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How to make a read-only template in Excel?

Author Kelly Last modified

Sometimes we may make an Excel template for others applying easily, but do not want them to change the template files. A read-only Excel template can help you prevent others modifying template files, but doesn’t affect applying. In this article, I will show you the method to make a read-only template in Excel.

Make a read-only template in Excel

Here I will guide you to configure the save options when saving a workbook as a template, and make the Excel template read-only.

Step 1: Prepare your workbook which you will save as a read-only Excel template.

Step 2: Click the "File" > "Save" > "Computer" > "Browse" in Excel 2013, or click the "File/Office button" > "Save" in Excel 2007 and 2010.

Step 3: In the coming Save As dialog box,

(1) Enter a name for this workbook in the "File name" box;

(2) Click the "Save as type" box and select "Excel Template (*.xltx)" from drop down list;

(3) Click the "Tools" > "General Options". See screen shot below:

a screenshot of configuring the Save As dialog box

Step 4: In the General Options dialog box, only check the option of "Read-only recommended", and click the "OK" button.

a screenshot of checking the Read-only recommended box

Step 5: Click the "Save" button in the "Save As" dialog box.

Now the workbook is saved as a read-only Excel template. Users can apply this template with clicking "File" > "New" > "Personal" (or "My Templates")> read-only template (or other file name you specified in Step 3) without any effects, but it will pop up a warning dialog box when users open the template by "File" > "Open" and try to modify it.

Note: Although we can make a workbook read-only with clicking the "Review" > "Protect Sheet" and specify a password, for an Excel template this method will affect users applying and editing normally.

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