XL: How to Lock Individual Cells in a Worksheet

ID: Q100618

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Excel 97 for Windows
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows 95, versions 7.0, 7.0a
  • Microsoft Excel for Windows, versions 3.x, 4x, 5.x
  • Microsoft Excel for OS/2, version 3.0
  • Microsoft Excel 98 Macintosh Edition
  • Microsoft Excel for the Macintosh, versions 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 5.0a

SUMMARY

To lock individual cells in a Microsoft Excel worksheet, use one of the appropriate following procedures. The procedure to use depends on whether you want the majority of the cells on the worksheet to remain locked or whether you want the majority of the cells to remain unlocked).


MORE INFORMATION

Majority of Cells Locked

Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and Later

To lock the majority of the cells on the worksheet, follow these steps:

  1. Select the cells that you want to remain unprotected. To select nonadjacent (noncontiguous) cells, press the CTRL key (on the Macintosh, press the COMMAND key) and click the cells that are to remain unprotected.


  2. On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Protection tab.


  3. Clear the Locked check box and click OK.


  4. On the Tools menu, point to Protection, and then click Protect Sheet. Type in a password if you want, and then click OK.


Microsoft Excel Versions 3.0 and 4.0

To lock the majority of the cells on the worksheet, follow these steps:

  1. Select the cells that you to remain unlocked.


  2. On the Format menu, click Cell Protection. Clear the Locked check box and click OK.


  3. On the Options menu, click Protect Document. If you want, enter a password. (A password is optional.) Click OK.


By default, the Locked option is selected for all cells. Any cells for which you have not cleared the option are locked when you protect the document.

Majority of Cells Unlocked

Microsoft Excel Versions 5.0 and Later

To leave the majority of the cells on the worksheet unlocked, follow these steps:

  1. Select the entire worksheet by clicking Select All (to the left of the column headings) or by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR.


  2. On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Protection tab. Clear the Locked check box and click OK.


  3. Select the cells that you want to protect. To select nonadjacent cells, press the CTRL key (on the Macintosh, press the COMMAND key) and click the cells that you want to protect.


  4. On the Format menu, click Cells, and then click the Protection tab. Click to select the Locked check box and click OK.


  5. On the Tools menu point to Protection, and then click Protect Sheet. Type a password if you want, and then click OK.


Microsoft Excel Versions 3.0 and 4.0

To leave the majority of the cells on the worksheet unlocked, follow these steps:

  1. Select the entire worksheet by clicking Select All (to the left of the column headings) or by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+SPACEBAR.


  2. On the Format menu, click Style, and then click Define.


  3. In the Style dialog box, click Protection. Clear the Locked option and click OK twice.


  4. Select the cells you want to lock and click Cell Protection on the Format menu.


  5. Click to select the Locked check box and click OK.


  6. On the Options menu, click Protect Document. Type a password if you want, and then click OK.



REFERENCES

"User's Guide 1," version 4.0, pages 87-88
"User's Guide," version 3.0, pages 564-565

Additional query words: 2.20 4.00 4.00a 8.00 97 98 XL98 XL97 XL7 XL5 XL4 XL3

Keywords : xlui xlformat
Version : WINDOWS:3.0,4.0,5.0,7.0,97; MACINTOSH:3.0,4.0,5.0,98; OS/2:3.0
Platform : MACINTOSH OS/2 WINDOWS
Issue type :


Last Reviewed: April 6, 1999
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