Forum Discussion
Can't delete worksheet
I'm right-clicking on a sheet, clicking delete and nothing happens. The sheet is not protected. I'm not sure what's happening.
I'm running Excel for Office 365 MSO v1902 for Windows.
Thanks.
Hi
If the workbook is shared you won't be able to delete sheets. To turn
off sharing, choose Tools>Share Workbook.
On the Editing tab, remove the check mark from 'Allow changes by more
than one user at the same time'
Click OKHope that helps
Nabil Mourad
- Bobs1961Copper Contributor
nabilmourad Where is Tools in Excel..
- grumbled0reCopper ContributorI had the same problem, but the sheet was not obviously shared.
By doing SaveAs as a new sheet I was able to delete the unwanted sheets.
In my case the issue may have been caused because the file was in my shared google drive folder - so perhaps some kind of behinds the scenes sharing was in effect?- jgoveaCopper Contributor
Save As features worked for me. I was able to delete the unwanted sheet.
- CosminBucCopper Contributor
For those of you that are using the online version and found that all the suggested posts didn't work
I opened the file in browser rather then app and it worked that way.- AnthonyHorneCopper Contributor
CosminBuc Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
- Anamika1947Copper Contributor
DougFresh Please can you tell me how I can run Excel as admin. I have the same issue of not being able to delete sheets in Excel.
If you on Windows and have administrative user rights
Win -> Excel -> Run as administrator
- ChimestiaCopper ContributorIf anyone is having this issue in 2024, running Excel as an admin worked for me as well. 🙂
- WLOMNCopper Contributor
I had the same problem. Right-click, Select All Sheets, choose Protect (and it will pop up that something is protected) enter password to Unprotect. That's what finally worked for me.
- Bobs1961Copper ContributorThis didn't work for me
- Donald_GenesBrass ContributorSimple convert the excel file to CSV Move all the sheets to another workbook and delete? That should do the trick
- AnthonyHorneCopper ContributorDisabling sharing worked for me.
- T_RayCopper ContributorReview tab -> Unshare Workbook.
- MyraWilsonCopper Contributor
I have tried all the options others have offered to be able to delete a tab on a sheet, and nothing!
As someone else mentioned, I only started having this problem after the last Microsoft Office Update!
- El_DemonioCopper Contributor
I figured it out:
Go to the Review tab and click "Protect Workbook". It will have you enter a password to unprotect it. Then you can delete the sheet.
- Erich_Walrath2020Copper ContributorThe OP explicitly states: "The sheet is not protected." Are you suggesting that the user protect, and then unprotect the worksheet?
- Zimy88Copper ContributorI had this same issue tried the various suggestions to no avail. What worked for me was I closed the file then moved the file to my desktop opened it then I could delete the sheet like normal, I saved, closed the file and move it from my desktop back to its original location. I think grumbled0re may be right and it is shared on one of my shared drives, so moving it to my desktop moved it out of a shared location.
- Cecil_Bailey45Copper Contributor
I think I'm in worse shape. Working in Microsoft Excel for Mac. Clicking on the Excel icon opens to the desktop about 30 of what I'm certain are corrupt sheets. Password or no password will not allow me to unprotect a sheet in order to delete it. I can close a sheet, but cannot delete it.
Edit > Sheet > Delete Sheet gets me to—
A workbook must contain at least one visible worksheet
- spYangCopper Contributor
using menu delete option.!!!
home -> cell delete -> sheet delete~!!
i think, its bug of right mouse option~!!