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How to limit access to a range of cells in Excel?

Author Sun Last modified

If you protect a sheet with the Protect Sheet feature in Excel, all cells in the whole sheet will be protected. But in some cases, you may just want to limit access to a range of cells and leaving others to be editable, how can you solve it? In this article, I am going to talk about how to limit access to a range of cells in Excel.

Restrict access to cells

arrow blue right bubble Restrict access to cells

1. Select the whole worksheet by clicking the triangle in left corner. See screenshot:
A screenshot showing how to select the entire worksheet by clicking the top-left triangle in Excel

2. Then right click to choose Format Cells from the context menu. See screenshot:
A screenshot of the context menu showing Format Cells option in Excel

3. In the Format Cells dialog, under Protection tab, uncheck Locked option. See screenshot:
A screenshot showing Format Cells dialog with Protection tab in Excel

4. Click OK, then select the range you want to limit access to, and press Ctrl + 1 keys together to enable the Format Cells dialog again, then check Locked option under Protection tab. See screenshot:
A screenshot showing Locked option enabled for a selected cell range in Excel

5. Click OK. Then go to Review > Protect Sheet to enable the Protect Sheet dialog, and check Protect Worksheet and contents of locked cells option, and check Select unlocked cells or other options as you need in the Allow all users of this worksheet to section, type and confirm the password. See screenshot.

A screenshot of the Protect Sheet button on the ribbon
A screenshot of Protect Sheet dialog showing protection options and confirming password entry in Excel


6. Click OK. Now only the locked cells cannot be edit, and other cells are free.

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