When using google sheets or other spreadsheet platforms, you can easily scroll vertically, or horizontally, without the page moving all over the place. This free movement is just not a precise way to control the visual aspect of the page for me, and it becomes distracting. Is there a way to restrict Numbers to up and down, or side to side scrolling like other spreadsheet applications?
iPhone 14 Plus
Posted on Jul 11, 2025 6:48 AM
Posted on Jul 12, 2025 9:07 AM
In System Preferences make it so the scroll bars always show. In recent versions it is under the "Appearance" settings. Then you can click on a scroll bar and drag to scroll. I don't know of anything else that gets close to what you want. Well, maybe using a PC mouse that does not have horizontal scrolling. I think you have to press Control or something to scroll sideways with one of them.
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Jul 12, 2025 9:07 AM in response to DarinEMcKinney
In System Preferences make it so the scroll bars always show. In recent versions it is under the "Appearance" settings. Then you can click on a scroll bar and drag to scroll. I don't know of anything else that gets close to what you want. Well, maybe using a PC mouse that does not have horizontal scrolling. I think you have to press Control or something to scroll sideways with one of them.
Jul 12, 2025 12:32 AM in response to DarinEMcKinney
Scroll restrictions would be a nice feature to have and you can request it by providing ⇢ Product Feedback. 😉
Take care! 👋🏼😉
Jul 12, 2025 12:19 AM in response to DarinEMcKinney
There is no way in the app itself to control overall scrolling behavior (though you can set the number of Header Column and Header Rows and "freeze" them).
On iPadOS:
Add or remove rows and columns in Numbers on iPad - Apple Support
On macOS:
Add or remove rows and columns in Numbers on Mac - Apple Support
SG
Jul 12, 2025 2:55 AM in response to DarinEMcKinney
I had a look at Google Sheets and see that you can "freeze" columns or rows, much as you do in Numbers.
I don't see a way to restrict scrolling to just vertical or just horizontal.
That kind of restriction is not easy to find in Excel, either, if it's there.
Perhaps you could describe the behavior you are seeing and the behavior you want in more detail.
SG
Jul 12, 2025 9:15 AM in response to SGIII
In excel as far as I know you can either scroll horizontally or vertically. But not both at the same time. This is the problem with numbers. When you use fingers to scroll vertically, it still moves horizontally making it more of a diagonal movement. If it could be set to restrict one way scrolling that would be great.
Jul 12, 2025 10:43 PM in response to DarinEMcKinney
DarinEMcKinney wrote:
In excel as far as I know you can either scroll horizontally or vertically. But not both at the same time.
I have no problem scrolling horizontal and vertically at the same time in Excel.
SG
Jul 13, 2025 3:21 AM in response to DarinEMcKinney
Hi Darin,
In Numbers, I find these setting useful: Menu > Settings > Rulers.
Tick every box. You will be glad you did. Have fun experimenting with Numbers!
Regards,
Ian.
Is there a way to restrict the Numbers app to only vertical or horizontal scrolling