When working with long Excel sheets, scrolling down often hides your header row. This makes it difficult to understand what each column represents. That’s why pinning a row (freezing a row) is extremely important. It helps you keep essential information visible at all times.

In this article, you will learn how to pin a row in Excel, including tips for scrolling, printing, shortcuts, and Excel on Mac.

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Why Pinning a Row in Excel is Important

Pinning (freezing) a row is useful because:

• It keeps your header row always visible.
• It makes large datasets easier to read.
• It avoids confusion when scrolling.
• It improves accuracy while entering or analyzing data.
• It ensures proper formatting when printing.

How to Pin a Row in Excel

Pinning a row in Excel means freezing it so that it stays visible while you scroll.

Steps:

1. Open your Excel sheet.
2. Select the row below the row you want to pin.
   Example: To pin Row 1, select Row 2.
3. Go to View tab.
4. Click Freeze Panes.
5. Select Freeze Top Row or Freeze Panes.

Your row is now pinned and will stay visible.

How to Pin a Row in Excel to the Top

If you want the first row (usually headings) to stay on top:

1. Go to View.
2. Click Freeze Panes.
3. Select Freeze Top Row.

This works even if you scroll 10,000 rows down—Row 1 will remain fixed.

How to Pin a Row in Excel When Scrolling

To make sure the top header row stays visible while scrolling:

• Use Freeze Top Row for the first row.
• Use Freeze Panes if you want to freeze custom rows.

You can combine frozen columns and rows for better visibility.

How to Pin a Row in Excel to Always Show

If you want a row to always show no matter where you scroll:

1. Select the row below it.
2. Go to View → Freeze Panes → Freeze Panes.

Now the pinned row remains permanently visible.

How to Pin a Row in Excel So It Doesn’t Move

To prevent the row from moving even if you scroll sideways or down:

• Use Freeze Panes (not just Freeze Top Row).
• This locks both horizontal and vertical movement.

How to Pin a Row in Excel for Printing

If you want the header row to repeat on every printed page:

1. Go to Page Layout tab.
2. Click Print Titles.
3. Under Rows to repeat at top, select the header row.
4. Click OK.

Now the pinned row prints on every page of your printed document.

How to Pin a Row in Excel on Mac

Mac users can freeze rows too:

1. Open your workbook.
2. Select the row below the one you want to freeze.
3. Go to Layout or View menu.
4. Click Freeze Panes.
5. Select Freeze Top Row or Freeze Panes.

Works the same as Windows.

How to Pin a Row in Excel Shortcut

There is no direct one-key shortcut, but you can use this sequence:

Windows Shortcut:

Alt + W + F + R    → Freeze Top Row  
Alt + W + F + F    → Freeze Panes  

Mac Shortcut:

Mac does not have a default shortcut, but you can freeze from the menu.

FAQ – How to Pin a Row in Excel

1. How do I unpin a row in Excel?

Go to View → Freeze Panes → Unfreeze Panes.

2. Can I freeze both rows and columns?

Yes. Select a cell below the row and right of the column you want to freeze, then use Freeze Panes.

3. Why can’t I freeze panes?

This happens if:

• The sheet is protected.
• You are in Page Layout View.

Switch to Normal View and try again.

4. Can I freeze multiple rows?

Yes. Select the row below the last row you want to freeze, then use Freeze Panes.

5. Does freezing affect printing?

No. Frozen panes are for viewing only. Use Print Titles for printing.