freeze Panes and column widths: After editing, select the columns or the freeze position, then use the View tab to freeze panes and drag column headers to set widths.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel column widths reset after refreshing a Power Query table with Freeze Panes?
A Power Query refresh re-creates the output table, which can discard manual column width information, especially when freeze panes are applied. This is usually an Excel/Power Query behavior rather than a Freeze Panes setting issue.
Can I stop Power Query from changing column widths during refresh?
There is no built-in toggle that preserves all custom column widths after a Power Query refresh. You can restore them manually, use an Office Script, or report the behavior through Help > Feedback > Report a Problem.
Will WPS Office preserve column widths when refreshing a similar query?
WPS Office Spreadsheets uses its own spreadsheet engine and handles worksheet formatting differently. If you switch a workbook to WPS Office, use the View > Freeze Panes and column width tools to maintain the layout for your .xlsx files.
How do I submit feedback about a Power Query bug in Excel?
Click Help > Feedback > Report a Problem, describe the exact steps, and attach the workbook if available so Microsoft can reproduce the column width reset.
Does applying Freeze Panes before or after refresh make a difference?
Users report the reset occurs when freeze panes are enabled before the refresh. Try removing freeze panes before refreshing and reapplying them after, but the core issue should still be reported to Microsoft.
