Forum Discussion
Locking cells in Excel Online? Is it possible?
Microsoft's website claims that the online version of Excel has a feature that will allow you to lock certain cells so that they can't be accidentally overwritten, but it doesn't explain how to do it...
You have to apply the protection in the desktop version (for Windows or Mac). If you then upload the workbook to the cloud and open it in Excel Online, the protection will still work.
(Protecting is a two-step process:
- Unlock the cells that should be editable in the Protection tab of the Format Cells dialog.
- Protect the worksheet on the Review tab of the ribbon.)
Whilst it's possible using Review>Manage Protection>Unlocked ranges, it isn't as straightforward as the desktop app. In the desktop, you can clear the protection lock for everything then just lock the individual cells, rows or columns that I want to (or vice versa). In Excel online, you have to add the ranges that you do want to be edited. If I just want one cell locked, eg E5, I'd have to add the ranges around it, eg A:D, F:??, 1:4 and 6:??.
