How to lock columns in excel

The column lock feature in Excel is used to avoid any mishaps or undesired changes in data made by mistake by any user. We can apply this feature to a single column or multiple columns at once or separately. After selecting the desired column, change the formatting of the cells from locked to unlocked and password protect the workbook, which will not allow any user to change the locked columns.

For example, suppose we need to allow editing for necessary cells in an Excel spreadsheet but need not want others to edit cells containing essential data such as company information, formulas, drop-down lists, etc. Using this Excel feature, we can protect (lock) specific cells, columns, or rows on our Excel spreadsheet hassle-free and without any extra effort.

Locking a column can be done in two ways. We can do this by using the freeze panes in ExcelFreezing panes in excel helps freeze one or more rows and/or columns so that they remain fixed while scrolling through the database.read more and by protecting the worksheet by using the review functions of Excel. In Excel, we may want to lock a column so that the column does not disappear in case the user scrolls the sheet. That mainly happens when we have a large count of headers in a single sheet, and the user needs to scroll the sheet to see the other information.

When the user scrolls the data, some columns may lapse and not be visible to the user. So, we can lock the columns from getting scrolled out for the visible area.

How to Lock Column in Excel?

#1 – Locking the First Column of Excel

#2 – Lock any other Column of Excel

If the column is to be locked, we need to follow the below steps.

• Step #1 – We must select the column that needs to be locked. If we want to lock column “D,” we must choose the “E” column.

• Step #2 – From the “View” tab, we must choose the “Freeze Pane” option and select the first option to lock the cell.

The output is shown below:

#3 – Using the Protect Sheet Feature to Lock a Column

In this case, the user will not be able to edit the content of the locked column.

• Step #1 – Select the complete sheet and change the “Protection” to unlocked cells.

• Step #2 – Now, we must select the column that we want to lock and change the property of that cell to “Locked.”

• Step #3 – We must go to the “Review” tab and click on the “protect sheetWhen we don’t want any other user to make changes to our worksheet, we can use the Protect worksheet feature in Excel. It can be found in Excel’s Review tab. read more,” and then click on “OK.” Now, it will lock the column.

Explanation of Column Lock in Excel

Have you ever wondered what will happen if someone changes the value of a cell or a complete column? Yes, this may happen, especially in cases where the sheet is shared with multiple team users.

If this happens, this may drastically change the sheet’s data, as many other columns may depend upon the values of another column.

So, if we share our file with other users, we must ensure that the column is protected and no user can change the value of that column. We can do this by protecting the columns and hence locking their columns. If we lock a column, we can choose to have a password to unlock a column or prefer to continue without a password.

It is about locking the column, but sometimes we want a specific column that does not lapse in case the sheet is scrolled and always visible on the sheet.

In this case, we need to use the “Freeze Panes” option in Excel. Using this option, we can fix the position of a column. As a result, this position does not change even if the sheet is scrolled. Using the freeze panes, we can lock the first column, any other column, or even lock the rows and columns of ExcelA cell is the intersection of rows and columns. Rows and columns make the software that is called excel. The area of excel worksheet is divided into rows and columns and at any point in time, if we want to refer a particular location of this area, we need to refer a cell.read more.

Things to Remember

• If we lock a column using the “Freeze Panes” option, only the column is locked from scrolling, and we can always change the column’s content anytime.
• If we are using the “Protect Sheet” and the “Freeze Panes” options, then it is only possible to protect the column’s content and protect it from scrolling.
• If we want a column that is not the first column to freeze, we need to select the next right column, and then we need to click on “Freeze Panes.” Hence, we should always choose the next column to freeze the previous column.
• We can choose to have a password if we protect a column or continue without a password.

Recommended Articles

This article is a guide to Excel Column Lock. We discuss column lock in Excel using freeze panes, examples, and a downloadable Excel template. You may also learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

• Protect Sheet in VBA
• Compare and Match Excel Columns
• Excel Column to Number
• Freezing Excel Cell
• Trunc in Excel

Excel Column Lock (Table of Contents)

• Lock Column in Excel
• How to Lock Column in Excel?

Lock Column in Excel

To lock a column in Excel, we first need to select the column we need to Lock. Then click right anywhere on the selected column and select the Format Cells option from the right-click menu list. Now from the Protection tab of Format Cells, check the box of LOCKED with a tick. There is another way to lock a column which can be done using the Protect Sheet option available under the Review menu tab. First, select the column which wants to lock, then use Protect Sheet with a password to lock it.

How to Lock Column in Excel?

To Lock a column in excel is very simple and easy. Let’s understand how to Lock Columns in Excel with some examples.

You can download this Lock Column Excel Template here – Lock Column Excel Template

Example #1

We got sample sales data from some products. Where we have observed that the Product Type column many times got changed by multiple logins. So, to avoid this, we are going to lock that Product Type column so that no one will change it. And data available after it will be accessible for changes. Below is the screenshot of available data for locking the required column.

• For this purpose, first, select a cell or column which we need to protect, and then go to the Review tab and click on Protect Sheet.

• Once we click on Protect Sheet, we will get a dialog box of Protect Sheet where we need to set a Password of any digit. Here we have set the password as 123.

• And check (tick) the options available in a box as per requirement. For example, I have checked selective locked cells and selected unlocked cells (which sometimes comes as default).

• Once we are done with selecting the options for protecting the sheet or column, click on OK as highlighted below.

• Once clicked on OK, the system will ask you to re-enter the password again. Once fed the password, click OK.

Now selected Column is locked, and no one can change anything in it without disabling the column’s protection.

Let’s check whether the column is actually protected now. We had chosen Column A named as Product Type as required. For checking it, try to go in edit mode for any cell of that column (By Pressing F2 or double click); if it is protected, we will see a warning message as below.

Hence, our column data is now protected successfully.

For unprotecting it again, go to the Review tab and click on the Unprotect Sheet, as shown below.

Once we click on the Unprotect Sheet, it will again ask for the same password to unprotect it. For that, re-enter the same password and click on Ok.

Now the column is unprotected, and we can make changes to it. We can also check the column whether it is accessible or not.

Example #2

Apart from the method which we have seen in the above example, we can lock any column in excel by this too. In this method, we will lock the desired column by using the Format Cell in Excel. If you are using this function for the first time, you will see your entire sheet selected as Locked to check-in Format cell. For that, select the entire sheet and go to the Home menu and Click the Orientation icon as shown below.

After that, a drop-down will appear. From there, click on Format Cell Alignment, as shown below.

Format Cell Alignment can be accessed from different methods as well. This one is a shortcut approach for doing it. For this, select the entire sheet and Right Click anywhere. We will have the Format Cells option from right-click menu, as shown in the below screenshot. Click on it.

Once we click on it, we will get a dialog box of Format Cell. From there, go to the Protection tab.

If you find the Locked box is already checked in (which is the default set), then uncheck it click on OK as shown below.

By doing this, we are clearing the default setting and customizing the sheet/column to protect it. Now select the column which we want to lock in excel. Here we are locking column A named as Product Type. Right-click on the same column, and select the Format Cell option.

After that, we will see the Format Cell box; go to the Protection Tab and Check-in Locked box. And again, click on OK, as shown below.

Follow the same procedure as explained in example-1. Refer to the below screenshot.

Re-enter the password and click on Ok.

For checking, we already chosen Column A named as Product Type as most of the time, the data available in Product Type gets disturbed. If it is protected, we will see a warning message as below.

So, we will have our column data protected and locked for making any changes.

For unprotecting it again, follow the same procedure as explained in example-1, as shown below.

Once we click on the Unprotect Sheet, it will again ask for the same password to unprotect it. For that, re-enter the same password and click on OK.

Now the column is unprotected, and we can make changes to it. We can also check the column whether it is accessible or not.

Pros of Excel Column Lock

• It helps in data protection by not allowing any unauthorized person to make any changes.
• Sometimes data is so confidential that, even if a file is shared with someone outside the company, then also a person will not be able to do anything, as the sheet/column is locked.

Cons of Excel Column Lock

• Sometimes sheet gets so locked that, even in an emergency, we would not be able to change anything.
• If we forget the password, then also there is no way to make changes in data. There will be only one way to create a new file with the same data to proceed further.

Things to Remember

• Always note the password if you cannot remember it in the long future use.
• Always have a backup of the file which is locked, without any password, so that it will be used further.
• There are no criteria for creating a password.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Lock Column in Excel. Here we discuss how to Lock Columns in Excel along with practical examples and a downloadable excel template. You can also go through our other suggested articles –

1. Excel Lock Formula
2. COLUMNS Formula in Excel
3. VBA Columns
4. Switching Columns in Excel

This element within Excel allows others to enter or edit information into all other cells except those locked. Hiding or locking cells has no effect at all on the Worksheet until you protect the Worksheet.

When sharing projects among several team members, sometimes it is necessary to lock certain cells within the Worksheet to ensure the data isn’t deleted or changed. When the Worksheet is shared, the team member will be able to adjust all unlocked cells; however, the locked cells will remain the same.

The Worksheet Has Already Been Protected

If the Worksheet has already been protected, the first step is to unprotect it by clicking the REVIEW tab within the Ribbon and selecting Unprotect Sheet. You might have to enter a password if the Worksheet was protected with one originally.

1. Select the whole Worksheet by clicking on the select all arrow in the top left of the Worksheet (highlighted in the picture above).
2. Right-click anywhere and select FORMAT CELLS from the menu options or from the HOME Tab to click the small arrow at the bottom right of the Font box, or you can simply enter (Control + Shift + F) to have the Format Cells box open.
3. In the PROTECTION Tab of the Format Cells box, uncheck Lock Cells and click OK to complete unlock all cells within the Worksheet so you can designate the specific cells within the Worksheet that you want to lock.
4. Now, back on the Worksheet, select the column(s) that you would like to Lock. Open the Format Cells box again and this time click to put a checkmark back in the Locked checkbox.
5. Go back to the REVIEW tab and select PROTECT THIS WORKSHEET.
6. A dialog box will pop up asking if you would like to password protect the Worksheet, and there are numerous elements that you can either allow or disallow users to do within the Worksheet. The first two elements are selected by default:
7. Select lock cells – allow users to select cells that are locked but do not allow changes or deletion
8. Select unlock cells – allow users to select and make changes within all unlocked cells.
9. All other elements are related to formatting, sorting, inserting/deleting columns and rows, and not selecting by default.

Once you click OK, the Worksheet will now be protected.

1. If someone attempts to make changes into a locked cell, the following message will pop up on the screen.
2. 

How To Lock Columns In Excel To Unlock Columns

You will need to begin by un-protecting the Sheet under the Review tab. Select the column you have locked and bring up the Format Cells box. Under the PROTECTION tab once again, unclick the Locked checkbox.

How To Lock Columns In Excel

Locking cells could also be beneficial at a networking event where each member could enter their information into a worksheet as shown to the left. Column A could be locked in place to ensure that no changes are made; however, members could easily enter their information under each column.