Excel+A+Locked+Cell+is+Not+a+Cell+Protected+From+Changes


 * Excel //A Locked Cell is Not a Cell Protected From Changes// **

If you have ever found yourself nosing around the **Protection tab** in the **Format Cells dialog box** then you have probably found that the **Locked** check-box was selected and possibly thought that your worksheet was safe from changes made by others…



__**Well, not really.**__ Locked is not actually protecting the cells from change, it is marking those cells that should be protected from user changes if you actually choose to protect the worksheet. By default, the entire worksheet is selected as locked, but not actually protected. If you want to protect and entire worksheet from changes once it is ready, you need the **Review** tab of the Ribbon, **Protect Worksheet** (or **Workbook**) button.

Once selected, a new dialog box will open where you will need to **select which actions** you do want to allow users to make as well as a
 * set a password for un-protecting the worksheet**.

You will be asked to **confirm your password** so there are no typos that will result in you being locked out of your own worksheet. That is all fine and dandy, but that process locks the whole worksheet. What if you want to protect only certain cells in the worksheet?

If protecting only a few cells is your goal, then **select the entire worksheet**, use **Ctrl+1** to get to the Format Cells dialog box. On the **Protection** tab **un-check/tick Locked** and click **OK**. Now you will have to **select //only// those cells you actually want to protect from changes**, **return to the Format Cells dialog box** (Ctrl + 1), **Protection** tab, **check/tick the Locked option** and click **OK**.
 * No problem.**

With just those cells locked, when you go to the **Review** tab and actually **protect the worksheet,** they will be the only ones barred from changes because they were the only ones locked. Conversely, if you have only a few cells that are to be left unprotected, **select those few cells**, go to the **Format Cells dialog box (Ctrl + 1)**, **Protection** tab and **un-check/tick Locked**. Click **OK**.

This time when you go to the **Review** tab and **protect the worksheet,** all cells except the ones you selected and changed the setting for will be protected.

No matter what portion of your worksheet you need to protect, it is a two-step process.

That is all there is to it… once you understand the difference between a “Locked” cell and a “Protected” cell.
 * 1) **Lock the cells** to be protected.
 * 2) **Protect the worksheet** via the **Review** tab of the Ribbon.