How to add header rows in Numbers on Mac: Format sidebar steps for Numbers 15

Header rows repeat your labels at the top of a table, such as Region, Month and Sales. They stay in place when you scroll, once you freeze them. In Numbers on Mac, the setting lives in the Format sidebar. Some older guides show a menu bar path instead, and that path is out of date.

What a header row does in a Numbers table

A header row is the top row, or rows, that Numbers treats as labels. You can have up to five of them in one table. The same limit applies to header columns on the left side. Footer rows sit at the bottom of the table, and you can have up to five of those too. A typical table needs one header row, so start with one and add more only when you need them.

Check your Numbers version before you follow the steps

Apple's current Numbers for Mac guide covers Numbers 15.4. To check your version, open the Numbers menu and choose About Numbers. Numbers 15.1 came out in January 2026 as a standalone app under Apple Creator Studio. TidBITS says version 15.1 needs macOS 15.6 Sequoia or later. Older 14.x releases were not checked, so treat these steps as confirmed for 15.x only.

Where the setting lives: Format sidebar, Table tab, Headers & Footer

The Table tab only shows table settings when a table is selected. Once it does, the Headers & Footer section holds three pop-up menus. One sets header rows, one sets header columns, and one sets footer rows. Each menu takes a number. Choosing 0 removes that kind of header or footer. Freeze Header Rows and Freeze Header Columns sit in the same menus, so the freeze setting lives in the same place.

Worked example: a table that needs an empty header row

Say your table has three columns, Region, Month and Sales, and the first row holds data for one region. If you set header rows to one now, that data row becomes the header. The data stays, but the row now acts as a label. This is the part that catches people out.

To keep an empty header, click a cell in the top row and press ⌥↑. Numbers adds a blank row above it. Then set the header rows menu to one. Apple describes the top row converting to a header, so the blank row should become the header, and you type your labels into it. Apple does not show this exact workflow, so check the result on your own table before you rely on it.

Freeze header rows so the labels stay on screen

Freezing keeps the header visible while you scroll through a long table. Choose Freeze Header Rows in the same Headers & Footer menu. Deselect it to unfreeze. Freeze Header Columns works the same way for the left side, which helps on a wide table you scroll sideways. Apple's guides list both options in these pop-up menus.

• Scroll down a long table. The header should stay at the top of the window.
• If the header scrolls away, open the Headers & Footer menu and confirm the freeze option has a checkmark.
• Scroll sideways on a wide table to test Freeze Header Columns.
• If the freeze stops holding after an update, use the troubleshooting steps below.

When to use header columns and footer rows

Use header columns when your first column holds names or categories you want visible while you scroll sideways. Use footer rows for totals or notes at the bottom. Turn them on only when the table needs them. Each one adds a row or column of labels, so extra headers can make a small table feel crowded.

Why a header row will not sit in the middle of a table

Header rows only work at the top of a table. An Apple Community answer says a header row in the middle is not a true header. The workaround in that thread is to change the fill colour of that row so it stands out. That answer comes from a user, not from Apple's docs, so treat it as a workaround.

Rows slide under the header: what to try

One Apple Community thread describes rows 2, 3 and 4 sliding under row 1. The top reply says to turn off header rows in Inspector > Format > Table > Headers and Footers. Another reply suggests dragging the table's top-left handle back onto the page. That thread is about Numbers on iPadOS 26, so test the fix on your Mac and check the result.

How header rows help when you sort and filter

Header rows tell you what each column holds before you sort or filter. When you sort by a column, the label row helps you confirm you picked the right one. Short, specific labels such as Region or Sales are easier to read at a glance. Keep labels consistent across the table so the header always matches the data below it. The sort and filter guides linked below show the exact steps.

Common mistakes with header rows in Numbers

• Looking for Table > Header Rows in the menu bar. Apple's current docs do not show that path. It comes from an older Numbers 5.1 thread.
• Expecting an empty header row after you choose one. The top row converts and keeps its data.
• Expecting freeze to happen on its own. Freeze Header Rows is a separate choice in the same menu.
• Trying to put a header in the middle of the table. Header rows only work at the top.
• Selecting a chart or text box instead of the table. Click a cell inside the table first.

Numbers for iCloud uses the same path

In Numbers for iCloud, click the table, then click Table at the top of the Format sidebar. Click the Headers & Footer pop-up menus and choose a number of header rows. Apple's iCloud guide lists the same five-row limit and the same freeze options. That guide is a separate document from the Mac guide. Apple's docs show no web-only differences, but check the menus on your own screen.

What to do next with your table

If you do not have a table yet, start with How to add a table in Numbers on Mac. Once your header is set, sort the rows below it with the steps in How to sort a table in Numbers on Mac. If you need to narrow down rows, follow How to filter a table in Numbers on Mac. For faster row edits, see How to use keyboard shortcuts in Numbers on Mac.