ShortcutdrillExcel shortcuts / grouping and structure / Freeze panes
Freeze panes in Excel: Alt, W, F, F (Windows only)
| Windows | Alt, W, F, F |
|---|---|
| Mac | No key sequence. Excel for Mac has no ribbon key tips; use the menu or the nearest shortcut noted below. |
| Group | grouping and structure |
Drill: Freeze the header. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.
What it does and when to use it
Alt, W, F, F freezes everything above and to the left of the active cell, so headers and labels stay in view while you scroll. Select the first cell that should scroll, then press the sequence. The same keys unfreeze.
The common mistake
Freezing with A1 active, which freezes nothing, or with a cell far down, which freezes half the screen.
On a Mac
Excel for Mac does not show key tips when you press Option, so this ribbon sequence has no direct equivalent. The same command is in the menu bar, and many of the menus accept the keyboard once open. If you work on a Mac but your team is on Windows, learn the sequence anyway: it is what you will need on a Windows machine, and the Shortcutdrill sheet accepts Option in place of Alt so you can practice it.
Related shortcuts
- Insert a column Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+Shift+=
- Delete a blank row Shift+Space, Ctrl+-
- Group rows Alt+Shift+Right arrow
- Ungroup rows Alt+Shift+Left arrow
- Collapse the groups Alt, A, H
- The printable cheat sheet
Questions
How do I freeze the top row only?
Alt, W, F, R freezes the top row; Alt, W, F, C freezes the first column.
How do I freeze panes on a Mac?
Window, Freeze Panes from the menu, with the first scrolling cell selected. No default shortcut.
Learn it by pressing it
Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.
Start the drill