Protect a file with a password

1. Go to the File tab and select Info.

2. Select  Protect Workbook, choose   Encrypt with Password and enter a password for the file. Select OK.

3. Enter the password again when prompted and select OK.

In Excel Web, you can set a workbook to open in read-only mode but encrypting a workbook with a password isn't currently possible. You can, however, Encrypt a workbook in the Excel desktop app.

• To open the desktop app, at the top of the ribbon, select Editing > Open in Desktop App.

  

Don't have the Excel desktop app? Try or buy Microsoft 365.

1. Go to the File tab and select Passwords.

2. Add Password to open and Password to modify and select OK. 

3. Reenter passwords as asked, selecting OK with each

4. Save the file. 

For more info, see Protect a worksheet in Mac.