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How to protect cells based on date in Excel?

Normally, we can protect the worksheet to prevent others editing or modifying the cell values, but, sometimes, you need to protect the cells based on date. For example, I want to protect other cells but only allow the cell values of today’s date to be modified as following screenshot shown, this article will talk about how to protect cells based on date.

doc protect by date 1

Protect all rows except today’s date row with VBA code

Protect all rows the date has passed with VBA code


arrow blue right bubble Protect all rows except today’s date row with VBA code

Only allow the row which equal today’s date to be modified, the following code can help you, please do as this:

1. Right click the sheet tab that you want to protect the cells based on date, and then choose View Code from the context menu, in the popped out Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please copy and paste the following code into the blank Module:

VBA code: Protect all rows except today’s date row:

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice 20161025
    If Range("E" & Selection.Row).Value <> Date Then
        ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="111111"
        MsgBox "Only today's date row can be edited!", vbInformation, "Kutools for Excel"
    ElseIf Range("E" & Selection.Row).Value = Date Then
        ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="111111"
        ActiveSheet.EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions
    End If
End Sub

doc protect by date 2

Note: In the above code, the letter E is the column header where the date located, “111111” is the password to protect this sheet. You can change them to your need.

2. Then save and close this code window.

(1.) If you click other cells beyond today’s date row, an prompt box will pop out to remind you the cell can’t be edited, see screenshot:

doc protect by date 3

(2.) If you click and edit the row equals today’s date, it will be modified successfully, see screenshot:

doc protect by date 4


arrow blue right bubble Protect all rows the date has passed with VBA code

If you need to protect all rows the date has passed, only allow today and future date rows to be modified, please apply the following VBA code:

1. Right click the sheet tab that you want to protect the cells based on date, and then choose View Code from the context menu, in the popped out Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window, please copy and paste the following code into the blank Module:

VBA code: Protect all rows date has passed:

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice 20161025
  Dim xRow As Long
  xRow = 2
  ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="111111"
  ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Cells.Locked = False
  Do Until IsEmpty(Cells(xRow, 5))
    If Cells(xRow, 5) < Date Then
      Rows(xRow).Locked = True
    End If
    xRow = xRow + 1
  Loop
  ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="111111"
End Sub

doc protect by date 5

Note: In the above code, the number 5 is the column number where the date located, “111111” is the password to protect this sheet. You can change them to your need.

3. Then save and close this code window.

(1.) If you click the cells date has passed, an prompt box will pop out to remind you the cell can’t be edited, see screenshot:

doc protect by date 6

(2.) If you click the cell of rows to try to change the values in today’s date or future date, it will be modified successfully, see screenshot:

doc protect by date 7


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Comments (30)
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This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Loophole: Password can be seen by other person by using "View Code" option.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
not working as all the cell shows the message but are editable
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi is it possible to lock columns by the date directly above the columns?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Private Sub worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)

'Subscribe to http://youtube.com/excel10tutorial

'Support the channel by donating on http://patreon.com/excel10tutorial

Dim col As Range

'Set the correct sheet name here:

With ThisWorkbook.Sheets("AGOSTO-22")

.Unprotect "ABCDE"

For Each col In .UsedRange.Columns

col.EntireColumn.Locked = col.Range("A1").Value <> Date

Next col

.Protect "ABCDE"

.EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions

End With

End Sub
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
hi is it possible to lock certain cells depending on the date that is directly above them in a column?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, Lusis,
Can you give your problem more specifically? Or you can attach a screenshot as your problem.
Thank you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi skyyang

Yes here is a screenshot. Hope this helps.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Here it is.
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Lucis,
Do you mean to lock the columns which date is past, and only the columns of today and future days can be modified?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Correct! How would I go about that?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, Luis,
How about the date cell in A1? Is it entered manually or entered with a formula =now()? If it is a formula cell, the locked columns will be changed with the date changes.
Looking forward to your reply!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Skyyangg

yes the cell A1 has the =now() formula.

thanks!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello.....


I am using the code for Protect all rows except today’s date row........



Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice 20161025
If Range("A" & Selection.Row).Value <> Date Then
ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="111111"
MsgBox "Only today's date row can be edited!", vbInformation, "Kutools for Excel"
ElseIf Range("E" & Selection.Row).Value = Date Then
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="111111"
ActiveSheet.EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions
End If
End Sub


After i save i and click on cell i get message only today's date row can be edited....but if i double click the cell the i can edit...pls help
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
This works great. but how can I switch it to unlock a column based on dates in row 3?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
As someone who is relatively new to VBA, would you mind explaining why xRow = 2 in Line 4?



Thanks
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
because in row no. 1 you have header
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,

while running this code I am getting an error as shown in the figure
Also i am attaching a snapshot my excel where i want to make changes..

Can u guide in my code where should i make changes according to my excel file so that cells that contain only todays & future date can be editied ???
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Karan,
Because there are merged cells in your table, the above code can not be applied correctly in merged cells table.
If you have any other good ideas, please comment here. Thank you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, I tried to do the same but to Protect all columns except today’s date column with VBA code by replacing "Selection.Row" with "Selection.Columns" and "E" with "5" (row number where dates are), but I keep receiving error 1004!

Any help please?

Thank you
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, I tried to do the same but to Protect all columns except today’s date column with VBA code by replacing "Selection.Row" with "Selection.Columns" and "E" with "5" (row number where dates are), but I keep receiving error 1004!

Any help please?

Thank you
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello,
To apply this code to columns that you need, please use the following VBA code:(Note: In the code, 5 is the row number contains the date, please change it to your need.)

Private Sub Worksheet_SelectionChange(ByVal Target As Range)
Dim xRg As Range
Set xRg = Target.Worksheet.Cells(5, Target.Column)
If xRg <> Date Then
ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="111111"
MsgBox "Only today's date row can be edited!", vbInformation, "Kutools for Excel"
ElseIf xRg.Value = Date Then
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="111111"
ActiveSheet.EnableSelection = xlNoRestrictions
End If
End Sub

Please try, hope it can help you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thank you! Sorry, I did not get your reply until now, it might be a problem in my email.

It worked! Can't say thank you enough! I really appreciate that!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,
Glad it can help you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi,

I am trying to expand this to protect columns that do not include this current month or/and this current week. I tried to replace "Date" with "month" or "week", but did not work.

I have attached a sample for weeks sheet where user cannot edit or type in columns other than this week.

Any advice on that? or shall I use actual dates to reflect a day in the month?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Thanks for your help, Thanku so much buddy, It is a great help. and solved my tension.
Be safe
RegardsRohit Khanna
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi Im facing one problem, once i close the file and reopens it again on the same date, code doesnot work. pls help im stuck
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hi, rohit,
To keep the code, you should save your workbook as Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook format, please try, thank you!
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
hello i did it but when i press cell message shows that it can not be edited but when i press keyborad i still can write in the cell
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, I would like to protect future days and allow editing current and past days. How do I do that?
This comment was minimized by the moderator on the site
Hello, Miguel,To protect the future days, please apply the below code:<div data-tag="code">Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Excel.Range)
'Updateby Extendoffice
Dim xRow As Long
xRow = 2
ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:="111111"
ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Cells.Locked = False
Do Until IsEmpty(Cells(xRow, 5))
If Cells(xRow, 5) > Date Then
Rows(xRow).Locked = True
End If
xRow = xRow + 1
Loop
ThisWorkbook.ActiveSheet.Protect Password:="111111"
End SubPlease try, hope it can help you!
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