Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Excel Freeze Panes Moving Wrong Columns on Mac

WPS Content Manager Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users experience an issue where Excel's Freeze Panes feature fails to work properly on Mac, causing columns on both sides of the freeze line to scroll simultaneously.

How to Fix Excel Freeze Panes Moving Wrong Columns on Mac

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: macOS (Sonoma, Ventura)
Scenario: Using the Freeze Panes feature to lock specific rows or columns while navigating a wide spreadsheet.
Observed behavior: Instead of locking the intended columns, columns on both sides of the freeze line move when scrolling, making it impossible to keep headers visible.

Before you start

Ensure that you are selecting the correct cell before applying the freeze. The active cell must be immediately below the row and strictly to the right of the column you want to lock.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset Panes and Relaunch Excel

Clearing existing freeze and split settings, followed by a software restart, can resolve temporary application glitches.

Often, conflicting view settings such as Split Panes can interfere with Freeze Panes, particularly after copying data or switching views.

Unfreeze Panes

Navigate to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and click 'Unfreeze Panes' to remove the current lock.

Remove Split Views

If the worksheet is split into multiple scrollable areas, click the 'Split' button on the View tab to turn off split panes.

Save and Relaunch

Save your workbook, completely close Microsoft Excel, and then reopen the file.

Reapply Freeze Panes

Select the correct cell (below the top rows and to the right of the first columns you want to lock) and click 'Freeze Panes'.

Test with a Blank Workbook: If resetting works on a new workbook but not the old one, the original file might be corrupted.

Solution 2

Install the Latest Office and macOS Updates

Since this is frequently reported as a bug on macOS Sonoma and Ventura, installing the latest patches may provide a permanent fix.

Solution 3

Report the Issue Through Excel Feedback

If the issue persists despite updates and resets, it is likely an unresolved Excel bug on Mac that needs reporting.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Flawless Spreadsheet Experience on Mac

If Excel bugs on macOS are disrupting your workflow, WPS Office provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative. Its spreadsheet tool seamlessly handles Freeze Panes without the glitches seen in some recent macOS updates.

1. Download WPS Office: Install WPS Office for Mac from the official website and launch the application.
2. Open Your Excel File: Click 'Open' on the homepage to load your existing .xlsx workbook into WPS Spreadsheets.
3. Freeze Panes Flawlessly: Go to the 'View' tab, select the cell below and to the right of your target headers, and click 'Freeze Panes'.

100% compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls, .csv) formatsLightweight and fully optimized for Apple Silicon and macOSReliable Freeze Panes and data management toolsFree to download with a familiar user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Freeze Panes lock the wrong columns?

This usually happens if the wrong cell is selected before applying the freeze. Ensure you select the cell directly below the row and strictly to the right of the column you wish to freeze.

Is there a repair tool for Excel on Mac like there is on Windows?

Unlike Windows, macOS does not have a Control Panel repair option for Microsoft Office. You must rely on software updates, deleting corrupted preferences, or completely reinstalling the application.

Can a split pane interfere with Freeze Panes?

Yes, having active split panes can cause scrolling glitches or prevent Freeze Panes from working correctly. Always remove splits from the View tab before applying a freeze.

Office App Problems