How to Password Protect Individual Cells in Excel

It can be quite helpful to password protect spreadsheets so that others can't accidentally (or perhaps intentionally ) overwrite valuable information of functions and formulas. But, there are instances when you have to safeguard a few cells but allow other users to access and edit different cells on precisely the exact same spreadsheet. At first glance this might seem to be an improbable point in order to perform, but it's actually quite simple to attain.

Preparing the Spreadsheet for Protection

First we will need to know what occurs when we password protect a spreadsheet in Excel. By default, all cells in Microsoft Excel are secured when security is placed on the worksheet. What we must do until we password protect the recorder would be to tell Excel that cells we do not want to get locked. This is accomplished by selecting the cell or range of cells that should be left unattended, then right-click together with the mouse to create the Format dialog box.

Now choose the tab marked 'Protection' and you'll observe there are just two tick-boxes, 'Locked' and 'Hidden'. By default, the Locked box is going to have a sign inside. It follows that if password protection is put on the dictionary, the cell (or cells) will be secured. So all we must do then would be to remove the tick by clicking in the box, then select 'OK' to save changes. The spreadsheet has been ready for password security.

Applying a Password into the Spreadsheet

The next stage will be to pick the 'Review' tab to your Ribbon and click on the 'Protect Sheet' tool . You'll be shown a little dialogue box that includes a password area. Additionally, it has quite a few tick-boxes which let you select what can and cannot be accomplished when the spreadsheet was protected. By default, the assortment of unlocked and locked cells is allowed, but nothing else. Now type a password into the field and then click on OK.

Then you'll be requested to re install the password to make sure you have spelt it correctly. The spreadsheet will then be guarded, however the cells that you formerly marked as unlocked will probably continue to be editable. To enable editing of the full menu, simply click on the 'Unprotect Sheet' tool and enter your password.

What should you Forget Your Password?!

In the event you forget your password it might appear initially that you're permanently locked out from the own spreadsheet. But, there's a way around the security, based upon what activities you've permitted before employing your password. As mentioned before, by default Excel will make it possible for you to pick both locked and unlocked cells once the worksheet is protected. Given this was enabled, the answer is in fact quite straightforward.

Everything that you need to do is to pick all of the spreadsheet, then copy and then paste it into a new blank workbook. This will have the effect of copying all your formulas and data, but maybe not the password security. Now you can save the job publication, delete the first and then rename the new job book so.

Essentially, you now have the first spreadsheet minus the password security! But if you'd un-ticked the boxes permitting the choice of cells prior to applying your password, then you won't have the ability to choose the spreadsheet and consequently won't be able to replicate it. This is beneficial should you want to stop other who understand the trick out of doing exactly the exact same thing. Just be certain that you don't overlook your password!