One of the greatest and most often used tools for managing and analyzing data is Microsoft Excel. You might wonder why. Well, this is due to the fact that it offers a number of features, like an online Excel sheet, including cell locking. Lock cells in Excel enable users to properly manage their data. If you have never heard of this, you might be tempted to ask: What does Lock Cells in Excel mean and how does it function?
Well, by making some worksheet cells inaccessible to users, cell locking enables you to safeguard your data. This article has all the information you require if you want to understand how to lock cells in Excel. Let’s show you how to quickly lock cells in Excel without stress.
Reliable Tips on How to Lock Cells in Excel
What will you do if your boss requests both the ability to edit a few cells in a workbook while also requesting that you protect the entire workbook? This is what you should be aware of in a circumstance like this. You must activate password security. Additionally, you must lock some workbook cells. But then, if you are new to it you might wonder and ask “How can I lock them and make the cells private?” No worries, the steps are as follows:
- Choose the Cells You Want to Lock
This is the first step to make when you want to lock cells in Excel. Choose the cells you want to lock first. Then, click and drag your mouse over the cells you want to lock to accomplish this. Click on the cell you want to lock if you only want to lock one.
- Open the Format Cells Dialogue Box
The next step when locking cells in Excel is to open the format cells dialogue box. To format the chosen cells, right-click on them and pick Format Cells from the context menu. As an alternative, you may also access the Format Cells dialogue box by pressing the keys Ctrl + 1.
- Select the “Protection” tab.
The third action is to select the Protection tab (in the Format Cells dialogue box).
- Click on the Locked Option
The next step is to choose the “Locked option” under the Protection tab. This will lock the cells you have chosen.
- Keep the Worksheet Safe
After locking the cells, pay attention. To stop users from modifying the locked cells, you must safeguard the worksheet. To do this, select the Protect Sheet button from the Review tab on the ribbon. The Protect Sheet dialogue box will appear as a result.
- Choose your Password and other Security Measures
Set the password and protection options as desired in the Protect Sheet dialogue box. By selecting the corresponding checkboxes, you can opt to safeguard specific activities, such as formatting and entering rows.
- Save the Modifications
To save the changes and close the Protect Sheet dialogue box, click OK at the end. The worksheet is now secured and your chosen cells are locked.
Steps to Lock Cells in a Worksheet in Brief
- Choose the cells you wish to lock.
- To access the Format Cells popup window, click the little arrow in the Alignment group on the Home tab.
- Click OK to clear the dialogue after selecting the Locked check box on the Protection tab.
Note: The cells will show already locked if you try these instructions on a workbook or worksheet that is not protected. This indicates that the cells are prepared to be locked when the workbook or worksheet is protected.
- Choose Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook from the Changes category under the Review tab in the ribbon, and then reapply protection.
Tip: It is recommended to unlock any cells you might want to update before protecting a worksheet or workbook. But you can also do it after the protection has been applied. What you need to do is to just erase the password to end protection.
Also, formulas can be protected in addition to workbooks and worksheets.
In conclusion, Excel’s ability to lock cells is a helpful feature that can help you safeguard your data against unauthorized modifications. You can quickly lock cells in Excel and prevent unauthorized alteration of your worksheets by following the above instructions.