How do I set a header row in Excel?

No one was able to answer this question, noting several threads closed off without addressing the question.

I was pulling my hair out trying to make sense of the directions, but all seemed to only offer a solution when creating a *new* sheet/table.


To set a row of headers is simple, and it annoys me that I spent so long trying to figure it out.


  1. Highlight the row you wish to make the Header Row.
  2. Press the "Data" tab
  3. Press the filter button once.


And Voila!

You now have row headers with drop-down menus to sort, isolate, and highlight the data that you need.



[Edited by Moderator]

iMac 27″, macOS 14.7

Posted on Jul 14, 2025 10:28 PM

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Posted on Jul 15, 2025 04:25 AM

FWIW, Excel is not an Apple product. In the future, it's best to contact the vendor of third-party apps for support.

4 replies

Jul 15, 2025 09:31 AM in response to Lawrence Finch

Lawrence Finch wrote:

• OK, the REALLY easy way:

Select the top row
• Go to the View menu
• Choose Freeze Top Row

At the risk of being pedantic (okay, I'm always pedantic), I'd say that's not creating a header row, either. Just freezing it. I have a very wide spreadsheet I use all the time. I have the first four or so columns frozen so that even as I move right, I still know which row I'm in. The frozen columns have names, dates and departments.


But freezing sections is an extremely useful tool.

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How do I set a header row in Excel?

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