Excel-like Tables for Jira
Excel-like Tables for Jira
Breadcrumbs

How to Lock a Specific Cell, Range, or Row in a Spreadsheet

This guide explains how to lock only selected cells, rows, columns, or ranges while keeping the rest of the worksheet editable.

  • The Locked setting applies only after you protect the worksheet. Cells marked as Locked stay editable until you enable Protect Sheet.

  • Configure lock and protection settings using the Full Screen Editor.

Use this approach when most of the worksheet should remain editable and only specific areas need protection.

Step 1: Unlock the entire worksheet

  1. Select the entire worksheet by clicking the triangle in the top-left corner of the sheet, or press Ctrl + A.

  2. Right-click anywhere in the selected worksheet.

  3. Select Format Cells.

    image-20260721-102208.png

  4. Open the Protection tab.

    image-20260721-102246.png

  5. Clear the Locked checkbox.

    image-20260721-102307.png

  6. Click OK.

At this stage, all cells are unlocked and will remain editable after sheet protection is enabled.

Step 2: Select what you want to lock

Built-in Retina Display 2026-07-21 18-15-17_2-20260721-102641.gif

  1. Select the specific cell, range, row, or column that you want to protect.

  2. Right-click the selected area.

  3. Select Format Cells.

  4. Open the Protection tab.

  5. Tick the Locked checkbox.

    image-20260721-102842.png

  6. Click OK.

The selected area is now marked as locked, but the lock will only apply after you protect the worksheet.

Step 3: Protect the worksheet

image-20260721-102955.png

  1. Go to the worksheet tab you want to protect.

  2. Right-click the worksheet tab and select Protect Sheet.

  3. Choose which actions users are allowed to perform while the sheet is protected.

    image-20260721-103104.png

  4. Optional: enter a password to prevent users from removing the protection.

  5. Click OK.

Result: Users can edit only unlocked cells. Locked cells, rows, columns, or ranges cannot be edited.

Quick example

For example, suppose your worksheet contains:

  • Row 1: Headers

  • Rows 2–20: User input fields

  • Column F: Formulas

To protect the important areas while still allowing users to enter data:

  1. Unlock the entire worksheet.

  2. Lock Row 1.

  3. Lock the formula cells in Column F.

  4. Protect the worksheet with a password.

Result: Users can edit rows 2–20, while the headers and formula cells remain protected.

Alternative method: lock only a selected area

If the rest of the worksheet is already unlocked, you can lock only the area you need:

  1. Select the cell, range, row, or column you want to lock.

  2. Right-click the selection and choose Format Cells.

  3. Open the Protection tab.

  4. Tick Locked.

  5. Click OK.

  6. Right-click the worksheet tab and select Protect Sheet.

Best practices

  • Unlock the worksheet first, then lock only the cells that need protection.

  • Use clear labels, instructions, or formatting so users know which cells they can edit.

  • Use a password when you need to prevent users from removing sheet protection.

  • Test the worksheet after protecting it to confirm that only the intended cells remain editable.