Applies To
Excel for Microsoft 365 Excel 2024 Excel 2021 Excel 2019 Excel 2016 Microsoft365.com Microsoft Office

If you don't want content reviewers to accidentally change a Word document or an Excel spreadsheet, you can use formatting and editing restrictions.

Note: To further restrict reviewers from making changes to your document or spreadsheet, you can make the file read-only or you can password protect it. For more information, see Restrict changes to files and Make a document read-only.

Restrict changes in Excel

On the Review tab, in the Protect group, review the following protection options:

Protect workbook options

  • Protect Sheet    Protect the worksheet and contents of locked cells.

  • Protect Workbook    Protect the workbook for structure and Windows.

  • Allow Edit Ranges    Determine what ranges can be edited. 

For more protection options, click File > Info > Protect Workbook.

Protect workbook

See also

Make a document read-only

Restrict changes to files

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