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How to Lock Cells in Excel

Locking cells in an Excel spreadsheet can prevent any changes from being made to the data or formulas that reside in those particular cells. Cells that are locked and protected can be unlocked at any time by the user who initially locked...
Method 1 of 2:

Locking and Protecting Cells in Excel 2007 and Excel 2010

  1. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 1How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 1
    Open the Excel spreadsheet that contains the cells you want locked.
  2. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 2How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 2
    Select the cell or cells you want locked.
  3. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 3How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 3
    Right-click on the cells, and select "Format Cells."
  4. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 4How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 4
    Click on the tab labeled "Protection."
  5. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 5How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 5
    Place a checkmark in the box next to the option labeled "Locked."
  6. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 6How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 6
    Click "OK."
  7. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 7How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 7
    Click on the tab labeled "Review" at the top of your Excel spreadsheet.
  8. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 8How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 8
    Click on the button labeled "Protect Sheet" from within the "Changes" group.
  9. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 9How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 9
    Place a checkmark next to "Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells."
  10. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 10How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 10
    Enter a password in the text box labeled "Password to unprotect sheet."
  11. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 11How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 11
    Click on "OK."
  12. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 12How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 12
    Retype your password into the text box labeled "Reenter password to proceed."
  13. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 13How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 13
    Click "OK." The cells you selected will now be locked and protected, and can only be unlocked by selecting the cells once again, and entering the password you selected.
Method 2 of 2:

Locking and Protecting Cells: Excel 2003

  1. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 14How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 14
    Open the Excel document that contains the cell or cells you want to lock.
  2. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 15How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 15
    Select one or all of the cells you want locked.
  3. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 16How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 16
    Right-click on your cell selections, and select "Format Cells" from the drop-down menu.
  4. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 17How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 17
    Click on the "Protection" tab.
  5. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 18How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 18
    Place a checkmark next to the field labeled "Locked."
  6. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 19How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 19
    Click the "OK" button.
  7. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 20How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 20
    Click on the "Tools" menu at the top of your Excel document.
  8. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 21How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 21
    Select "Protection" from the list of options.
  9. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 22How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 22
    Click on "Protect Sheet."
  10. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 23How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 23
    Place a checkmark next to the option labeled "Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells."
  11. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 24How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 24
    Type a password at the prompt for "Password to unprotect sheet," then click "OK."
  12. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 25How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 25
    Reenter your password at the prompt for "Reenter password to proceed."
  13. How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 26How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 26
    Select "OK." All the cells you selected will now be locked and protected, and can only be unlocked going forward by selecting the locked cells, and entering the password you initially set up.
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