What is a shared file in excel

Important: «Shared Workbooks» is an older feature that allows you to collaborate on a workbook with multiple people. This feature has many limitations, and has been replaced by co-authoring. Excel co-authoring is available in Microsoft 365 Apps Excel desktop client and Excel for the Web for Microsoft 365 subscribers.

Buy or try Microsoft 365

Enabling the Shared Workbook feature

  1. Be certain that you want to use this method before continuing. Shared Workbooks have limitations, and one in particular is the inability to edit using Excel for the web. Therefore we highly recommend co-authoring, which is the replacement for Shared Workbooks.

  2. Create a new workbook or open an existing workbook. Then place it on a network location. For example, put it on a location like \server_namefolder_name. Don’t put the file on OneDrive or SharePoint. If you prefer those locations for the file, co-author the workbook instead.

  3. Click Review > Share Workbook.

    Note that in newer versions of Excel, the Share Workbook button has been hidden. Here’s how to unhide it.

  4. On the Editing tab, select the Allow changes by more than one user … check box.

  5. On the Advanced tab, select the options that you want to use for tracking and updating changes, and then click OK.

  6. If this is a new workbook, type a name in the File name box. Or, if this is an existing workbook, click OK to save the workbook.

  7. If the workbook contains links to other workbooks or documents, verify the links and update any links that are broken.

  8. Click File > Save.

  9. When you’re done, — Shared will appear at the top of the Excel window, next to the filename.

Additional information

Please be aware that Shared Workbooks is an older method of sharing. Therefore, many items and actions are not supported when this method is used. The table below is only a partial list of features not supported.

Unsupported items:

Unsupported actions:

Creating or inserting tables

Inserting or deleting blocks of cells

Adding or changing conditional formats

Deleting worksheets

Adding or changing data validation

Merging cells or splitting merged cells

Creating or changing charts or PivotChart reports

Sorting or filtering by format

Inserting or changing pictures or other objects

Using drawing tools

Inserting or changing hyperlinks

Assigning, changing, or removing passwords

Creating, changing, or viewing scenarios

Protecting or unprotecting worksheets or the workbook

Inserting automatic subtotals

Grouping or outlining data

Creating data tables

Writing, recording, changing, viewing, or assigning macros

Creating or changing PivotTable reports

Changing or deleting array formulas

Creating or applying slicers

Adding, renaming, or deleting XML maps

Creating or modifying sparklines

Mapping cells to XML elements

Adding or changing Microsoft Excel 4 dialog sheets

Using the XML Source task pane, XML toolbar, or XML commands on the Data menu

Using a data form to add new data

Adding threaded comments

Editing, or deleting threaded comments

Before you disconnect users, make sure that they have completed their work on the workbook. If you remove active users, any unsaved work of theirs will be lost.

  1. Click Review > Share Workbook.

    Note that in newer versions of Excel, the Share Workbook button has been hidden. Here’s how to unhide it.

  2. On the Editing tab, in the Who has this workbook open now list, review the names of users.

  3. Select the name of the user who you want to disconnect, and then click Remove User. Please note that although this action disconnects the user from the workbook, it does not prevent that user from editing the workbook again.

  4. To delete any personal view settings of the removed user, click View > Custom Views and delete any other user views.

Before you turn off this feature, you might want to make a copy of the change history. First make sure that all other users have completed their work.

  1. Click Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.

    Note that in newer versions of Excel, the Track Changes button has been hidden. Here’s how to unhide it.

  2. In the When list, select All.

  3. Clear the Who and Where check boxes.

  4. Select the List changes on a new sheet check box, and then click OK.

  5. Now you can either print the History worksheet, or you can copy the history and paste it into another workbook.

  1. Click Review > Share Workbook.

    Note that in newer versions of Excel, the Share Workbook button has been hidden. Here’s how to unhide it.

  2. On the Editing tab, make sure that you are the only person listed in the Who has this workbook open now list.

  3. Clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box. If this check box is not available, you must first unprotect the workbook. Do the following:

    1. Click OK to close the Share Workbook dialog box.

    2. On the Review tab, in the Changes group, click Unprotect Shared Workbook.

    3. If you are prompted, enter the password, and then click OK.

    4. On the Review tab, in the Changes group, click Share Workbook.

    5. On the Editing tab, clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box.

    6. When you are prompted about the effects on other users, click Yes.

Enabling the Shared Workbook feature

  1. Be certain that you want to use this method before continuing. Shared Workbooks have limitations, and therefore we highly recommend co-authoring, which is the replacement for Shared Workbooks.

  2. Create a new workbook or open an existing workbook. Then place it on a network location. Don’t put the file on OneDrive or SharePoint. If you prefer those locations for the file, co-author the workbook instead.

  3. Click Review > Share Workbook.

  4. On the Editing tab, select the Allow changes by more than one user … check box.

  5. On the Advanced tab, select the options that you want to use for tracking and updating changes, and then click OK.

  6. If this is a new workbook, type a name in the Save As box. Or, if this is an existing workbook, click OK to save the workbook.

  7. If the workbook contains links to other workbooks or documents, verify the links and update any links that are broken.

  8. Click File > Save.

  9. When you’re done, — Shared will appear at the top of the Excel window, next to the filename.

Additional information

Please be aware that Shared Workbooks is an older method of sharing. Therefore, many items and actions are not supported when this method is used. The table below is only a partial list of features not supported.

Unsupported items:

Unsupported actions:

Creating or inserting tables

Inserting or deleting blocks of cells

Adding or changing conditional formats

Deleting worksheets

Adding or changing data validation

Merging cells or splitting merged cells

Creating or changing charts or PivotChart reports

Sorting or filtering by format

Inserting or changing pictures or other objects

Using drawing tools

Inserting or changing hyperlinks

Assigning, changing, or removing passwords

Creating, changing, or viewing scenarios

Protecting or unprotecting worksheets or the workbook

Inserting automatic subtotals

Grouping or outlining data

Creating data tables

Writing, recording, changing, viewing, or assigning macros

Creating or changing PivotTable reports

Changing or deleting array formulas

Creating or applying slicers

Adding, renaming, or deleting XML maps

Creating or modifying sparklines

Mapping cells to XML elements

Adding or changing Microsoft Excel 4 dialog sheets

Using the XML Source task pane, XML toolbar, or XML commands on the Data menu

Importing, refreshing, and exporting XML data

Using a data form to add new data

Before you disconnect users, make sure that they have completed their work on the workbook. If you remove active users, any unsaved work of theirs will be lost.

  1. Click Review > Share Workbook.

  2. On the Editing tab, in the Who has this workbook open now list, review the names of users.

  3. Select the name of the user who you want to disconnect, and then click Remove User. Please note that although this action disconnects the user from the workbook, it does not prevent that user from editing the workbook again.

  4. To delete any personal view settings of the removed user, click View > Custom Views and delete any other user views.

Before you turn off this feature, you might want to make a copy of the change history. First make sure that all other users have completed their work.

  1. Click Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.

  2. In the When list, select All.

  3. Clear the Who and Where check boxes.

  4. Select the List changes on a new sheet check box, and then click OK.

  5. Now you can either print the History worksheet, or you can copy the history and paste it into another workbook.

  1. Click Review > Share Workbook.

  2. On the Editing tab, make sure that you are the only person listed in the Who has this workbook open now list.

  3. Clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box. If this check box is not available, you must first unprotect the workbook. Do the following:

    1. Click OK to close the Share Workbook dialog box.

    2. On the Review tab, click Protect Workbook.

    3. If you are prompted, enter the password, and then click OK.

    4. On the Review tab, Share Workbook.

    5. On the Editing tab, clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box.

Before you turn off this feature, you might want to make a copy of the change history. First make sure that all other users have completed their work.

  1. Click Review > Track Changes > Highlight Changes.

  2. In the When list, select All.

  3. Clear the Who and Where check boxes.

  4. Select the List changes on a new sheet check box, and then click OK.

  5. Now you can either print the History worksheet, or you can copy the history and paste it into another workbook.

  1. Click Review > Share Workbook.

  2. On the Editing tab, make sure that you are the only person listed in the Who has this workbook open now list.

  3. Clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box. If this check box is not available, you must first unprotect the workbook. Do the following:

    1. Click OK to close the Share Workbook dialog box.

    2. On the Review tab, click Protect Workbook.

    3. If you are prompted, enter the password, and then click OK.

    4. On the Review tab, Share Workbook.

    5. On the Editing tab, clear the Allow changes by more than one user … check box.

Sharing in Microsoft Excel enables several users to work with one file. Ten to twenty people on different computers simultaneously enter some kind of data in one document.

Particular formulas work in those places where certain information is located.

The “main user” can track workgroup activities, add / remove members, and edit contradictory changes. How to set up collaboration in Excel?



Features of working with shared file

Not all tasks can be performed in an Excel workbook with shared access.

The following actions are prohibited:

  1. Creating Excel spreadsheets.
  2. Creating, changing, and viewing scenarios.
  3. Deleting worksheets.
  4. Combining or splitting cells.
  5. Working with XML data (importing, adding, updating, deleting, etc.)

The way out is to: disable shared access – to perform the prohibited function – to enable shared access again.

Sharing data restricts a number of tasks for users:

It’s impossible to: It’s possible to:
Insert or delete a group of cells Add a row or a column
Add or change conditional formats Work with existing formats
Enable or modify the «Data Validation» tool Work with existing verification settings
Create or edit charts, summary reports Work with existing charts and pivot tables
Insert or edit drawings and graphics View existing drawings and graphics
Insert or change hyperlinks Click through existing hyperlinks
Assign, edit or delete passwords Use existing passwords
Put or remove the protection of worksheets and workbooks Use existing protection
Group, structure data; insert sublevels Work with existing groups, structures and sublevels
Record, modify, or view macros Run existing macros that are not associated with unavailable tasks
Change or delete array formulas Use existing formulas
Add new information to the form Search for information in the data form



How to share an Excel file?

First, determine which workbook you will “open” for editing by several members at the same time. Create a new file and fill it with information. Alternatively, open the existing one.

  1. Go to «REVIEW» tab, then to «Share Workbook» dialog box.
  2. Share Workbook.

  3. In window «Share Workbook». Select check box «Allow changes by more than one user at the same time».
  4. Allow changes.

  5. Go to «Advanced» tool to configure the settings for multi-user editing.
  6. Advanced.

  7. Click OK. If you share a new workbook, you should choose the title for it. If sharing is implies using an existing file — click OK.
  8. Open the Microsoft Office menu. Choose «Save as» command. Choose the save file format that will be suitable for all users ‘computers.
  9. Choose a network resource / network folder as a storage location that will be opened by the prospective participants. Click «Save».

It’s important! You cannot use a web server to save a file.

Now check and update the links:

  1. «DATA» tab, «Connections».
  2. Connections.

  3. «Manage Sets». If there is no such button, there are no linked files in the worksheet.
  4. The OK button indicates the operability of the links.

Opening a shared book

  1. «FILE» Click on «Open» (CTRL+O).
  2. Choose a shared workbook.
  3. When the book is open, click on the Microsoft Office button. Go to «Options» tab (at the bottom of the menu).
  4. «General» — «Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office» — «User name:». Enter the identification information (name, nickname).

Options.

That’s all. You can edit this information, enter new one, as well as save it afterwards.

Occasionally, when you open a shared Excel workbook, «File is locked» notification appears, making saving impossible. When you later open it, it turns out that sharing is disabled. Possible causes of the problem:

  1. Several users edit the same part of the document. For example, they enter different data in one cell. As a result, blocking occurs.
  2. When a shared file is used, a change log is kept (who entered, when, what he did). As the book size increases, bugs appear.
  3. A user has been removed from shared access, but he/she don’t know about this. Then the blocking will be observed only on his/her computer.
  4. Overloading of the network resource.

If sharing is blocked, you can do the following:

  1. Clean or delete the change log.
  2. Clean the file content.
  3. Disable, and then re-enable shared access.
  4. Open the xls book in OpenOffice and save it in xls again.

It has been noticed that the notification «File is locked» appears less frequently in the latest versions of Excel.

How to delete a user

  1. Open «Share Workbook» menu in «REVIEW» tab.
  2. Share Workbook.

  3. You can see a list of users in «Edit» section.
  4. list of users.

  5. Select the name — click «Remove User».

Before deleting, check whether users have finished working with the file.

How to disable shared access in Excel

All users need to save the information and close the shared file. If you need to save the log, follow the instructions:

  1. «REVIEW» tab — «Track Changes» — «Highlight Changes».
  2. Highlight Changes.

  3. Set the parameters of «Changes». When – «All». Clear checkboxes opposite «Who» and «Where». «List changes on a new sheet» check box should be selected. Click OK.
  4. List changes on a new sheet.

  5. The change log will open. It can be saved or printed.

Allow changes.

To disable Excel file sharing, click «Share Workbook» and uncheck «Allow changes by more than one user at the same time» in «REVIEW» tab.

The single user should remain in the list. It is you.


Asked by: Abbie Toy

Score: 4.8/5
(53 votes)

By sharing an Excel file, you are giving other users access to the same document and allow them to make edits simultaneously, which saves you the trouble of keeping track of multiple versions.

Why does my Excel file show as shared?

Display the Review tab of the ribbon. Click the Share Workbook tool, in the Changes group. Excel displays the Share Workbook dialog box. Clear the Allow Changes check box.

How do I get Excel out of shared mode?

On the Tools menu, click Share Workbook, and then click the Editing tab. Click to select the Allow changes by more than one user at the same time check box, and then click OK. Save the workbook when you are prompted.

Why would you set up a workbook to be shared if you are the only one using the workbook?

Why would you set up a workbook to be shared if you are the only one using the workbook? You have data for Regions, Products, and Customers.

Why is Unshare Excel workbook greyed out?

If the box is uncheckable (grayed out), most likely shared workbook protection is on. To unprotect the workbook, click OK to close the Share Workbook dialog box, and then click the Unprotect Shared Workbook button on the Review tab, in the Changes group.

36 related questions found

How do I Unshare a shared Excel file?

To Un Share an Excel workbook.

On the Review Menu — Choose — Share Workbook. Ensure Allow Changes tick box is unchecked. The above dialog will appear. Ensure you click yes to unshare the Excel workbook.

How do you stop sharing an Excel file on a Mac?

If you’re the owner of a spreadsheet that’s shared with others, you can stop sharing it to prevent anyone from viewing or editing it. , click Share Options, click Stop Sharing, then click OK.

What is a shared Excel file?

Important: «Shared Workbooks» is an older feature that allows you to collaborate on a workbook with multiple people. This feature has many limitations, and has been replaced by co-authoring. Excel co-authoring is available in Microsoft 365 Apps Excel desktop client and Excel for the Web for Microsoft 365 subscribers.

How do I see who shared an Excel file?

Manage access to a file or folder

  1. The Links Giving Access section shows the links that have permissions to the file or folder. Click the ellipsis (…) to see the users that the link has been shared with.
  2. The Direct Access section shows people and groups who have direct access to the file or folder.

Can multiple users edit an Excel spreadsheet at the same time?

You can edit the same Excel file with multiple users through a feature called co-authoring. This feature lets multiple people make changes in a document stored on a remote, so-called cloud server with their actions highlighted in different colors.

How do I make an Excel file read only?

You can have Excel make a spreadsheet in read only format for others, so that people can read its contents but not edit them, or you can enforce other content restrictions. To do so, click the «File» tab in the ribbon menu, then click «Info.» Then, click «Protect Document» and choose one of the options presented.

How do I stop Onedrive from sharing an Excel file?

Here are the steps:

  1. Select the file or folder you want to stop sharing.
  2. Select Information. …
  3. On the Details pane, under the Has Access header, you’ll see the People icon, the Links icon, and/or the Email icon. …
  4. To remove a sharing link, click the X next to the link to remove it.

How do I turn off protection in Excel?

Resolving This Error

  1. Click File > Options.
  2. Click Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Protected View.
  3. Disable the Enable Protected View for files originating from the internet checkbox.

How do I turn off Protected View?

How to Disable Protected View in Microsoft Word

  1. Open Word.
  2. Click on File and choose.
  3. Click Trust Center.
  4. Open Trust Center.
  5. Click Protected View.
  6. Uncheck all three options listed to disable Protected View.
  7. Click OK to save the changes.

How do I unprotect an Excel workbook without the password?

Just follow any of these steps: Open the protected spreadsheet, and switch to the ‘Review’ tab and click the ‘Unprotect Sheet’ icon in the Changes group. You can access the same above option by right-clicking the protected spreadsheet tab, then select the ‘Unprotect Sheet’ option from the context menu.

How do I turn off file sharing in Windows 10?

Disable Windows File and Print Sharing in Windows 10

  1. Open Control Panel.
  2. Click View network status and tasks under Network and Internet.
  3. Click Change advanced sharing settings in Network and Sharing Center.
  4. Click Turn off file and printer sharing, and click Save changes.

How do I stop sharing on OneDrive?

On menu options for the file select ‘Manage access’. To stop everyone being able to access your file, you will now see under ‘Manage Access’ menu a blue text button called ‘Stop sharing’. Select this button. It will show a final pop up box where you can select ‘Stop sharing’ to confirm the change.

How do I remove a shared file from OneDrive?

How to Remove Access in OneDrive for All Users

  1. Open OneDrive in Office365.
  2. Next to the desired file, click on the vertical ellipsis.
  3. In the drop down bar, select Manage access.
  4. In the sidebar to the right, click Stop sharing.
  5. Click Stop sharing to confirm. This will remove access for everyone that currently has access.

How do I turn off read only in Excel?

To do so:

  1. From Explorer, search for the Excel File in question.
  2. Right-click on the Excel file you want to edit.
  3. Select Properties.
  4. Go to the bottom of the General Tab.
  5. Uncheck the Read Only check box.
  6. Click OK to finalize.

Why is my Excel sheet read only?

Excel spreadsheets may be Read Only due to their location. If the spreadsheet is on a network folder and you do not have appropriate network permissions to make make changes in the folder, the spreadsheet is Read Only. … Spreadsheets sent as email attachments and previewed within the email program are also Read Only.

Why do you compare and merge spreadsheet?

Answer: When multiple users collaborate on the same shared workbook, you can use the Compare and Merge Workbooks command to view all of their changes at once and address them by accepting or rejecting them.

How many users can use a shared Excel workbook?

Sharing is limited to two users.

How do I allow certain users to edit an Excel file?

Start Excel, and then open a blank workbook. On the Tools menu, point to Protection, and then click Allow Users to Edit Ranges. In Microsoft Office Excel 2007, click Allow Users to Edit Ranges in the Changes group on the Review tab. In the Allow Users to Edit Ranges dialog box, click New.

How do I prevent people from editing certain cells in Excel?

Press the Keyboard Shortcut Ctrl + A to select all the cells of the sheet. Right click and choose Format cells. Go to the Protection tab and uncheck Locked option and click Ok. Now select only the cells or columns, rows that you want to protect.

For sharing an Excel workbook with other users, we need to save it to a local network location where others can access it and make changes. We also can keep track of those changes and can accept or reject those changes as per the requirement.

Let’s take the below example to understand how to share an excel sheet.

You can download this Share Excel Workbook Template here – Share Excel Workbook Template

We have given the below customer details in a workbook saved with “Customer Data.”

Excel Share File Example 1

Below are the steps of sharing an excel workbook in excel –

  1. First, go to the REVIEW tab.
  2. Click on the “Share Workbook” option under “Changes.” You may refer to the below screenshot.

    Excel Share File Example 1-1

  3. Then, an Excel “Share Workbook” File dialog box will appear. See the below screenshot.

    Excel Share File Example 1-2

  4. Under the Editing tab, tick the checkbox and click on, OK.

    Excel Share File Example 1-3

  5. By clicking on this checkbox, we are giving access to other users for editing.
  6. The screen above shows you who has the workbook open.
  7. After clicking on “OK,” one dialog box will appear with a message. For example, refer to the below screenshot

    Excel Share File Example 1-4

  8. Click on, OK.
  9. Save this workbook.
Table of contents
  • How to Share an Excel Workbook? (Step by Step)
    • Highlight the Changes Done on Excel By Other Users
    • How to Accept/Reject the Changes Done by Other Users
    • Important Points to Remember
    • Recommended Articles

Highlight the Changes Done on Excel By Other Users

We can also highlight the changes which other users have made.

Follow the below steps:

  • Step 1: Go to the REVIEW tab.
  • Step 2: Click on the Track Changes option in ExcelTracking changes in Excel is a technique of highlighting changes made in a shared worksheet by any user. It highlights the cell that has been modified. This option is present in the «changes» section of the review tab and can be enabled when we share a workbook.read more under the Changes section. You may refer to the below screenshot.

Highlight the Changes step 1

  • Step 3: This will show you two options, per the screenshot below.

Highlight the Changes step 1-1

  • Step 4: Click on Highlight changes.
  • Step 5: This will open a dialog box here. See the below screenshot.

Highlight the Changes step 1-2

  • Step 6: Click on, OK.
  • Step 7: Now, click on the “Protect Shared Workbook” option under the “Changes” section, as shown in the below screenshot.

Highlight the Changes step 1-3

  • Step 8: It will open a dialog box. Tick on the checkbox, as shown in the below screenshot.

Highlight the Changes step 1-4

  • Step 9: Click on, OK.
  • Step 10: Now, Excel will show the changes done by the users.
  • Step 11: How does it look after changes? For your reference, we will make changes to the file and save those changes.
  • Step 12: The sheet automatically highlights the changes wherever we do, as shown in the screenshot below.

Highlight the Changes step 1-5

How to Accept/Reject the Changes Done by Other Users

We can accept or reject the changes done by other users if those changes are not according to us. For this, follow the below steps:

  • Step 1: Go to the REVIEW tab.
  • Step 2: Click on the Track Changes in excel”Toread more under the Changes section.
  • Step 3: Choose the Accept/Reject Changes option from the list, as shown in the below screenshot.

Accept-Reject the Changes step 1

  • Step 4: A dialog box will appear, as shown in the below screenshot.

Accept-Reject the Changes step 1-1

  • Step 5: Click on, OK.
  • Step 6: Then, a dialog box will appear. It will show you all the changes one by one, as shown in the below screenshot. It will also highlight the cell in the spreadsheet where the changes are made.

Accept-Reject the Changes step 1-2

  • Step 7: Click on the Accept button to accept the changes or the Reject button to reject the changes.

Important Points to Remember

Excel shared workbook file feature has some limitations. The reason is that not all features are fully supported in excel shared workbooksTo share the workbook, open the desired workbook>click on review tab>choose share workbook option>a dialogue box with «editing» and «advanced» tab will open>mark the required checkbox, save changes> upload the file to network location>send the link to the concerned person.read more. Some of the limitations are:

  • Sorting and filtering the data in excel
  • Conditional formattingConditional formatting is a technique in Excel that allows us to format cells in a worksheet based on certain conditions. It can be found in the styles section of the Home tab.read more
  • Merging Excel cellsMerging a cell in excel refers to combining two or more adjacent cells either vertically, horizontally or both ways. Merging excel cells is specifically required when a heading or title has to be centered over an area of a worksheet.read more
  • Hyperlinks in ExcelA hyperlink is an inbuilt function in excel used to create hyperlinks for a particular cell. When the hyperlink is created, it redirects to a specific webpage. The hyperlink formula has two arguments, one is the URL while the other is the name we provide to the URL.read more.

You can use those features but would not be able to add or change them.

  • After sharing the workbook, when one or more users are editing on the same workbook simultaneously, some edits can affect the same cells too.
  • In these situations, the Excel sheet keeps the changes of the user who saved the workbook first.
  • When another user saves the workbook, it will display the Resolve Conflicts dialog box.
  • It will display all the information about the conflict changes.
  • To resolve conflicts, we can act accordingly by clicking on “Accept Mine,” “Accept Other,” etc.

Recommended Articles

This has been a step by step guide to Share Excel Workbook File. Here we discuss how to Share an Excel Sheet, highlight the changes done in excel, and how to accept/reject the changes done by other users along with practical examples and downloadable templates. You may learn more about excel from the following articles –

  • Subscript in Excel
  • Using Excel Extensions
  • Conditional Formatting in Pivot Table
  • How to Share Excel Workbook?To share an Excel workbook, first open it in Excel>go to the Review tab and click on Share Workbook>go to the editing tab and check the box. You can see who has opened it in the same tab.read more

Reader Interactions

It is commonplace nowadays for any business to use Excel as their preferred tool to input, manage and share work. While some users continue to share files as email attachments, this can quickly result in too many downloaded versions of the same file. Not only can this be confusing to know which download is the most up-to-date version, but it can also cause issues with collaboration and productivity.

Luckily, the most recent versions of Microsoft Excel (2010, 2013, and 2016) allow you to collaborate with others while working on a single version of your current spreadsheet. This article will explain how to share an Excel file on Mac for multiple users, how to protect a shared Excel workbook, and how to make the Excel file editable for multiple users.

Excel allows you to share/save your workbook to a local network location where other users can access and make changes to it. As the owner of the Excel file, you can keep full track of changes by accepting or rejecting them.

Let’s look at a step-by-step on how to share your Excel files with others:

  1. 1. Click on the “Share” button to the far right of your Excel toolbar.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Share button

  1. 2. As instructed in the pop-up window, you can either “Move” or “Copy” the file. Unless you wish to maintain a local copy, then select “Move” as shown below.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Move

  1. 3. Once you select your preferred option, you can change the name or not. Since we chose “Move”, we have kept the original file name.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Maintain File name

  1. 4. Below the “Name” field, you have the “Place” drop-down menu. This will allow you to choose between OneDrive or any other previously created local or shared folder.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Place

  1. 5. To explore more places to share the file, click on “Other”.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Other places

  1. 6. In the new window, you can also choose to “+Add a Place” in case you would like to share your file to more than one OneDrive folder or shared local folder.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Add a Place

  1. 7. At this point, you can also choose to connect OneDrive for Business or Sharepoint.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Sharepoint vs One Drive

NOTE: OneDrive provides a files experience on all devices via web, mobile, and the desktop (Windows PC or Mac OS). OneDrive for Business is part of Office 365 (including the Sharepoint server) and grants company employees with personal storage managed from a central location. Sharepoint can act as a platform for portals, news, business apps, etc. For more information on the advantages of each, read this Microsoft Support entry.

  1. 8. Let’s use the standard OneDrive and click on “Choose Location”.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Choose Location

  1. 9. Complete the sharing process by selecting “Upload”, next to “Move” option.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Upload

  1. 10. Just to be sure, check that the “AutoSave” is “ON” in the top-left corner of your Excel file.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Auto Save ON

  1. 11. You can also “Send a Copy” as an email attachment, at the very bottom of the pop-up window.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Send a copy

  1. 12. Select the file format you would like to attach.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Format File

  1. 13. Click on “Email as Attachment”.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Send a copy 2

  1. 14. Alternatively, select the upload icon next to “Email as Attachment” to upload to one of the options shown below.

How to share an Excel file for multiple users Upload options

Although Simultaneous collaboration on an Excel shared workbook, can be useful, you may want to protect your workbook from certain actions to avoid any accidental setbacks. These could include users reverting changes, turning off the change history, or even removing the spreadsheet from shared use.

  1. 1. Go to the Review tab of your shared Excel workbook and click on “Protect Workbook”.

How to protect a shared workbook Protect Workbook

  1. 2. You will be prompted to enter a password.

How to protect a shared workbook Enter Password

IMPORTANT: Note that this feature protects your workbook from being moved, deleted, hidden, renamed, etc., and the steps followed are similar to what is explained in how to password protect an Excel file. However, changes can be made to individual sheets. In order to protect specific data, you need to go to Review > Protect Sheet. For a full step-by-step illustration of different methods and levels of protection, read our article on how to lock cells in Excel.

Now you know how to protect your Excel from removing track changes or changing history features. This is a good way to keep track of any modifications in case you want to revert or undo any editing made to the shared Excel workbook. Moreover, it’s the only way to resolve any conflicting changes in a shared Excel file.

How to make an Excel file editable by multiple users?

You can either specify the users that can edit or simply make the whole Excel shared workbook editable by not following the “Protect Sheet” process. This way, anyone with access to the shared workbook (on OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or Sharepoint) will be able to make changes to the file without the owner having to accept or reject their changes.

To allow specific users to edit:

  1. 1. Go to the “File” tab and select “Share”.

How to protect a shared workbook Invite People

  1. 2. Or click on the “Share” button to the far right of the Excel window and select “Invite People”.

How to protect a shared workbook Invite People 2

  1. 3. Then, simply type in the email address of users you want to allow to edit and make sure you leave the “Can Edit” box ticked. When you are done, click on the “Share” button.

How to protect a shared workbook Can Edit

So far, we have shown how you can manage to edit and share options locally. Although this would also require that you are online, you can make these changes directly via OneDrive.

How to protect a shared workbook One Drive

As you can see below, it allows users to “Open” the spreadsheet in the browser or desktop.

How to protect a shared workbook Browser vs Desktop

This is a great built-in feature since users might work on different Excel versions, In some cases, it may be more advisable for everyone to edit the shared file in the browser.

Once a project or task is finished, you might want to unshare the Excel file to safeguard the work that has been done so far. This is as simple as clicking the “Unshare Workbook” appearing in the “Review” tab. If you cannot view this feature, then you can move the shared file to a local folder.

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Conclusion

Now you know how to share an Excel file or workbook and how to make it editable by multiple users. Whether you are working on Windows or Mac OS, you need to make sure that you apply the editing features before sharing the Excel file, since shared workbooks do not have all the features that Excel desktop has. Please remember that as you are sharing your Excel workbooks online, you must have access to a local network at all times – if not, you may risk losing important edits and changes to your Excel files.

Prefer to collaborate on Google Sheets? Take a look at our article on how to password protect a Google Sheet to control the changes made to your spreadsheets by other users.


Hady is Content Lead at Layer.

Hady has a passion for tech, marketing, and spreadsheets. Besides his Computer Science degree, he has vast experience in developing, launching, and scaling content marketing processes at SaaS startups.


Originally published Jan 24 2022, Updated Mar 22 2023

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