For some reason, you may want to lock cells in Excel to protect them from being edited.
In a situation like this, how to protect cells in Excel from being re-edited?
The answer is: you’re free to make your Excel lock cells according to your requirements.
![]()
you’re free to choose to lock cells in Excel.
Then anyone who opens this Excel is not allowed to edit the cells that are protected.
Do you know how to merge or unmerge cells in Excel without losing data?

In this article, we will show you some useful guides.
How to Lock Cells in Excel?
In this part, we will show you how to lock all cells in a worksheet.

By doing this, all cells in the Excel file will become uneditable.
How to Lock and Protect All Cells in Excel?
Step 1: Select all cells in Excel.

Step 2: Under theHometab, clickFormatin theCellsgroup and then selectFormat Cellsfrom the expanded menu.
Step 3: The Format Cells interface will pop up.
Then, it’s crucial that you switch to theProtectiontab and ensure the checkbox next toLockedis selected.

This means that the cells are ready to be locked when you protect the workbook or worksheet.
This is a guide to tell you how to protect your worksheet to lock cells or hide formulas.
Step 4: Click theOKbutton to save the change.

Step 5: Switch to theReviewtab and clickProtect Sheetin theProtectgroup.
Alternatively, you’re able to go toHome>Formatin theCellsgroup >Protect Sheetto do the same job.
Step 7: You will see theProtect Sheetinterface.

ensure theProtect worksheet and contents of locked cellsoption is selected.
Then, input a password to unprotect the sheet if necessary.
Step 8: Click theOKbutton to continue.

Step 9: If you have set a password, you will see theConfirm Passwordinterface.
you should probably reenter the password and click theOKbutton to proceed.
After these steps, all cells will be locked and protected.

To make a change, unprotect the sheet.
You might be requested to enter a password.
If you use anExcel formulain the cell, the formula will also become invisible.

How to Unprotect Cells in Excel?
Step 2: Go toFile > Info.
Step 3: ClickUnprotectunderProtect Workbook.

Step 4: you should probably enter the password if you have set one.
Step 5: Click theOKbutton.
Way 2: Via Review
Step 2: Switch to theReviewtab, then clickUnprotect Sheet.

Step 3: Enter the password if required and then click theOKbutton to unprotect the cells.
Way 3: Via Home
Step 2: Go toHome > Format > Unprotect Sheet.
Step 3: Enter the password if prompted, then click theOKbutton.

How to Lock Special Cells in Excel?
It is also simple to do this:
How to Lock and Protect Special Cells in Excel?
Step 1: bring up the worksheet that contains the cells you want to lock and protect.

Step 3: Switch to theProtectiontab, then pick the checkbox next toLocked.
Step 4: Click theOKbutton to save the setting and exit this interface.
Step 5: opt for cells or the specific area of cells you want to protect.

Perhaps, you may want to know how to lock a cell in Excel.
Step 6: Go toHome > Formatin the Cells group> Format Cells.
Step 7: Switch to theProtectiontab in theFormat Cellsinterface, then selectLocked.

Step 8: Click theOKbutton to save the setting.
Step 9: Then, you oughta change some configs to protect the selected column or columns.
Likewise, there are 3 ways to do this job:
1.

Go toFile > Info, then expandProtect Workbookand selectProtect Current Sheet.
Next, click theOKbutton to save the parameters.
If you have set a password, you will need to reenter it again on the second pop-up interface.

Then, click theOKbutton to save the options.
Reenter the password if prompted.
Go toHome > Format in the Cells group > Protect Sheet.

At last, you still need to click theOKbutton to store your prefs.
Reenter the password if required.
Now, your selected or specific cells in the Excel file are locked and protected.
![]()
When you choose one of these cells, there is no response.
But when you tap on the unlocked cell, you will see it is still editable.
How to Unprotect Special Cells in Excel?
Now, its time to unprotect special cells in Excel.
you’re able to undo the parameters you have made.
Step 3: Click theUnprotectlink inProtect Workbook.
Step 4: Enter the password if needed, then click theOKbutton.
Step 2: Go toReview > Unprotectin theProtectgroup.
Step 3: Enter the password you have set.
Step 4: Click theOKbutton.
How to Recover Your Lost or Deleted Excel Files on Windows?
This software supports recovering lost and deleted Excel files if they are not overwritten by new data.
Step 2: fire up the software to enter the main interface of the software.
Step 3: pick the target drive to scan.
Select your needed Excel files, click theSavebutton, and choose a suitable location to save them.
It is easy to recover your lost and deleted Excel files using this software.
Do you know how to recover deleted excel files in Windows and Mac?
In this post, we show you multiple solutions that are based on different situations.