Protecting a worksheet or specific cells in Excel ensures that users can only make changes where you want them to, preventing accidental or unauthorized modifications. Here’s how to do it:
Protecting an Entire Worksheet
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Open the Worksheet :
- Go to the worksheet you want to protect.
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Access the Protect Sheet Option :
- Click on the Review tab in the Ribbon.
- Select Protect Sheet.
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Configure Protection Settings :
- In the dialog box that appears, you can:
- Enter a password (optional) : This password will be required to unprotect the sheet later.
- Select allowed actions : Choose what users can or cannot do (e.g., select locked cells, format cells, insert rows, etc.).
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Apply Protection :
- Click OK. If you set a password, you will be prompted to confirm it.
Protecting Specific Cells :
By default, every cell in an Excel worksheet is locked—but this lock only takes effect once the worksheet is protected. To protect only certain cells:
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Unlock Cells You Want Editable :
- Select the cells that should remain editable.
- Right-click and choose Format Cells.
- Go to the Protection tab.
- Uncheck Locked and click OK.
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Protect the Worksheet :
- Now follow the steps above to protect the worksheet (via the Review tab → Protect Sheet).
- Only the cells that remain locked will be protected, while the unlocked cells can be edited by users.
