How to Lock Cells in Excel

Are you bored with by accident overwriting vital information in your Excel spreadsheets? In that case, then that you must learn to lock cells. Locking cells prevents you from making adjustments to them, so you possibly can defend your information and make sure that it stays correct.

On this article, we’ll present you how you can lock cells in Excel utilizing two completely different strategies. We may also focus on the advantages of locking cells and among the issues you must remember when utilizing this function.

Now that now we have a fundamental understanding of what cell locking is and why it will be significant, let’s take a better have a look at how you can lock cells in Excel.

Easy methods to Lock Cells in Excel

Listed below are 8 vital factors about locking cells in Excel:

Choose cells to lock: Choose the cells you wish to defend.
Discover Format Cells: Go to the “House” tab and click on on the “Format Cells” choice.
Open Safety tab: Within the “Format Cells” dialog field, choose the “Safety” tab.
Allow safety: Verify the “Locked” checkbox to allow cell safety.
Apply and OK: Click on “OK” to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.
Defend the sheet: To stop others from unlocking the cells, defend the worksheet.
Use password: You possibly can set a password to guard the worksheet and forestall unauthorized adjustments.
Locked cells are read-only: Locked cells can’t be edited or modified.

By following these steps, you possibly can simply lock cells in Excel and defend your information from unintended adjustments.

Choose Cells to Lock: Choose the Cells You Wish to Defend

Step one to locking cells in Excel is to pick out the cells that you simply wish to defend. You possibly can choose particular person cells, a variety of cells, or a whole worksheet.

Choose particular person cells: To pick particular person cells, click on on every cell whereas holding down the Ctrl key.
Choose a variety of cells: To pick a variety of cells, click on on the primary cell within the vary after which drag your mouse to the final cell within the vary.
Choose a whole worksheet: To pick a whole worksheet, click on on the small triangle within the top-left nook of the worksheet.
Use the Go To command: You can too use the Go To command to shortly choose a variety of cells. To do that, press the F5 key after which enter the vary of cells that you simply wish to choose.

After getting chosen the cells that you simply wish to lock, you possibly can proceed to the following step of the method.

Discover Format Cells: Go to the “House” Tab and Click on on the “Format Cells” Choice

After getting chosen the cells that you simply wish to lock, the following step is to open the Format Cells dialog field. To do that, comply with these steps:

Go to the “House” tab within the Excel ribbon.
Find the “Cells” group on the ribbon.
Click on on the “Format” button within the “Cells” group.
A drop-down menu will seem. Choose the “Format Cells” choice from the drop-down menu.

The Format Cells dialog field will now seem in your display. This dialog field accommodates a wide range of choices that you need to use to format the chosen cells. Nevertheless, we’re solely within the “Safety” tab.

To modify to the “Safety” tab, merely click on on the “Safety” tab on the high of the Format Cells dialog field.

Now that you’re on the “Safety” tab, you possibly can proceed to the following step of the method, which is to allow cell safety.

Open Safety Tab: Within the “Format Cells” Dialog Field, Choose the “Safety” Tab

After getting opened the Format Cells dialog field, the following step is to pick out the “Safety” tab. This tab accommodates the settings that that you must allow cell safety.

Find the “Safety” tab: The “Safety” tab is situated on the high of the Format Cells dialog field. It’s often the final tab on the precise aspect.
Click on on the “Safety” tab: After getting situated the “Safety” tab, merely click on on it to pick out it.
Safety tab choices: The “Safety” tab accommodates a wide range of choices that you need to use to guard the chosen cells. These choices embrace the flexibility to lock cells, conceal cells, and forestall customers from choosing cells.
Locked checkbox: An important choice on the “Safety” tab is the “Locked” checkbox. This checkbox determines whether or not or not the chosen cells are locked.

Now that you’ve chosen the “Safety” tab, you possibly can proceed to the following step of the method, which is to allow cell safety.

Allow Safety: Verify the “Locked” Checkbox to Allow Cell Safety

Now that you’re on the “Safety” tab of the Format Cells dialog field, you possibly can allow cell safety by checking the “Locked” checkbox.

The “Locked” checkbox is situated within the “Safety” group of choices on the “Safety” tab. It’s often the primary checkbox within the group.

To examine the “Locked” checkbox, merely click on on it together with your mouse. A checkmark will seem within the checkbox, indicating that cell safety is now enabled.

After getting checked the “Locked” checkbox, you possibly can click on on the “OK” button on the backside of the Format Cells dialog field to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.

Your chosen cells at the moment are locked and shielded from adjustments. You possibly can confirm this by attempting to edit one of many locked cells. You will notice that you’re unable to make any adjustments to the cell.

Apply and OK: Click on “OK” to Apply the Modifications and Shut the Dialog Field

After getting checked the “Locked” checkbox to allow cell safety, the following step is to click on on the “OK” button on the backside of the Format Cells dialog field.

The “OK” button is situated within the bottom-right nook of the dialog field. It’s often the default button, which implies which you could press the Enter key in your keyboard to click on on it.

Whenever you click on on the “OK” button, the adjustments that you’ve made to the cell safety settings will probably be utilized and the dialog field will shut.

You can too examine the cell safety settings by going again to the “Safety” tab of the Format Cells dialog field. You will notice that the “Locked” checkbox is now checked, indicating that cell safety is enabled.

Defend the Sheet: To Stop Others from Unlocking the Cells, Defend the Worksheet

If you wish to forestall others from unlocking the cells that you’ve protected, you possibly can defend the worksheet.

Go to the “Evaluate” tab: To guard the worksheet, go to the “Evaluate” tab within the Excel ribbon.
Find the “Defend” group: On the “Evaluate” tab, find the “Defend” group. This group is often situated on the precise aspect of the ribbon.
Click on on the “Defend Sheet” button: Within the “Defend” group, click on on the “Defend Sheet” button.
Enter a password (non-compulsory): A dialog field will seem asking you to enter a password. You possibly can enter a password to guard the worksheet or you possibly can depart it clean if you don’t want to make use of a password.

After getting entered a password (or left it clean), click on on the “OK” button to guard the worksheet.

Your worksheet is now protected and others won’t be able to unlock the cells that you’ve protected.

Use Password: You Can Set a Password to Defend the Worksheet and Stop Unauthorized Modifications

Whenever you defend a worksheet, you’ve got the choice to set a password. This password is used to stop others from unprotecting the worksheet and making adjustments to the locked cells.

To set a password while you defend a worksheet, comply with these steps:

Go to the “Evaluate” tab within the Excel ribbon.
Find the “Defend” group on the “Evaluate” tab.
Click on on the “Defend Sheet” button within the “Defend” group.
A dialog field will seem asking you to enter a password. Enter a robust password that you’ll keep in mind.
Click on on the “OK” button to guard the worksheet.

Your worksheet is now protected and others won’t be able to unprotect it with out the password.

You will need to select a robust password that isn’t straightforward to guess. You must also hold your password protected and safe. In case you lose your password, you won’t be able to unprotect the worksheet and make adjustments to the locked cells.

In case you neglect your password, you possibly can attempt to get better it utilizing a password restoration instrument. Nevertheless, there isn’t a assure that it is possible for you to to get better your password. Due to this fact, it is very important select a password that you’ll keep in mind and hold it protected.

Locked Cells Are Learn-Solely: Locked Cells Can’t Be Edited or Modified

One of the vital issues to learn about locked cells is that they’re read-only. Because of this you can not edit or modify the information in locked cells.

In case you attempt to edit a locked cell, you will note a message that claims “The cell is protected and can’t be modified.” Additionally, you will see a small lock icon within the bottom-right nook of the cell.

There are just a few methods to unlock cells to be able to edit them:

Unprotect the worksheet: You possibly can unprotect the worksheet to unlock the entire locked cells on the worksheet. To do that, go to the “Evaluate” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Defend” group, and click on on the “Unprotect Sheet” button.
Unlock particular person cells: You can too unlock particular person cells with out unprotecting the worksheet. To do that, choose the locked cells that you simply wish to unlock, go to the “House” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Cells” group, and click on on the “Format” button. Within the “Format Cells” dialog field, choose the “Safety” tab and uncheck the “Locked” checkbox. Click on on the “OK” button to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.

After getting unlocked the cells, it is possible for you to to edit the information in these cells.

You will need to notice that locked cells are nonetheless seen to different customers. Because of this others can see the information in locked cells, even when they can’t edit it.

FAQ

Listed below are some steadily requested questions on locking cells in Excel:

Query 1: How do I lock cells in Excel?

Reply: To lock cells in Excel, choose the cells that you simply wish to defend, go to the “House” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Cells” group, and click on on the “Format” button. Within the “Format Cells” dialog field, choose the “Safety” tab and examine the “Locked” checkbox. Click on on the “OK” button to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.

Query 2: How do I defend a worksheet in order that others can not unlock the cells?

Reply: To guard a worksheet in order that others can not unlock the cells, go to the “Evaluate” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Defend” group, and click on on the “Defend Sheet” button. Enter a password (non-compulsory) and click on on the “OK” button to guard the worksheet.

Query 3: Can I lock particular person cells with out defending the whole worksheet?

Reply: Sure, you possibly can lock particular person cells with out defending the whole worksheet. To do that, choose the cells that you simply wish to lock, go to the “House” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Cells” group, and click on on the “Format” button. Within the “Format Cells” dialog field, choose the “Safety” tab and examine the “Locked” checkbox. Click on on the “OK” button to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.

Query 4: What occurs if I attempt to edit a locked cell?

Reply: In case you attempt to edit a locked cell, you will note a message that claims “The cell is protected and can’t be modified.” Additionally, you will see a small lock icon within the bottom-right nook of the cell.

Query 5: How do I unlock cells in order that I can edit them?

Reply: To unlock cells to be able to edit them, you possibly can both unprotect the worksheet or unlock the person cells. To unprotect the worksheet, go to the “Evaluate” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Defend” group, and click on on the “Unprotect Sheet” button. To unlock particular person cells, choose the locked cells, go to the “House” tab within the Excel ribbon, find the “Cells” group, and click on on the “Format” button. Within the “Format Cells” dialog field, choose the “Safety” tab and uncheck the “Locked” checkbox. Click on on the “OK” button to use the adjustments and shut the dialog field.

Query 6: Are locked cells nonetheless seen to different customers?

Reply: Sure, locked cells are nonetheless seen to different customers. Because of this others can see the information in locked cells, even when they can’t edit it.

Closing Paragraph:

These are just some of essentially the most steadily requested questions on locking cells in Excel. When you’ve got another questions, please seek the advice of the Microsoft Excel assist documentation or seek for tutorials on-line.

Now that you understand how to lock cells in Excel, listed here are just a few suggestions that will help you use this function successfully:

Suggestions

Listed below are just a few suggestions that will help you use the cell locking function in Excel successfully:

Tip 1: Lock solely the cells that should be protected.

Do not lock cells only for the sake of locking them. Solely lock the cells that include delicate information or information that you do not need others to vary.

Tip 2: Use a robust password when defending worksheets.

In case you select to guard a worksheet with a password, make sure that to make use of a robust password that isn’t straightforward to guess. This may assist to stop others from unprotecting the worksheet and making adjustments to the locked cells.

Tip 3: Maintain a report of your passwords.

In case you neglect your password, you won’t be able to unprotect the worksheet and make adjustments to the locked cells. Due to this fact, it is very important hold a report of your passwords in a protected place.

Tip 4: Educate others about cell locking.

If you’re engaged on a shared spreadsheet, it is very important educate others about cell locking. This may assist to stop them from by accident making adjustments to locked cells.

Closing Paragraph:

By following the following tips, you need to use the cell locking function in Excel to guard your information and forestall unauthorized adjustments.

Now that you understand how to lock cells and use the ideas successfully, you need to use this function to guard your vital information in Excel.

Conclusion

On this article, now we have discovered how you can lock cells in Excel to guard our information and forestall unauthorized adjustments. We have now additionally mentioned the advantages of locking cells and among the issues to remember when utilizing this function.

The details to recollect are:

You possibly can lock cells to stop others from enhancing or modifying them.
You possibly can defend worksheets with a password to stop others from unprotecting the cells.
Locked cells are nonetheless seen to different customers, however they can’t be edited.
You must solely lock the cells that should be protected.
You must use a robust password when defending worksheets.
You must hold a report of your passwords in a protected place.
You must educate others about cell locking if you’re engaged on a shared spreadsheet.

By following the following tips, you need to use the cell locking function in Excel to guard your information and make sure that it stays correct and safe.

Closing Message:

Locking cells is a straightforward however efficient option to defend your information in Excel. By taking the time to lock the cells that include delicate or vital information, you possibly can assist to stop unintended adjustments and make sure that your information stays correct and safe.