To prevent a user from accidentally or deliberately changing, moving, or deleting important data from a worksheet or workbook, you can protect Certain worksheet or workbook elements, with or without a password. You can remove the protection from a worksheet as needed.
Protect worksheet elements
1. Select the worksheet that you want to protect.
2. To unlock any cells or ranges that you want other users to be able to change, do the following:
- Select each cell or range that you want to unlock.
- On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, and then click Format Cells.
- On the Protection tab, clear the Locked check box, and then click OK.
3. To hide any formulas that you do not want to be visible, do the following:
- In the worksheet, select the cells that contain the formulas that you want to hide.
- On the Home tab, in the Cells group, click Format, and then click Format Cells.
- On the Protection tab, select the Hidden check box, and then click OK.
4. To unlock any graphic objects (such as pictures, clip art, shapes, or Smart Art graphics) that you want users to be able to change, do the following:
- Hold down CTRL and then click each graphic object that you want to unlock. This displays the Picture Tools or Drawing Tools, adding the Format tab.
5. On the Review tab, in the Changes group, click Protect Sheet.
6. In the Allow all users of this worksheet to list, select the elements that you want users to be able to change.
