How to Protect an Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste (4 Methods)

Method 1 – Using the Info Option 

 We will use a dataset containing sellers’ sales amounts for the first five months.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste


1.1 Secure a Workbook with a Password

STEPS:

  • Go to the FILE tab at the left-top corner of your screen.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Select Info.
  • Select Protect Workbook and select Encrypt with Password.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Now, the Encrypt Document window will appear.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Enter the password you want to set and click OK.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Reenter the password to confirm. Click OK.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • If someone opens your workbook, it will show a message like the one below.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste


1.2 Make an Excel Sheet Read-Only

STEPS:

  • Go to the File tab and select Info.
  • Select Protect Workbook and select Mark as Final.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Now, Microsoft Excel will open. Click OK to proceed.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • If someone opens the file, they will see a message at the top of the sheet.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

Alternatively, you can also make your workbook a read-only file while saving. For that purpose, follow the steps below.

STEPS:

  • Select Tool.
  • Select General Options.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • The General Options window will open. Enter a password there and check the ‘Read-only recommended’ box.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

  • Reenter the password to confirm and click OK.

Use Info Option to Protect Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste

Read More: How to Protect Excel Sheet from Editing


Method 2 – Using the Review Tab

STEPS:

  • Go to the Review tab and select Protect Sheet.

Prevent Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste with Review Tab

  • A Protect Sheet window will open. Enter the password you want to set. Click OK to proceed.

Prevent Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste with Review Tab

  • Reenter the password to confirm.

Prevent Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste with Review Tab

  • If someone wants to copy-paste, excel will show a message like this.

Prevent Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste with Review Tab

  • To unprotect the sheet, go to the Review tab and select Unprotect Sheet.

Prevent Excel Sheet from Copy-Paste with Review Tab

  • Enter your password and click OK to unprotect the sheet.


Method 3 – Applying VBA

STEPS:

  • Go to the DEVELOPER tab and select Visual Basic. The Visual Basic window will open.

  • Double click on the sheet you want to apply the VBA.
  • Select Worksheet in the (General) field.

We selected the Worksheet in the General field to set the code for the specific excel sheet, otherwise, it would work for the whole workbook.

  • You will see some code in the window, like below.

  • Enter the code below:
Application.CutCopyMode = False

  • It is a command that will disable the copy-paste option in the desired sheet.

Read More: How to Protect Excel Sheets from Deleting


Method 4 – Locking Cells to Secure an Excel Sheet 

STEPS:

  • Click the Select All button.

  • Right-click your mouse and select ‘Format Cells’ from the drop-down menu.

  • The Format Cells window will open.

  • Go to Protection and check the Locked option. Click OK to proceed.


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Mursalin Ibne Salehin
Mursalin Ibne Salehin

Mursalin Ibne Salehin holds a BSc in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology. Over the past 2 years, he has actively contributed to the ExcelDemy project, where he authored over 150 articles. He has also led a team with content development works. Currently, he is working as a Reviewer in the ExcelDemy Project. He likes using and learning about Microsoft Office, especially Excel. He is interested in data analysis with Excel, machine learning,... Read Full Bio

4 Comments
  1. Is there a way for me to sell a workbook to customers A, B, C etc. that prevents any customers from sending a working copy to others?

    • Hi Scott. Unfortunately, no, there isn’t. If you pass your password to a client and if he chooses to share it with anyone else they will be able to access the file too. It’s a limitation like any other login service.

  2. hi Abrar,
    Please help me how to forbid copy in an excel sheet that more user edits online.
    regards
    Andras

    • Reply Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
      Lutfor Rahman Shimanto Jun 3, 2024 at 8:37 AM

      Dear, Thanks for your question! Unfortunately, it isn’t possible to disable copying directly within Excel Online. Excel Online offers some control over how users interact with a shared workbook, but it doesn’t provide a direct way to turn off copying explicitly. You can set the workbook to Read Only for users who cannot copy data.

      Regards
      Lutfor Rahman Shimanto
      ExcelDemy

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