[Fixed!] Delete Sheet Not Working in Excel (2 Solutions)

In this tutorial, we’ll look at how to fix the problem when delete sheet not working in Excel. While working with a workbook that consists of multiple worksheets, suddenly, we might need to delete any particular worksheet. However, the option to delete any sheet does not always function. Sometimes, we have to take a few steps to enable the delete sheet option. Throughout this article, we will demonstrate two solutions to this problem with a unique dataset.

Fix When Delete Sheet Is Not Working in Excel: 2 Solutions

To fix the problem of deleting sheets not working in Excel, we will look into two solutions. The most probable reason behind the delete sheet not working in Excel might be the workbook that you are using is protected with a password or shared with other users. In the following sections, we will go through the solutions to both problems respectively.

1. Unprotect Workbook Structure While Delete Sheet in Excel Not Working

First and foremost, if the delete sheet in Excel is not working, we will check whether our workbook is protected or not. If the workbook is protected, then we have to unprotect the workbook structure to enable the delete sheet option in Excel. To illustrate this method, we have the following dataset with multiple worksheets in which the workbook is protected.

Here, if we right-click on the worksheet named “MARKS”, we will notice that the option “Delete” is greyed out, which means this option is not functioning.

So, let’s look at the steps to solve this problem.

STEPS:

First, go to the File tab.

Next, select the option Info.
Then select the option “Protect Workbook”.
Click on the drop-down icon. Select the option “Protect Workbook Structure” from the available options.
In short: File > Info > Protect Workbook > Protect Workbook Structure

A new dialogue box named “Unprotect Workbook” will appear.
Insert the password in the input box.
Click on OK.

NOTE:

You must need to know the password of a protected workbook to unprotect that workbook. Use password 1234 If you are working with the practice workbook we added to this article.

Finally, if we right-click on the “ MARKS “ sheet again, we will see that the option “Delete” is now available. So, now we can delete any worksheet from the workbook.

Read More: Shortcut to Delete Sheet in Excel

2. Turn off Sharing Worksheet When Delete Sheet Not Working in Excel

Another reason why the delete sheet in Excel isn’t working is that the worksheet you’re using is shared. So, to delete any sheet from any shared workbook, you need to unshare the workbook first. To illustrate this solution, we will use the following dataset with multiple worksheets.

When we right-click on the worksheet “Turn Off Sharing” we can see the grey color in the option “Delete”, indicating that it is not active.

The process of sharing a workbook is a little bit complex. So, for convenience to understand this solution better, first, we will show how to share a workbook then we will show how to unshare that workbook to enable the delete sheet option.

So, let’s see the steps to perform this method.

STEPS:

Firstly, go to the File tab.

Next, click on Options.

Then, a new dialogue box will open. Select the option “Customize Ribbon”. Click on the drop-down icon of the option “Choose commands from”. Select the option “All Commands” from the available options.

Next, scroll down the option and select the option “Share Workbook (Legacy)”. Also, click on the option New Tab.

Then a new tab, “New Tab (Custom)” will appear in the ribbon options.
Select “New Tab (Custom)” and click on Rename.
The above command will open a dialogue box named “Rename”.
Insert the name of the tab “Sharing” in the input box “Display name”.
Now, click on OK.

Similarly, rename the option “New_Group (custom)” to “Sharing Workbook” and click on Add.

Now, we can see a new option, “Share Workbook (Custom)” in the ribbon options.
Then, press OK.

After the above actions, we can see that a new tab named Sharing is visible now.

Now, to share the workbook, go to the Sharing tab and select the option “Share Workbook (Legacy)”.

A new dialogue box will appear. Check the option shown in the image below and press OK.

So, the above command shares our workbook with other users. If we right-click on the sheet “Turn Off Sharing”, we will see that the option Delete is greyed out, which means we cannot delete any sheet from a shared workbook.

After that, we need to unshare this workbook to solve this problem.
So, to do this, go to the Review. Select the option “Unshare Workbook” from the Protect section of the Review tab.

Lastly, right-click on the sheet “Turn Off Sharing”. Now we can see that the option Delete is available again.

Download Practice Workbook

You can download the practice workbook from here.

Delete Sheet in Excel.xlsx

Conclusion

In conclusion, this tutorial demonstrates two solutions to fix the problem of deleting a sheet in Excel that is not working. To put your skills to the test, download the practice worksheet included in this article. Leave a comment in the box below if you have any questions. Our team will try to reply to your message as quickly as possible. In the future, keep your eyes peeled for more innovative Microsoft Excel solutions.

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4 Comments

David Mar 10, 2023 at 7:12 PM

The data is NOT shared.
Right-clicking the tab shows the “Delete” option – it is NOT greyed out.
Clicking “Delete” does not do anything. The sheet remains in the workbook.
- Reply
  Lutfor Rahman Shimanto Mar 12, 2023 at 11:40 AM
  Hello DAVID,
  Thank you for reaching out with your comment. You encountered a different problem than what was described in the article. There could be several reasons why the problem is happening. Some of your add-ins may mess up the delete sheet feature, which may not work in your version of Microsoft Excel. To fix this, you should update your program.
  You can use an Excel VBA code to delete a sheet by inputting the sheet name.
  Excel VBA Code:
```
Sub DeleteSheet()
    Dim sheetName As String
    sheetName = InputBox("Enter the name of the sheet you want to delete:")
    If sheetName <> "" Then
        If WorksheetExists(sheetName) Then
            Application.DisplayAlerts = False
            Sheets(sheetName).Delete
            Application.DisplayAlerts = True
        Else
            MsgBox "The workbook has no sheet with the provided name."
        End If
    End If
End Sub
Function WorksheetExists(shtName As String, Optional wb As Workbook) As Boolean
    Dim sht As Object
    If wb Is Nothing Then Set wb = ThisWorkbook
    On Error Resume Next
    Set sht = wb.Sheets(shtName)
    WorksheetExists = Not sht Is Nothing
    On Error GoTo 0
End Function
```
  The VBA code and suggestions will solve your issue. Good luck.
  Regards,
  Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
Wolfgang Nov 20, 2023 at 10:41 PM

I discovered two different solutions:
1.: A work around: Instead of selecting “Delete”, select “Move or copy”, take as target “New Book” and leave the checkbox “Create a copy” empty. This moves the worksheet out of your file into a new “Book 1”, which can then be closed without saving.

2: Permanent solution
Close Excel, then rename the folders %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel and %localappdata%\Microsoft\Excel into %appdata%\Microsoft\Excel_old and %localappdata%\Microsoft\Excel_old.
Start Excel again, and the issue should be gone.
- Reply
  Lynley Dec 20, 2023 at 5:12 AM
  
  Thanks Wolfgang. Just tried your number 1 solution and it worked:)

[Fixed!] Delete Sheet Not Working in Excel (2 Solutions)

Fix When Delete Sheet Is Not Working in Excel: 2 Solutions

1. Unprotect Workbook Structure While Delete Sheet in Excel Not Working

2. Turn off Sharing Worksheet When Delete Sheet Not Working in Excel

Conclusion

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