When working with a large spreadsheet, keeping specific rows or columns always in view can be helpful. Perhaps you want column headers to display as you scroll down the page, or maybe you’d like to compare two rows of data that are positioned far apart from each other. Here’s how to freeze and unfreeze rows and columns in Google Sheets using a web browser and the mobile app.

What to Know

  • In a browser, select a row and then select View > Freeze. Select your desired option.On mobile, open the Sheets app and select a row or column. Open the context menu, select the three dots, and then choose Freeze.

Freeze a Row in the Sheets Web App

In this example, we’ll freeze the first row to show how it works when you scroll away from the first row.

  • Select the row you’d like to freeze.
  • Click or tap the row number to the left of the row you want to freeze to select the entire row. To select an entire column, select the letter at the top of it.
  • Select View > Freeze.
  • From the options that are displayed, select the one that fits your needs.
  • No rows: Unfreezes all rows. 1 row: Freezes the first row. 2 rows: Freezes the first two rows. Up to current row (x): Freezes all rows up to the one currently selected, represented by x. No columns: Unfreezes all columns. 1 column: Freezes the first column. 2 columns: Freezes the first two columns. Up to current row (x): Freezes all columns up to the one currently selected, represented by x.

When you scroll horizontally or vertically, the column or row that you chose to freeze remains in view no matter where you are within the spreadsheet.

Select the row you’d like to freeze.

Click or tap the row number to the left of the row you want to freeze to select the entire row. To select an entire column, select the letter at the top of it.

Select View > Freeze.

From the options that are displayed, select the one that fits your needs.

  • No rows: Unfreezes all rows. 1 row: Freezes the first row. 2 rows: Freezes the first two rows. Up to current row (x): Freezes all rows up to the one currently selected, represented by x. No columns: Unfreezes all columns. 1 column: Freezes the first column. 2 columns: Freezes the first two columns. Up to current row (x): Freezes all columns up to the one currently selected, represented by x.

Freezing a Column or Row on a Smartphone or Tablet

Follow these instructions to freeze columns and/or rows on Android and iOS (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) devices.

To unfreeze a column or row at a later time, follow steps 1 and 2 again and select No rows or No columns.

  • Launch the Google Sheets app.
  • Open the spreadsheet you’re working on (or create a new one).
  • Select the row or column that you wish to freeze by tapping on it once so that it becomes highlighted.
  • Tap the row number to the left of the row you want to freeze to select the entire row. To select an entire column, select the letter at the top of it.
  • Tap the highlighted column again so that the context menu appears.
  • Tap the three dots at the right to open the context menu.
  • Select FREEZE.

Now, when you scroll horizontally or vertically, the column or row that you chose to freeze remains in view no matter where you are in the spreadsheet.

The following steps were performed in Android version 8 but will be similar across devices.

Launch the Google Sheets app.

Open the spreadsheet you’re working on (or create a new one).

Select the row or column that you wish to freeze by tapping on it once so that it becomes highlighted.

Tap the row number to the left of the row you want to freeze to select the entire row. To select an entire column, select the letter at the top of it.

Tap the highlighted column again so that the context menu appears.

Tap the three dots at the right to open the context menu.

Select FREEZE.

To unfreeze a column or row at a later time, follow steps 3 and 4 again and select UNFREEZE COLUMN or UNFREEZE ROW.

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