Locking Formulas in Microsoft Excel

Lock Formula Cells in Excel to Prevent Modification

Protecting formula cells in Excel ensures they remain unaltered while allowing other cells to be edited. Follow these steps:

Step 1: Unlock All Cells

1. Open your Excel spreadsheet.
2. Press Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac) to select all cells.
3. Right-click any selected cell and choose Format Cells.
4. In the Format Cells window:
   • Go to the Protection tab.
   • Uncheck the Locked option.
5. Click OK to unlock all cells.

Step 2: Select and Lock Formula Cells

1. Go to the Home tab in the Excel ribbon.
2. In the Editing section, select Find & Select > Go To Special.
3. In the Go To Special box:
   • Enable the Formulas option.
   • Click OK.
4. Excel will highlight all cells containing formulas.
5. Right-click any highlighted cell and choose Format Cells.
6. In the Format Cells window:
   • Go to the Protection tab.
   • Check the Locked option.
7. Click OK to lock the formula cells.

Step 3: Protect the Worksheet

1. Navigate to the Review tab in the ribbon.
2. Click Protect Sheet.
3. In the Protect Sheet dialog:
   • Optionally, enter a password in the Password to Unprotect Sheet field.
   • Click OK.
4. If you entered a password, confirm it in the next dialog box and click OK.

Result

• The cells containing formulas are now locked and protected.
• If someone tries to edit those cells, Excel will display an error message.
• Users can freely edit other cells in the worksheet.

By locking only the formula cells, you ensure the integrity of your calculations while allowing flexibility in other parts of your spreadsheet.

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