Google Sheets, the free online spreadsheet tool offered by Google, has tonnes of features. One of those is the ability to lock cells. Locking cells makes sure that only certain people can edit them, providing a key control mechanism for shared spreadsheets. Let’s dive in and see how we can lock cells in Google Sheets.
Step 1: Select The Cells
The first step to lock a cell is to select the cell or range of cells that you want to protect. You can do this by clicking on a cell and dragging your mouse to select other cells.
Step 2: Open the “Data” Menu
Next, locate the Data tab at the top of your Google Sheets interface. Click on it to open the menu.
Step 3: Navigate to “Protect sheets and ranges”
Once you’ve clicked on the Data menu, you’ll see a drop-down menu with several options. Look for the option labeled Protect sheets and ranges and click on it.
Step 4: Set Permissions
A sidebar will appear on the right side of your screen. It will prompt you to set a range (which should already be filled based on your selection from step 1). Below that, there’s a button labeled Set Permissions. Click on it.
Step 5: Choose Who Can Edit
Once you click on Set Permissions, a pop-up will appear with the title Range editing permissions. Here you can specify who can edit the cells. By default, everyone who can access the sheet can edit the cells. You can change this by clicking on the dropdown menu and selecting Only you or entering specific email addresses.
Step 6: Click “Done”
Once you’ve chosen who can edit the cells, simply click on the blue Done button at the bottom of the pop-up. That’s it! You’ve locked the cells in your Google Sheet.
To unlock the cells, just follow the same steps and change the editing permissions.
Remember, locking cells is a great way to prevent accidental edits or maintain control over important data. Use this feature wisely and improve collaboration in your Google Sheets.
