In this article, we have explained six types of password protection in Excel. You can use these tricks in your Excel reports and VBA Projects file.
1. File Protection to open it:
You can make your Excel file password protected. Whenever user open this file, it will ask for a password.
Below are the steps to apply the password to open a file-
- Save as the Excel file (Press F12)
- Go to the Tools drop-down in save as window
- Select the General Options
- Put any password in Password to Open box.
2. File Protection to modify it:
You can put a password in your Excel to modify it. You will be able to open it as Read Only file without password.
Below are the steps to apply the password to modify a file-
- Save as the Excel file (Press F12)
- Go to the Tools drop-down in save as window
- Select the General Options
- Put any password in Password to modify box.
3. Workbook Protection:
You can lock the workbook structure with the password so that nobody can hide, unhide, delete, add, or rename the worksheet in that file.
Below are the steps to protect a workbook-
- Go to the Review tab
- Click on Protect workbook
- Put the password in popped up window
4. Worksheet Protection (Entire Sheet):
You can protect the entire worksheet with the password so that nobody can enter or modify the information in that worksheet.
Below are the steps to protect a worksheet-
- Go to the Review tab
- Click on Protect workbook
- Put the password in popped up window
Worksheet Protection (Desired Range only):
Below are the steps to protect the desired range in the excel worksheet.
First you need to unlock all the cells in the excel worksheet.
- Select the entire sheet and press ctrl +1 to open the Format cells window.
- Go to Protection tab and uncheck the “Locked” check box.
- Now you need to lock the cells of your desire range.
- Select the entire sheet and press ctrl +1 to open the Format cells window.
- Go to Protection tab and check the “Locked” check box.
Now you can put the worksheet protection
- Go to the Review tab
- Click on Protect workbook
- Put the password in popped up window
6. VBA Project Protection:
If you want to protect your VBA code with a password so that nobody can see it. You can follow the below steps:
- Go to the visual basic editor (Press Alt+F11)
- Right click on your VBA Project and click on VBA Project Properties.
- “VBA Project – Project Properties” window will be opened.
- Go to the Protection tab of this window.
- Check the “Lock project for viewing”
- Put the password and confirm the password.
Watch the step-by-step video tutorial:
Click here to download the practice file
