What Is Freeze Columns In Google Sheets?
The Freeze Columns in Google Sheets helps us lock or fix the columns, as required, in a large dataset. It helps users view the data in a worksheet with the headers or the required columns, when we scroll right to left. Using the Google Sheets Freeze Columns feature prevents cell from getting edited. Also, it lets the readers efficiently view and analyze the data without any miss.
Consider the dataset given below that consists of Employee details such as their names, date of joining, age, gender and location. We will freeze the employee names column, using the Freeze Columns in Google Sheets, to view their respective locations.
Choose Column C – select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “Up to column C” option, as shown below.
We get the output shown below, i.e., the grey line after Column C, indicating that the Column is locked. Now, we can view the location of the employees in the corresponding cells without any need to hide or reduce the column-width, as shown below.
How To Freeze Columns In Google Sheets?
We can Freeze Columns in Google Sheets in two ways, namely,
- Using drag bar.
- Using main menu.
Method #1 – Using Drag Bar-
We see a small rectangular space, at the upper-left part of the worksheet, i.e., at the start of the column-letters and the row-numbers, as shown below.
The right vertical bar and the bottom horizontal bar, of the small rectangular space, are thick grey lines, which will help us to freeze the columns and the rows, respectively.
The steps to Freeze Columns in Google Sheets Using drag bar are,
Step 1: Go to the vertical bar, click and drag to the right till the columns we want to freeze, here, till Column B, as shown below.
[Note: The vertical bar is no longer in its place, but has moved after the Column B. It means the columns are frozen till Column B.]
Step 2: Click the horizontal bar and drag below till the rows we want to freeze, here, till Row 5, as shown below.
[Note: The horizontal bar is no longer in its place, but has moved after the Row 5. It means the rows are frozen till Row 5.]
Method #2 – Using Main Menu-
The steps to Freeze Columns in Google Sheets Using Main Menu are,
Step 1: Choose the cells to freeze– select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow and we get multiple options to choose, as shown below, namely,
- 1 row or 1 column –It will select the first row or first column, respectively.
- 2 rows or 2 columns – It will select the first two rows or first two columns, respectively.
- Up to row or Up to column – Based on the selection of cells it will give us an option to choose till what rows and columns we want to freeze.
Step 2: We can choose any of the available options. Here, we will choose the “1 row” option, as shown below.
We get the following output where the Row 1 is locked.
Step 3: Next, we will choose the “1 column” option, as shown below.
We get the following output where the Column A is locked.
Examples
We will consider some examples to Freeze Multiple Columns, Rows and Columns together and Unfreeze Columns in Google Sheets for the following dataset given below, that consists of Student data such as their ID, names, grade, Scores and Promoted details.
Example #1 – Freeze Multiple Columns in Google Sheets.
Regardless of the columns we choose, when we apply the freeze multiple columns option, the feature always freezes the columns from Column A.
The steps to Freeze Multiple Columns in Google Sheets are,
Step 1: (Scenario 1) – Select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “2 columns” option, as shown below.
We get the output shown below, i.e., the grey line after Column B, indicating that the Columns A and B are locked.
Step 2: (Scenario 2) – We will now select a column we wish and freeze till the same.
Therefore, choose column D, select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “Up to column D” option, as shown below.
We get the output shown below, i.e., the grey line after Column D, indicating that the Columns A to D are locked. Therefore, we can conclude that the columns we select to Freeze, are the options that appear in the “View” tab. So that we can lock them accordingly.
Example #2 – Freezing Rows and Columns together in Google Sheets.
The steps to Freeze Rows and Columns together in Google Sheets, using the default options available in the “View” tab, are as follows:
Step 1: Select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “2 rows” option, as shown below.
The output is shown below, i.e., the grey line after Row 2, indicating that the rows 1 and 2 are locked.
Step 2: Next, select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “2 columns” option, as shown below.
The output is shown below, i.e., the grey line after Column B, indicating that it locks the Columns A and B.
Example #3 – Unfreeze Columns in Google Sheets
Consider the Columns and Rows we locked in the previous example. The procedure to Unfreeze Columns in Google Sheets is,
Select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “No columns” option, as shown below.
The output is shown below, where it removes the grey line after Column B, indicating that the Columns are Unfreezed.
[Note: To unfreeze rows, select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “No rows”.]
Example #4 – Freeze Rows/Columns in Google Sheets in a large datasheet
The student data we are working on is quite a large dataset. When we want to view the remaining data after row 16 and we scroll down, then the header will not be visible, as shown below.
In such scenarios, we must Zoom out, to view the whole data. However, the data will be so small that it will be difficult to view or understand, as shown below.
The procedure to freeze the required rows or columns, to view the headers when we scroll up and down or right to left is,
Select the “View” tab – click the “Freeze” option right-arrow – select the “Up to row 6” option, as shown below.
[Note: The “Up to row/column …” option will give the number as per the selected cell. Here, the cell B6 is selected, therefore, we have the option “Up to row 6/column B”.]
The output shown below, i.e., the grey line after Row 6 indicating that the particular row is locked.
The advantage is, we can view the rest of the student details along with the headers from row 7 immediately after row 6, without zooming-out or reducing the zoom percentage from 100% to lesser number, as shown below.
Important Things To Note
- Once we freeze a row or a column, we cannot freeze another row or column. We must first Unfreeze the locked rows or columns and then, use the Freeze Cells option on the required row or column.
- Even though the cells are locked, when we copy the dataset, the entire dataset that gets hidden gets copied.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
It is important to Freeze Columns in Google Sheets because,
It helps the end users to comprehend data or information clearly, without missing any details.
Locks the rows and columns in a large dataset, when we scroll up, down, left or right of the worksheet.
We can line up the data with table headers, quick and easy, and retrieve the required information.
It gives the spreadsheet a professional look especially when we use it as a shared worksheet or for presentation.
An alternate way to Unfreeze the Frozen Columns in Google Sheets is by using the Drag and drop of drag bar –
To unfreeze columns, drag and drop the vertical grey line towards the row numbers.
To unfreeze rows, drag and drop the horizontal grey line towards the column names.
Or else, in both the cases, drag and drop the grey lines to the upper-left corner of the worksheet where the small rectangular space is found, as shown below.
A few advantages are,
• When the headers are visible, then we can modify data easily without missing information.
• In a large dataset, we can project only the needed data.
A few disadvantages are,
• When we copy and paste the data values from the dataset, there are chances of missing the locked or frozen data.
• Even if a column gets hidden, we might unintentionally delete it.
An alternate way to Freeze Columns in Google Sheets is,
• To freeze columns, right-click on the column you want to freeze – click the “View more column actions” option right-arrow – select the “Freeze up to column …” option, as shown below.
• To freeze rows, right-click on the row you want to freeze – click the “View more row actions” option right-arrow – select the “Freeze up to row …” option, as shown below.
Download Template
This article helps understand the Freeze Columns in Google Sheets features through examples. You can download the template and use it instantly.
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