How to Protect MS Excel Worksheets through Passwords

Microsoft Office Excel is a spread-sheet application that uses graphing tools, calculations by formulas, data summarization tools (tables) and macro programming language.  Excel as it’s commonly called is fairly easy to use and is helpful in doing charts and spreadsheets.  There is also a security feature that allows you to protect your spreadsheet by activating a password.  This is highly useful if you are working with sensitive information.  Here are simple instructions to protecting your ms excel worksheet using a password.

Instructions to Protecting MS Excel Worksheets

1. First save your workbook – go to File and click Save As.  Enter the workbook name and save to desired location.
2. Once workbook is saved go to Tools, click General Options, and then click Security.
3. In the Security dialogue box you will have two options – Password to Open and Password to Modify.

Note: The first option blocks all access from the contents of the workbook, this means nothing is visible to the user until he enters the password.  The second option allows users to view the contents of the workbook, but only authorized users are able to make modifications.

1. To activate one or both passwords enter the passwords in each box.  For full protection it’s recommended that you activate both passwords.
2. Once passwords are entered click OK
3. Retype your passwords at prompt to confirm them
4. Click Save to save all changes

Microsoft Excel provides several layers of security and protection to control who can access and change your Excel data; as such certain worksheet or workbook elements can also be protected.  Adding a password is optional  when protecting a worksheet or workbook to lock its elements.  The password is only intended to allow access to certain users while helping to prevent changes by other users; it does not protect all data.

Instructions to Activating a Worksheet or Workbook Protection

1. Go to Tools, select Protection, then select Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook
2. For sheet protection enter the password then check or uncheck the options that you wish your users to have or not have.
3. Click Ok
4. For workbook protection the password is optional, however check option for Structure or Windows.  This option allows you to protect the structure and window arrangement of the workbook sheets.
5. Click Ok to save.

Tips and Warnings

• Use strong passwords by using a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols.