1. Select File > Info > Protect Document. 2. Select Always open Read-Only.
Open the workbook that you want to protect. On the Review tab, under Protection, click Passwords. In the File Passwords dialog box, select the Read-only recommended check box, and click OK. Close the workbook.
There are three main techniques to protect an Excel sheet from theft, or to limit the editing options; encrypting the workbook using password protect option in Microsoft Excel, converting the Excel workbook into . pdf format, and protecting the workbook with structure password in Microsoft Excel.
Notes: Protecting the workbook is not the same as protecting an Excel file or a worksheet with a password. See below for more information: To lock your file so that other users can't open it, see Protect an Excel file.
Amongst other things, Workbook protection allows you to prevent deletion, moving and hiding/ unhiding of worksheets. Worksheet protection allows you to lock cells, prevents modification of data validation and formats etc etc.
Different between workbook protection using password and making it read only Answer: Clicking the “Read-Only” button will open the document but in Read-Only mode. Only those you share the “password to modify” with will be able to make changes to the workbook.
Another way to protect individual worksheets is to use cell protection. To do this, go to the Review tab and click on "Protect Sheet". Then check the boxes next to the options that you want to protect. For example, you can check the box next to "Locked cells" to prevent users from changing the contents of locked cells.
Click Review > Protect Workbook. Enter a password (the password is optional, but if you don't set one, this feature can be toggled on or off by anyone who can open the Excel file). Select OK, re-enter the password to confirm it, and then select OK again.
If you protect the workbook structure, users cannot insert, delete, rename, move, copy, hide or unhide worksheets anymore.
Go to File > Info > Protect Document > Encrypt with Password.
With the file open in Excel, click on the "Enable Editing" button in the "Changes" section of the "Review" tab. This will remove the read-only lock from the file and allow you to make changes. If you dont see the "Enable Editing" button, it means the file isnt locked as read-only and you can skip to step three.
A few antivirus programs block Excel files and other Office documents by opening those in 'read-only' mode. In such cases, try adjusting the antivirus settings to open the Excel files normally. This will allow you to edit, modify, and save the Excel workbook. You can repair the MS Office program to resolve such errors.
On the Review tab, in the Changes group, click Share Workbook. On the Editing tab, clear the Allow changes by more than one user ... check box.
In the new pop-up window, click on the protect sheet, and then again, a new pop-up window will be opened. Enter the password that you want to use to protect the sheet in the password box. Check the boxes next to "Sort" and "Use auto filter," then click OK to close the pop up window.
Open the Share Workbook dialog box (Review tab > Changes group). On the Editing tab, clear the Allow changes by more than one user at the same time… check box, and click OK.
There are three levels of password protection in Excel: password protection to open a file, password protection to change data, or password protection for changing the file's structure, such as adding, deleting, or hiding worksheets.
Unlock/Unprotect an Encrypted Excel File Sheet Using Google Sheets. You can unlock/unprotect an Excel sheet without a password if you have a Google Drive account. To create a new Google Drive document, open your account and click the 'New' button at the top-left corner.
To protect the workbook, perform the following steps: On the Review tab, in the Changes group, click the Protect Workbook button. Under Protect workbook for, select one of the two options, or both: Check the Structure box to protect the structure of a workbook.
If you suspect the sheet you are viewing is protected, you can navigate to the Review tab on your Excel Ribbon and checkout the Protect buttons. If the first button's name is Unprotect Sheet, you know your ActiveSheet is currently protected.
Step 2 − In the sheet tab, look for the padlock icon. If protection is enabled, the padlock icon (🔒) will appear before the sheet name in the tab. Following the above steps, we see sheets 1 and 3 are protected.