How to Protect an Excel Sheet Except for Certain Cells (2 Ways)

You may need to secure your data when dealing with confidential analysis. When you wish to protect individual cells in a worksheet, however, it becomes a task. So, we are here to show you how to protect an Excel sheet except for certain cells.

How to Protect an Excel Sheet Except for Certain Cells: 2 Handy Approaches

In the figure below, we’ve offered a data set in which we will protect the whole sheet except for a few cells. In the first approach, we’ll use the Review tab in Excel to secure the particular cells. Later on, we will use the Format Cells option to do the same.

1. Use Protect Ribbon to Protect an Excel Sheet Except for Certain Cells

♠ Step 1: Use the Review Tab

• Firstly, click on the Review tab.
• From the Protect ribbon, select the Allow Edit Ranges.

♠ Step 2: Select the Range/Cells

• Click on the New option.

• Select the ranges (C5:C14) or cells to keep them unprotected from the whole sheet.
• Then, press Enter.

♠ Step 3: Protect Sheet

• After selecting the range, click on the Protect Sheet.

• Type any password (e. 1234) you prefer.
• Press Enter.

• Retype the password again to confirm.
• Then, click OK.

♠ Step 4: Final Result

• Try to edit any cell except the range you selected.

• Therefore, it will show the warning message that the cells are protected.

• On the other hand, try to edit any cell (C5) from your selected range (C5:C14).
• Consequently, you can edit the cell as the cell (C5) is unprotected.

Read More: How to Protect Excel Sheet from Viewing Using Password

2. Utilize Format Cells Option to Protect an Excel Sheet Except for Certain Cells

We can use the Format Cells option to separate the selected cells and then protect the whole sheet. Thus, the whole sheet will be protected without the cells we will select. Follow the outlined steps below to do the task.

♠ Step 1: Select Cells Or Range

• To select multiple cells, hold the Ctrl key and click on the preferred cells.
• As you can see, we have selected cells C5, C7, C9, and C10.

♠ Step 2: Open the Format Cells Dialog Box

• Right-click the mouse over the selection of cells.
• To open the Format Cells box, select the Format Cells option from the list.

♠ Step 3: Use the Protection Tab

• In the Format Cells box, click on the Protection.
• Uncheck the Locked option.
• Then, click OK.

♠ Step 4: Protect the Sheet

• Go to the Review tab and click on the Protect Sheet command.

• Enter a password (e., 1234) you prefer.
• Then, press Enter.

• Retype the password to make the confirmation.
• Finally, click OK.

• As a result, if you attempt to change any cells that are not part of your selection, a warning message will appear informing you that the cells are protected.

• If you try to edit any cell that was in your selection, you can edit the cells without any complexity.

Read More: How to Protect Excel Sheet with Password

Download Practice Workbook

Download this practice workbook to exercise while you are reading this article.

Conclusion

I hope this article has given you a tutorial about how to protect an Excel sheet except for certain cells. All of these procedures should be learned and applied to your dataset. Take a look at the practice workbook and put these skills to the test. We’re motivated to keep making tutorials like this because of your valuable support.

Please contact us if you have any questions. Also, feel free to leave comments in the section below. Stay with us and keep learning.

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