How to Protect an Excel File

In this lesson, you can learn how to protect Excel files.

Protecting files in Excel is very important. It may happen that the results of your work will be destroyed. To avoid this, you need to know how to protect files in Excel.

Excel how to protect file Excel Protect Share Workbook

Each file in Excel, you can password protect. It is also possible to protect the sheet so that nobody can change it. Lets learn how to do it.

File Password Protection

First, let's learn how to secure the opening of the file. This will be possible only after entering the password, which you will establish. Go to the Ribbon. Click Review, then click Protect and Share Workbook.

Excel how to protect Excel file Protect Workbook

A window appears where you can enter a password. Preferably such that no one will be able to easily guess.

Excel how to protect Excel file Protect Shared Workbook password

Alternatively, select File>Info>Protect workbook>Encrypt with password:

encrypt with password

After entering the password, confirm it again.

enter password twice

Now to open the file you will need a password. A very important issue is to remember your password. Without it, we do not open the file.

sheet is password protected

Make as final (read only)

Similarly we can make the workbook read only using similar options:

Select File>Info>Protect workbook>Make as Final

mark as final to prevent editing

Similarly we can make choose the Protect Workbook Structure option also.

The final way you can add protection at the workbook level is by protecting the workbook's structure.

This type of protection prevents people who don't have the password from making changes at the workbook level, which means they won't be able to add, remove, rename, or move worksheets.

Protecting a worksheet

Another possibility is to protect the sheet. It allows you to open the file it is true by others, but does not allow to make changes. In order to protect the sheet entering the Excel ribbon and further Review and select Protect Sheet.

Protect Sheet

In a next step, enter the password. Select also the extent to which a sheet is to be protected.

protect Sheet prevert editing

Since now anyone who wants to modify the worksheet, you will see this message:

Microsoft Excel password protection

Without the removal of protection in the Review tab and enter the password, edit the file will not be possible.

Limit access to specific cells

If you only want to limit access to specific cells in a worksheet, you can use data validation to restrict what can be entered in those cells. To do this, select the cells you want to protect, go to the "Data" tab in the ribbon, and click on "Data Validation". In the "Data Validation" dialog box, you can choose the type of data that can be entered in the cells, such as whole numbers, decimal values, or specific dates.

These are the basic steps for protecting an Excel file. By following these steps, you can ensure that your data is secure and prevent unauthorized changes or access.

Further reading:
How To Send Email From Excel?