How to Do Alt + W F F on Mac in Excel (Easiest Way)
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Quick Answer
To do Alt + W F F on Mac in Excel, download and install Accelerator Keys, then press Option, followed by W, F, F.
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Command: Freeze Panes (View → Freeze Panes → Freeze Panes)
Step-by-Step Guide
- Download and install Accelerator Keys (14-day free trial, no credit card required).
- Follow the simple on-screen setup instructions (just a few clicks).
- Press the Option key (works like Alt on Windows).
- Press W, F, F to complete the ribbon shortcut.
This is how to do Alt + W F F on Mac in Excel with Accelerator Keys, the native ribbon and alt key shortcut solution for Mac users who get more done with Excel.
What Does Alt + W F F Do in Excel?
Alt + W F F freezes panes in Excel. This locks rows above and columns to the left of your currently selected cell. The frozen rows and columns remain visible as you scroll through the rest of your worksheet.
How Freeze Panes Works
When you select a cell and press Alt + W F F:
- All rows above the selected cell become frozen
- All columns to the left of the selected cell become frozen
- A dark border line appears showing the frozen boundary
Example: If you select cell B2 and freeze panes:
- Row 1 (headers) stays visible when you scroll down
- Column A (labels) stays visible when you scroll right
Common Use Cases
- Large datasets: Keep column headers visible while scrolling through thousands of rows
- Financial models: Lock row labels and time periods while navigating complex spreadsheets
- Data entry: Always see the header row to know which column you’re filling in
- Comparison: Keep reference data visible while reviewing other parts of the sheet
Native Mac Excel Alternative
Without Accelerator Keys, you can freeze panes in Mac Excel by:
- Select the cell below and to the right of where you want to freeze
- Go to the View tab in the ribbon
- Click Freeze Panes
- Select Freeze Panes from the dropdown
Using Option + W F F with Accelerator Keys is much faster.
| Shortcut |
Command |
Description |
| Alt + W F R |
Freeze Top Row |
Freeze only the first row |
| Alt + W F C |
Freeze First Column |
Freeze only the first column |
| Alt + W S |
Split |
Split the window into panes |
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