How to lock or protect cells after data entry or input in Excel?

Supposing you have a worksheet and just a certain range of blank cells needs data entry, and after finishing inputting data, you need the cells to be locked automatically in order to prevent changes again. How can you do to achieve it? This article can help you.

Lock or protect cells after data entry or input with VBA code

Lock or protect cells after data entry or input with VBA code

For example, the certain range of blank cells is A1:F8. Please do as follows to lock these cells after data entry in Excel.

1. Please unlock this range first, select the cells and right-clicking, then choose Format Cells in the right-clicking menu, and in the Format Cells dialog box, unchecking the Locked box under the protection tab, and finally clicking the OK button. See screenshot:

2. Click Review > Protect Sheet. And specify a password to protect this worksheet.

3. Right click the sheet tab, select View Code from the right-clicking menu. Then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Code window. See screenshot:

VBA code: Lock or protect cells after data entry or input

Dim mRg As Range
Dim mStr As String

Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
If Not Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target) Is Nothing Then
    Set mRg = Target.Item(1)
    mStr = mRg.Value
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim xRg As Range
    On Error Resume Next
    Set xRg = Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target)
    If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
    Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123"
    If xRg.Value <> mStr Then xRg.Locked = True
    Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123" 
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
If Not Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target) Is Nothing Then
    Set mRg = Target.Item(1)
     mStr = mRg.Value
End If
End Sub

Note: In the code, “A1:F8” is the range you need to input data; and “123” is the password of this protected worksheet. Please change them as you need.

4. Press Alt + Q keys simultaneously to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

After finishing entering data to the cells of range A1:F8, they will be locked automatically. And you will get a prompt dialog box if you try to change any cell content of this range. See screenshot:

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crystal · 2 months ago
@daryll Hi,
Which Excel version are you using?
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daryll · 2 months ago
Good day...

Your tutorial is great!

I ran across a Run-Time error '13': during selection change if I select entire row. What is the turn-around for this? Any insight is much appreciated.
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crystal · 5 months ago
@simon Hi simon,
If you want to lock cells in D6:D36, H6:H35 and L6:L35 separately after finish entering data in each range. Please do as follows.
1. Select these three ranges by holding the Ctrl key;
2. Do as the post described in step 1 to unlock these three ranges;
3. Protect your worksheet with a password (Here my password is 123. This password will be used in the below code);
4. Right click the sheet tab and then paste the below VBA code into the Code editor, and then press Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.
Notes:
1) In the code, you can change the ranges and password as you need;
2）After pressing Alt + Q keys to close the code window, you need to shift to another worksheet and then go back to current sheet to make the code work. Otherwise, error will be occurred.
Dim mRg As Range 'Updated by Extendoffice 20201030 Dim mStr As String Dim mStrAddress As String Dim mArr Private Sub Worksheet_Activate() On Error Resume Next Erase mArr() mStrAddress = "D6:D36,H6:H35,L6:L35" mArr = Split(mStrAddress, ",") End Sub Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean) Dim xI As Integer For xI = 0 To UBound(mArr) If Not Intersect(Range(mArr(xI)), Target) Is Nothing Then Set mRg = Target.Item(1) mStr = mRg.Value Exit For End If Next End Sub Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range) Dim xRg As Range Dim xI As Integer On Error Resume Next For xI = 0 To UBound(mArr) Set xRg = Null Set xRg = Intersect(Range(mArr(xI)), Target) If Not (xRg Is Nothing) Then Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123" If xRg.Value <> mStr Then xRg.Locked = True Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123" End If Next End Sub Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range) Dim xI As Integer On Error Resume Next For xI = 0 To UBound(mArr) If Not Intersect(Range(mArr(xI)), Target) Is Nothing Then Set mRg = Target.Item(1) mStr = mRg.Value End If Next End Sub
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simon · 6 months ago
Hi, This is all new to me. The formula is great. I want to lock cells D6:D36, H6:H35 & L6:L35 but can't get this to work. any help would be greatly appreciated.
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kit · 6 months ago
If Not Intersect(Range("CUSTOMER!"), Target) Is Nothing Then

I got an error. I want to protect the whole sheet
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scpsrm · 7 months ago
Good afternoon ... thank you again for this great resource. I do have one question. We have a shared document that is used by multiple users for input purposes. We have noticed that if User A enters data in a given cell, User A cannot edit per the code above (which is exactly what we want) but User B who the document is also shared with can delete the data that User A entered. Is there a revision for the code above that could be included in a shared document that has multiple users that are entering data.
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WGardner970 · 8 months ago
@crystal Thank you so much for this, it is really helpful!

One of my colleagues is working on a notebook that isn't able to install Microsoft Excel but through Microsoft Teams she can access this workbook.Something we were wondering about for another sheet would be if the password were typed into cell AZ1 then all the other cells would unlock, but if the password is not currently in the cell the cells would switch back to locked. Is this feasible?
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Will · 8 months ago
@crystal Thanks so much! I just got a chance to test this while setting up our logging sheet for next month and this works fantastic. One thing I did notice is that reading for "Complete" is case sensitive. Sometimes the logger will put in "complete" and the data limitation allows it. To include this, would I just copy that "If" to "End If" and put "complete"?
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Yosi · 9 months ago
Hi
I want to auto lock cell while i'm saving my worksheet
Can you help me how to do this in vba
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crystal · 9 months ago
@Will Hi Will,
Try this VBA. When entering "Complete" in any cell in column E, the rest cells of that row will be locked.

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)

For Each cell In Range("E1:E500")
If cell.Value = "Complete" Then
ActiveSheet.Unprotect "Password"
cell.EntireRow.Locked = True
ActiveSheet.Protect "Password"
End If
Next cell

End Sub
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Will · 10 months ago
Good morning,

I want to make it so that when a specific cell="Complete" the rest of that row locks. How would I modify this? Let's say that someone enters data into columns A through D and then Column E they enter "Complete" to lock A:E for that row.

Thank you,

Will
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crystal · 11 months ago
@John Stephen Hi John,
This can't be done in google sheet. Sorry for the inconvenience.
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John Stephen · 1 years ago
Hi,
Can this be done in google sheet, if yes please let me know the procedure.
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john · 1 years ago
HI,

Can this be done in Google sheet if yes how?
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Skyfirst · 1 years ago
For those who want to protect different range of cells you can edit the range in the code like what I did. Use "comma" if making multiple cells.
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VALERY · 1 years ago
hello if i have entered data from A1 right up to F and from A2 right up to F what will be the range that i have to input on the VBA code listed above in order to protect the cell A1,B1, C1, D1, E1, F1 AND A2, B2, C2, D2, E2, F2
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jayaa · 1 years ago
Hi,

Please, can you help with my needs?

I am looking for VBA code - Once I save the sheet then can't edit on used cells and only allow to enter in new cells. Save by clicking save symbol or close file.

I tried various options but I unable to get them correctly, sometimes works and sometimes fail to work. Please help.
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RUPESH · 1 years ago
Hi
how do i increase range? I have already done protect sheet and i want to increase rage how do i do it>
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Daniel · 1 years ago
@Jenny Unlock the Worksheet, and when protecting again, enable the edit object checkbox before confirming passwords
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zxp · 1 years ago
I am looking same sort of thing but data range is in different cells eg, B3:D44 and then F20:H122 and so on 5 or 6 different ranges, could you please elaborate how to make VB code for it?
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Jenny · 1 years ago
After implementing this code, I can no longer sign my signature in Excel's signature tool. What code can I add so that this won't occur? I can set it so that one can edit objects but as soon as I type something into one of my protected cells the options are reset and I can't use the signature box. Any help would be appreciated
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crystal · 1 years ago
@Ryan Bullock Good day,
Can't help you solving this problem yet. Thanks for your comment.
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crystal · 1 years ago
@Jim Hi Jim,
Didn't text in google sheet. Thanks for your comment.
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Jim · 1 years ago
Hi, something like this in google sheet?
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Ryan Bullock · 1 years ago
Hello there, how can I use this so that the user inputs the data in a range and then must click a submit button/cell to lock the cells?
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AW · 1 years ago
If the cell is currently empty (but has previously been filled) is there a way to make it editable rather than protected?
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crystal · 2 years ago
@M Hi,
If there are merged cells in the specified range, please try the following code.

Dim mRg As Range
Dim mStr As String

Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
If Not Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target) Is Nothing Then
Set mRg = Target.Item(1)
mStr = mRg.Value
End If
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRg As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set xRg = Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target)
If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123"
If xRg.Value <> mStr Then xRg.MergeArea.Locked = True
Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123"
End Sub
Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
If Not Intersect(Range("A1:F8"), Target) Is Nothing Then
Set mRg = Target.Item(1)
mStr = mRg.Value
End If
End Sub
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crystal · 2 years ago
@SURENDRA Hi SURENDAR,
Sorry can't help with that. Thank you for your comment.
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M · 2 years ago
it doesn't seem to work if i have some cells merged. is there a solution for that?
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SURENDRA · 2 years ago
SIR I SUCCESS TO PROTECT AND LOCK CELL BUT I WANT TO EDIT CELLS WHEN THEY LOCKED ONLY THROUGH CELLS CLICK AND ASK PASSWORD TO EDIT CELL . HOW TO DO THIS ..?
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crystal · 2 years ago
@Prandeep Hi,
The code has been updated with the problem solving, please have a try. Thank you for your comment.
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Prandeep · 2 years ago
Sir, when pasting code after double click in selected entry cell which cell enter the data the cell did not permission to entry value please fix the problem modify the code.
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crystal · 2 years ago
@Jess Hi Jess,
The below VBA code can help you.
Note: When protecting the worksheet, please uncheck the "Select locked cells" option in the Protect sheet dialog box. Thank you for your comment.

Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)
Dim xRg As Range
On Error Resume Next
If ProtectContents Then
Set xRg = Intersect(Range("A1:D4"), Target)
If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123"
Target = Environ("USERNAME") & " " & Now()
Target.Locked = True
Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123"
Cancel = True
End If
End Sub
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crystal · 2 years ago
@Nazmul Hi Nazmul,
You need to save the workbook as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook before closing it.
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Jess · 2 years ago
Hello, I'm trying to code so that a user can double-click and it will capture their username and timestamp. I was the cells to lock immediately after this is completed. I have the following in VBA, but it keeps debugging back to the "Target = Environ("USERNAME") & " " & Now()". I am VERY new and VERY inexperienced w/ VBA, so please bear with me if it's something small I'm doing wrong.

Private Sub Worksheet_BeforeDoubleClick(ByVal Target As Range, Cancel As Boolean)

Target = Environ("USERNAME") & " " & Now()
Cancel = True

End Sub

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRg As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set xRg = Intersect(Range("A1:D45"), Target)
If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="GENERAL"
xRg.Locked = True
Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="GENERAL"
End Sub
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Nazmul · 2 years ago
when I get out of the currently working file and opened it again I found that new cell not locked after data entry, only the previous lock cell found lock. any solution
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shreedhar · 2 years ago
Thanks man, This Saved my job : D
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Max · 2 years ago
@Stires62 How? i didn't get it...
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crystal · 2 years ago
@Kim Hi Kim,
Sorry can't help with this. The filter feature is disabled in a protected worksheet by default.
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crystal · 3 years ago
@max m. marcus Good day,
Welcome to post any question in our forum: https://www.extendoffice.com/forum.html.
You will get more Excel supports from our professional or other Excel fans.
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Kim · 3 years ago
Hi - this post was very helpful and works perfectly. However, my filters stop working when the cells lock. Is there a way around this? Thanks!
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max m. marcus · 3 years ago
hello there need some help

im actually doing a working roster for a large group of people, and this sheet is accessible by all so that they can key in their requests for days off/ annual leaves etc. however i want to only limit a number of people on leave for each day (maximum 5 on leave) and after 5 leave requests are keyed in for the day, no body else can fill anymore requests for that particular date.

is there any code/function that will calculate the number of specific requests perday then when the quota is reached, then the other cells are blocked for the requests as to not exceed? thanks in advance
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Stires62 · 3 years ago
@Stires62 Never mind, I got it.
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Stires62 · 3 years ago
Good Morning,

Is there anyway to prevent a user from right clicking "view code" and seeing the admins password?
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crystal · 3 years ago
@smith123451 Hi Smith,
The below VBA code can help you solving the problem. Please have a try and thank you for your comment.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
On Error Resume Next
Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123"
Target.Locked = True
Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123"
End Sub
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smith123451 · 3 years ago
Hello,
Is there a way to lock only cells rather than the whole sheet? For example, if a user enters "Yes" in A2, then A2 would lock immediately as to not allow any changes. I would still like if others could still edit any other cell too. Thanks!
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crystal · 3 years ago
@jacjas Dear Jackie,
The below VBA code can help you solve the problem.

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRg As Range
Dim xSRg As Range
On Error Resume Next
Set xSRg = Range("A1:F8")
Set xRg = Intersect(xSRg, Target)
If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
Target.Worksheet.Unprotect Password:="123"
xSRg.Locked = True
Target.Worksheet.Protect Password:="123"
End Sub
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jacjas · 3 years ago
Hi
editing the code is there a way i can get it to lock all the cells in the range after data has been entered into one cell within that range ? so they can only enter data into one cell within the range not multiple.

thank you
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jackie · 3 years ago
Hi

i want it to lock the range after entry into one cell in the range please can you advise how i need to edit this to do this thank you
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oh yeah · 3 years ago
is it have to coding?
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