Lock cells in an Excel spreadsheet (worksheet) to prevent any changes to the data or formulas in a cell. A locked and protected cell can be unlocked at any time by the user who originally locked it. Follow the steps below to learn how to lock and protect cells in 2010 versions of Microsoft Excel, 2007, and 2003.
Step
Method 1 of 2: Excel 2007 and Excel 2010
Step 1. Open the Excel worksheet that contains the cells you want to lock
Step 2. Select one or more cells you want to lock
Step 3. Right click on the cell, then select Format Cells
Step 4. Click the tab labeled Protection
Step 5. Check the box next to the option labeled Locked
Step 6. Click OK
Step 7. Click the tab labeled Review at the top of the Excel worksheet
Step 8. Click the button labeled Protect Sheet from the Changes group
Step 9. Check Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells
Step 10. Enter the password into the text box labeled Password to unprotect sheet
Step 11. Click OK
Step 12. Retype the password into the text box labeled Reenter password to proceed
Step 13. Click OK
The selected cells will now be locked and protected, and can only be unlocked by selecting the cells again, and then entering the selected password.
Method 2 of 2: Excel 2003
Step 1. Open the Excel document that contains one or more cells that you want to lock
Step 2. Select one or all cells you want to lock
Step 3. Right-click on the cell selection, and select Format Cells from the drop-down menu
Step 4. Click the Protection tab
Step 5. Tick next to the column labeled Locked
Step 6. Click the OK button
Step 7. Click the Tools menu at the top of the Excel document
Step 8. Select Protection from the list of options
Step 9. Click on Protect Sheet
Step 10. Tick next to the option labeled Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells
Step 11. Type the password in the "Password to unprotect sheet" field that appears, then click OK
Step 12. Enter the password in the "Reenter password to proceed" field that appears
Step 13. Select OK. All selected cells will now be locked and protected, and can only be unlocked later by selecting the locked cells, and entering the password you initially set.
Tips
- If multiple users have access to the Excel document, lock all cells that contain important data or complex formulas to prevent the cells from being accidentally changed.
- If most of the cells in your Excel document contain valuable data or complex formulas, it's a good idea to lock or protect the entire document, and then open some of the cells that are allowed to change.
