LibreOffice Calc · Workflow · Beginner
Freeze the Top Row in LibreOffice Calc
Keep your header row visible while scrolling in LibreOffice Calc using Freeze Rows and Columns, with troubleshooting and print-header tips.
Updated 10 October 2026 · Formula checks: testing standards
On a long worksheet, column headings disappear when you scroll down. LibreOffice Calc lets you freeze the top row so it stays visible as the rest of the sheet moves. This is a viewing feature; it does not alter your data.
Keep row 1 visible
- Open your worksheet and make sure you can identify the heading row.
- Select row 2 (the row immediately below the heading you want frozen), or select cell
A2. - Choose View → Freeze Rows and Columns.
- Scroll down. Row 1 should remain visible while the rows below it move.
To remove the freeze, use View → Freeze Rows and Columns again.
Freeze a row and a column together
To keep both row 1 and column A visible, select cell B2 first, then choose View → Freeze Rows and Columns. Everything above and to the left of the selected cell becomes the non-scrolling region.
| Select first | Result after freezing |
|---|---|
| A2 | Freeze first row |
| B1 | Freeze first column |
| B2 | Freeze first row and first column |
| A4 | Freeze rows 1–3 |
If freezing does not behave as expected
- The wrong rows are fixed: unfreeze, select the correct boundary cell and freeze again.
- You previously split the window: the Freeze and Split Window modes are distinct and cannot be used simultaneously as the same pane behavior. Remove the split before freezing.
- You want a header on every printed page: freezing is not a print setting. Use Format → Print Ranges → Edit and configure repeating rows instead.
- Your headings are in rows 1–3: select row 4 or cell A4 rather than A2.
What this does not do
Freezing doesn’t protect a row from editing, make it a column filter, or create a repeating printed header. For showing only matching records, read about the COUNTIF function or use Calc’s Data filters.
Common questions
Can I freeze multiple columns? Yes. Select the cell immediately to the right of those columns, such as C1 to freeze A and B.
Does a frozen header survive saving an ODS file? Freeze is a view setting in the spreadsheet; verify it after saving and reopening the file in the application you plan to use.
Official reference: LibreOffice Help. This tutorial focuses on LibreOffice Calc; menu names and behavior can vary by version, operating system and locale.