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
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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Hi I am having an error with the deletion. Whenever I tried to click the delete the record a pop up will say "Microsoft Excel will permanently delete this sheet. Do you want to continue'.
Here's the code that I am using:
Sub Deletion()
Dim iRow As Long Dim iSerial As Long
iSerial = Application.InputBox("Please enter Serial No. to delete the record.", "Delete", , , , , , 1)
Say, I have Column BH with dropdown choices for Confirmed, Pending, and Cancelled.
All columns must remain unlocked for editing except for Columns A, BD, BE, and BF which must remain lock all the time.
If "Confirmed" is selected on Column BH, I want to lock the entire row before/next to it. Then, a password must be used if I want to edit the "Confirmed" row.
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.
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
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.
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.
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
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?
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"?
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
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.
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?
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
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
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 ..?
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.
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)
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
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
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
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
Good day,
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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!
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
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.
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
Hi,
Sir i want to lock after one time input data !
Like i am following one customer and write status , then any more employee cant edit or modify that !
i like to lock only the edited cells. once i enter any data to the empty cells, i require to lock the edited cell to be automitically locked but not the empty cells.
Dear Subhash,
After using the code, only the edited cells are locked in the specified range. And you can still enter data into the empty cells in the specified range as you need. After fill in the blank cell, it will be locked automatically.
For anyone who might have stumbled here since this comment. If you are having to unlock the worksheet EVERYTIME you fill in a cell then you need to first,
- Unlock the spreadsheet - Highlight the area of the worksheet the code applies over - Right-click and go to 'format cells' - Go to the far right tab called 'Protection' and UNCHECK the 'Locked' section (Even if It appears as a solid fill instead of a tick)
After that you will be able to enter data in multiple cells without having to unlock everytime. Bear in mind if you need to revisit locked cells to delete or edit information you may need to repeat the steps above.
I tried the code and seemed to work somewhat. It does however allow me to delete the date entered into the cell but only stops me when I try to enter something else. Is there a way to keep data from being deleted?
Dear Stacy,
The same problem does not appear in my case. The code prevent users from entering as well as deleting data from the specified range. Would you provide your Office version for further testing?
Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range) Dim MyRange As Range
Set MyRange = Intersect(Range("A1:D100"), Target) If Not MyRange Is Nothing Then Sheets("Sheet1").Unprotect password:="hello" MyRange.Locked = True Sheets("Sheet1").Protect password:="hello" End If End Sub
And remember to change range (A1:D100), password (hello) and sheet (Sheet1) names/numbers if it does not match the above :)
I have a spreadsheet with the range A3:AN219, i would like to protect this range as and when input complete. Please help me on this. I tried above code but it is not working for me
