Office Settings & Configuration

How to Freeze Six Column Headings in Excel (Step-by-Step)

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to freeze six specific column headings in Excel so they remain visible while scrolling through a spreadsheet.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Navigating a large dataset where keeping the first six columns and the top heading row visible simultaneously is necessary for context.
Observed behavior: The standard Freeze Panes feature does not appear to work as expected, likely due to selecting the wrong cell before applying the feature.

Before you start

Ensure your worksheet is in 'Normal' view (not Page Layout) and that you have cleared any existing frozen panes by navigating to View > Freeze Panes > Unfreeze Panes.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Cell Intersection to Freeze Rows and Columns

By selecting the cell immediately below your heading row and to the right of your target columns, you can freeze both axes simultaneously.

Excel uses the currently selected cell as an intersection point. It freezes all rows above the active cell and all columns to the left of it. If your feature is failing, you are likely selecting the columns themselves rather than the single intersection cell.

Select the exact intersection cell

To freeze the first six columns (A through F) and the first row (headings), click exactly on cell G2. Do not highlight the entire columns or rows.

Apply Freeze Panes

Navigate to the 'View' tab on the top ribbon, click on the 'Freeze Panes' dropdown menu, and select 'Freeze Panes'.

Verify the frozen layout

Scroll to the right and scroll down to confirm that columns A through F and row 1 remain locked in place.

Intersection Rule: Remember: Excel always freezes the rows directly above and the columns directly to the left of your currently selected cell.

Smart Spreadsheet Management

Freeze Panes and Manage Data Effortlessly with WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet provides a highly intuitive interface for locking rows and columns, ensuring your large datasets remain easy to analyze. It is a lightweight, powerful tool that makes spreadsheet formatting simple.

1. Open your file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing spreadsheet document.
2. Select the target cell: Click on cell G2 to prepare for locking the first six columns (A-F) and the top heading row.
3. Activate Freeze Panes: Navigate to the View tab, click on the 'Freeze Panes' button, and select the first 'Freeze Panes' option from the list.
4. Scroll to verify: Scroll down and across your sheet to verify the six column headings are perfectly frozen in place.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formats, keeping your frozen panes intact.Intuitive and easy-to-navigate ribbon interface for freezing and unfreezing panes in one click.Lightweight and fast, easily handling massive datasets without lagging.Completely free to use with robust data sorting and filtering features.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Freeze Panes option greyed out in Excel?

The Freeze Panes option may be disabled if you are in Page Layout view, if multiple worksheets are grouped together, or if you are currently editing inside a cell. Switch to Normal view and press Esc to ensure no cells are in edit mode.

Can I freeze columns that are not next to each other?

No, Excel only allows you to freeze contiguous rows at the top and contiguous columns on the left side of the worksheet. You cannot freeze a column in the middle without also freezing all the columns to its left.

How do I unfreeze panes if I made a mistake?

To remove frozen rows or columns, go to the View tab, click on 'Freeze Panes', and select 'Unfreeze Panes' from the dropdown list. You can then select the correct intersection cell and apply the freeze again.