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

How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 1

Open the Excel spreadsheet that contains the cells you want locked.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 2

Select the cell or cells you want locked.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 3

Right-click on the cells, and select "Format Cells."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 4

Click on the tab labeled "Protection."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 5

Place a checkmark in the box next to the option labeled "Locked."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 6

Click "OK."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 7

Click on the tab labeled "Review" at the top of your Excel spreadsheet.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 8

Click on the button labeled "Protect Sheet" from within the "Changes" group.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 9

Place a checkmark next to "Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 10

Enter a password in the text box labeled "Password to unprotect sheet."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 11

Click on "OK."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 12

Retype your password into the text box labeled "Reenter password to proceed."
How 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

How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 14

Open the Excel document that contains the cell or cells you want to lock.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 15

Select one or all of the cells you want locked.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 16

Right-click on your cell selections, and select "Format Cells" from the drop-down menu.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 17

Click on the "Protection" tab.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 18

Place a checkmark next to the field labeled "Locked."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 19

Click the "OK" button.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 20

Click on the "Tools" menu at the top of your Excel document.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 21

Select "Protection" from the list of options.
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 22

Click on "Protect Sheet."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 23

Place a checkmark next to the option labeled "Protect worksheet and contents of locked cells."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 24

Type a password at the prompt for "Password to unprotect sheet," then click "OK."
How to Lock Cells in Excel Picture 25

Reenter your password at the prompt for "Reenter password to proceed."
How 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.

cells click password locked

Samuel Daniel

Update 05 March 2020

You should read it

Maybe you are interested