How to Lock Cells in Google Sheets

Think about spending hours making a Google Sheet to share along with your group, solely to seek out {that a} group member unintentionally deleted an vital column, row, cell, or, even worse — a complete sheet.

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That may be irritating. Nevertheless, it is completely preventable if you happen to lock cells in Google Sheets.

Because it seems, with only a few clicks of a mouse, you’ll be able to lock cells and full sheets in Google Sheets — that means, you and your group can work on the identical sheet with out hindering the following particular person from finishing their assigned duties.

On this submit, we’ll go over lock and unlock cells in Google Sheets.

Desk of Contents

The Advantages of Locking Cells in Google Sheets

Google Sheets permits customers to lock cells from modifying, which suggests you’ll be able to defend your Sheet from any potential accidents, together with modifying and deletion.

You may as well defend vital information and calculations, so you’ll be able to relaxation simple figuring out the formulation in your Sheet are right and correct.

The power to lock cells in Google Sheets comes with a wide range of advantages.

Not solely are you able to lock cells from modifying, however it’s also possible to management which group members can edit your doc — proper all the way down to the very cells these group members are allowed to govern.

That is extraordinarily useful if a number of group members are engaged on the identical Sheet directly. You may as well copy permissions from different sheets, you probably have locked cells in different Sheets.

Let’s check out the steps to lock cells in Google Sheets.

Methods to Lock Particular Cells in Google Sheets

Locking particular cells in Google Sheets is a straightforward job. Right here’s do it:

1. Proper-click on the cell you need to lock.

After opening a brand new Google Sheet (or a Sheet you will have already been working in), right-click on the cell or cells you need to lock.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 1: right-click on the cell you want to lock.

2. Hover over “View extra cell actions.”

This selection is listed on the backside of the dropdown menu.

Relying on the place your cells are positioned within the Sheet, you might have to scroll down till you see it. If you see it, hover over the “View extra cell actions” to open up one other menu.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 2: hover over “view more cell actions.”

3. Choose “Shield vary.”

The following menu offers you a number of extra cell actions. Search for the motion labeled “Shield vary.” Select “Shield vary” to start assigning cells to a locked standing.

Protect cells google sheets, step 3: select “protect range.”

Alternatively, you’ll be able to carry out the identical job by clicking on the Information tab and selecting “Shield sheets and ranges.”

Protect cells google sheets, alternate step 3: click on the “data” tab and select “protect sheets and ranges.”

4. Select “Add a sheet or vary” from the aspect panel.

After clicking “Shield vary” from the dropdown menu or “Shield sheets and ranges” from the Information tab, you’ll discover the open aspect panel on the precise of your display screen. Click on on “Add a sheet or vary.”

Protect cells google sheets, step 4: select “add a sheet or range” from the side panel.

5. Select which cells to lock.

Subsequent, determine which cells to lock from modifying. When you click on the cell you need to lock, that cell’s info can be referenced within the vary part. If you must lock a spread of cells, enter the vary into the sector.

Google sheets protected cells, step 5: choose which cells to lock.

6. Choose “Set permissions.”

Choose “Set permissions” to decide on who can edit the chosen cells. When you’re the one particular person allowed to edit the cell, be sure to select “solely you.”

You may as well copy permissions from different sheets, you probably have locked cells in different Sheets.

Google sheets protected cells, step 6: select “set permissions.”

7. Choose “Finished.”

When you’re completed locking cells from modifying, click on “Finished” to save lots of your preferences. Now, these cells are locked from modifying till you unlock them and alter the settings.

ow to lock cells in google sheets, step 7: select “done.”

Methods to Lock Cells and Give Modifying Permission to Choose Customers

When you and your group are working in a Google Sheet, think about giving modifying permissions to pick customers. This can assist you to assign duties and higher handle your venture and maintain others from unintentionally deleting vital work.

To lock cells and provides modifying permission to pick customers, comply with these steps.

1. Proper-click the chosen cells.

Select the cell or cells you want to prohibit. Then, right-click to open up the dropdown menu.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 1: right-click on the cell you want to lock.

2. Hover “View extra cell actions.”

Scroll or look to the underside of the dropdown menu and hover over “View extra cell actions.” This can open one other menu in your display screen.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 2: hover over “view more cell actions.”

3. Choose “Shield vary.”

To vary a cell’s modifying standing, select “Shield vary.” This motion will open a aspect panel menu.

Protect cells google sheets, step 3: select “protect range.”

4. Click on “Add a sheet or vary” from the aspect panel.

Within the aspect panel, click on “Add a sheet or vary.” Clicking this button will will let you enter which cells or sheets to lock.

Protect cells google sheets, step 4: select “add a sheet or range” from the side panel.

5. Select which cells to lock.

Decide which cells your group member must carry out their assigned job. Then, enter the vary of cells into the field.

Google sheets protected cells, step 5: choose which cells to lock.

6. Choose “Set permissions.”

When you’ve entered the specified cells within the field, you’ll have to set modifying restrictions. To limit entry to the vary of cells, click on “Set permissions.”

Google sheets protected cells, step 6: select “set permissions.”

7. Select “Customized.”

From this display screen, you will have the choice to determine who has permission to edit the vary of cells. So as to add a group member or a number of group members, click on “Customized.”

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 7: select “custom.”

8. Assign editors to cells.

Now, you’ll be able to determine who wants modifying entry to the vary of cells you will have specified. Enter the e-mail addresses of your group members to assign them as editors of the cells. This can give them modifying entry to designated cells throughout the sheet.

You’ll want to click on “Finished” to save lots of the vary modifying permissions.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 8: assign editors to cells and select “done.”

Methods to Lock an Complete Sheet

There could also be occasions you will want to lock a complete sheet from modifying. Fortunately, it is a easy course of.

To lock a complete sheet, you’ll be able to right-click on any cell throughout the doc to open the dropdown menu. You’ll take the identical steps to lock a complete sheet as you probably did with locking only one cell.

Right here’s do it:

1. Proper-click on any cell.

Proper-click on any cell in your Google Sheet to open a drop-down menu. To lock a complete sheet, it doesn’t matter which cell you employ to do that.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 1: right-click on any cell.

2. Hover over “View extra cell actions.”

Select the “View extra cell actions” possibility on the backside of the dropdown menu. You don’t want to click on. Simply hover over it to open one other menu.

ow to lock cells in google sheets, step 2: hover over “view more cell actions.”

3. Choose “Shield vary.”

Click on “Shield vary” to open the permissions aspect panel. Alternatively, you’ll be able to attain the “Protected sheets and ranges” aspect panel by clicking on the Information tab and deciding on “Shield sheets and ranges.”

Protect cells google sheets, step 3: select “protect range.”

4. Select “Add a sheet or vary” from the aspect panel.

Click on “Add a sheet or vary” to start locking a complete sheet.

Protect cells google sheets, step 4: select “add a sheet or range” from the side panel.

5. Click on on “Sheet.”

Click on on the “Sheet” button to lock a complete sheet. When you’re within the Sheet tab, choose which Sheet you want to lock.

ou have the choice to exclude sure cells from being locked. When you want sure cells open for modifying, click on the field for “Besides sure cells” and specify the vary.

Google sheets protected cells, step 5: click on “sheet.”

6. Choose “Set permissions.”

Earlier than you’ll be able to lock your Sheet, you must set modifying permissions. Choose “Set permissions” to decide on who can edit the locked Sheet. If you’re the one particular person allowed to edit the sheet, be sure to select “Solely you.”

Google sheets protected cells, step 6: select “set permissions.”

When you’ve decided who has modifying permissions in your Sheet, both simply you or members of your group, you should definitely hit “Finished” to save lots of the permissions. Now your Sheet is locked and can’t be edited with out permission.

Google sheets protected cells, step 6: select “done” after “set permissions.”

Methods to Present a Warning however Enable Modifying of Locked Cells

When you’re engaged on a doc concurrently with group members and also you don’t need your cells to be modified, you’ll be able to enable customers to obtain a warning earlier than accepting their edits.

To point out a warning, comply with these steps:

1. Proper-click on the cells you need to lock.

In your Google Sheet, right-click on the cells you need to lock. You’ll be able to set a warning for a complete Sheet by following this course of as effectively.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 1: right-click on the cell you want to lock.

2. Hover over “View extra cell actions.”

Scroll to the underside of the menu and hover over “View extra cell actions.”

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 2: hover over “view more cell actions.”

3. Choose “Shield vary.”

To set an modifying warning on sure cells or your Sheet, click on “Shield vary” to assign cells or a Sheet to a warning standing.

Protect cells google sheets, step 3: select “protect range.”

4. Select “Add a sheet or vary” from the aspect panel.

On the precise of your display screen, you will notice an open aspect panel menu. Click on “Add a sheet or vary.”

Protect cells google sheets, step 4: select “add a sheet or range” from the side panel.

5. Select which cells or sheet to set an modifying warning.

You’ll be able to set an modifying warning for a spread of cells or a complete sheet. Within the aspect panel, decide which cells or sheets want a warning and ensure the knowledge referenced within the field matches your required cells or sheet.

Google sheets protected cells, step 5: choose which cells or sheet to add an edit warning.

6. Choose “Set permissions.”

After you will have verified which cells or sheets ought to have an modifying warning, click on “Set permissions” to go to the modifying choice display screen.

Google sheets protected cells, step 6: select “set permissions.”

7. Select “Present a warning when modifying this vary.”

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 7: choose “show a warning when editing this range,” then select “done.”

Choose “Present a warning when modifying this vary,” then hit “Finished” to save lots of your modifying permissions.

If a person tries to make adjustments within the semi-locked cell or Sheet, they may obtain a warning message as a heads-up. Customers should both click on “Cancel” or “Okay” to make adjustments or revert to the unique doc.

How to lock cells in google sheets, step 7: If a user tries to make changes in the semi-locked cell or Sheet, they will receive a warning message as a heads-up.

Methods to Unlock Cells

Locking a cell or a Sheet is extraordinarily useful in sustaining the integrity of your information. However, there can be occasions when you will want to unlock a cell to replace or change the knowledge inside it.

Now that you just perceive lock cells, let’s check out unlock them.

1. Proper-click on the cells you need to unlock.

In your Google Sheet, right-click on the cell you must unlock. This motion opens a dropdown menu.

How to unlock cells in google sheets, step 1: right-click on the cell you want to unlock.

2. Hover over “View extra cell actions.”

Search for the “View extra cell actions” possibility within the drop-down menu. This selection is positioned on the backside of the dropdown menu. If you discover it, hover your mouse over the motion.

How to unlock cells in google sheets, step 2: hover over “view more cell actions.”

3. Choose “Shield vary.”

Like locking a cell, you’ll nonetheless have to click on on the “Shield vary” possibility. This can open a aspect panel menu the place you’ll be able to select to unlock the cell.

Protect cells google sheets, how to unlock cells step 3: select “protect range.”

4. Click on on the locked cell.

Within the aspect panel menu, you will notice a listing of locked cells inside your Sheet. Click on on the cell or cell vary that you just want to unlock.

Protect cells google sheets, how to unlock cells step 4: click on the locked cell or range you want to unlock.

5. Click on the garbage can icon.

Subsequent, click on on the garbage can icon to the aspect of the outline field.

Google sheets protected cells, how to unlock cells step 5: click the trash can icon.

6. Choose “Take away.”

A warning display screen will pop up asking if you wish to take away the protected vary. If you’re positive you need to unlock the cell, click on the “Take away” button.

When you click on the button, your cell is free to be edited by anybody with modifying permission for the doc.

Google sheets protected cells, how to unlock cells step 6: select “remove.”

Locking Cells in Google Sheets

And there you will have it! You’ll want to take a while to set modifying preferences and assign sure cells or sheets to your group.

When you’ve completed that, you and your group can confidently work on the identical Google Sheet with out worrying somebody will unintentionally edit or delete vital info.

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