Lock Cells in Google Sheets: Protect a Range

To lock cells in Google Sheets, select the cells, choose Data > Protect sheets and ranges, then set who is allowed to edit them. This protects their contents from accidental changes; it does not freeze cells on screen or secure confidential information. The steps below are for Google Sheets in a web browser.

What You’ll Need

A Google account with edit access to the spreadsheet. You may need to be the owner, or have sufficient permission, to manage protections.
The spreadsheet open in a desktop web browser, and the range or sheet you want to protect identified in advance.
If other people need editing access, their Google account names or email addresses so you can select the right editors.

Step-by-Step

Open the spreadsheet and identify what should be protected. Decide whether you want to protect a small range, such as formulas in column D, or a whole sheet. Protection is useful when collaborators should be able to edit some parts of a spreadsheet but not others. If your goal is to keep headings visible while scrolling, use View > Freeze instead; that keeps rows or columns on screen and does not prevent editing.
Select the cells for a range protection. Click the first cell, then drag across the range you want to lock. You can also click the name box to the left of the formula bar, type a range such as B2:D20, and press Enter. Check the highlighted cells before continuing so the selection does not include input cells that coworkers still need to change.
Open the protection panel. From the menu bar, select Data > Protect sheets and ranges. A panel opens on the right. Choose Add a sheet or range to create a new protection. If you already have protections in the file, the panel may show them; adding a new one avoids accidentally changing an existing rule.
Confirm the range or choose a sheet. For a cell range, make sure the panel’s range field shows the correct address, such as Sheet1!B2:D20. You can edit the address in the field if needed. To protect an entire tab, choose the Sheet option and select the sheet name. If you protect a sheet but want some cells to remain editable, use the option to exclude certain cells and enter those exception ranges.
Give the protection a useful name. Enter a description such as “Formula cells” or “Approved totals.” This label is for people managing the spreadsheet; it does not change what is protected or display as a message in the cells. Descriptive names help when the file has several protected ranges and you need to find the right one later.
Set the editing permissions. Click Set permissions. To prevent other editors from changing the selected area, choose Restrict who can edit this range, then select an available option such as Only you or Custom. Use the custom list when specific collaborators should be able to edit the cells. Review the names carefully before saving. The spreadsheet owner retains control of the file and its protections.
Choose warning-only protection only if that is what you intend. Google Sheets can show a warning when someone edits a range without blocking the edit. Select the warning option if you want to remind editors to be careful but still let them proceed. For a true editing restriction, use the option that limits who can edit; a warning is not a lock.
Save and verify the rule. Confirm the permission selection and close the panel if necessary. Reopen Data > Protect sheets and ranges to check that the new rule appears with the correct range and settings. If practical, ask a collaborator who is not permitted to edit to try changing a protected cell. Do not test by removing a protection from the live sheet unless you are ready to restore it.
Protect other areas separately if needed. Repeat the process for each distinct range that needs different permissions. For example, you might protect formula cells in columns D and E while leaving columns A through C open for data entry. Separate rules make it easier to assign different editors and reduce the chance of restricting more of the sheet than intended.

Google Sheets protections apply to the spreadsheet, not just to the view on your screen. A protected cell remains protected when collaborators open the file, but what each person can edit depends on the permissions you selected and their access to the file.

Common Mistakes

Confusing protection with freezing. Frozen rows or columns stay visible while you scroll; they can still be edited. Use Data > Protect sheets and ranges to restrict editing, and View > Freeze to keep headings in view.
Choosing a warning instead of a restriction. A warning encourages care but lets an editor continue after acknowledging it. If the goal is to stop unauthorized changes by editors, choose restricted permissions instead.
Selecting the wrong cells. A selection that includes input cells can block the people who need to enter data. Verify the range shown in the sidebar, especially if the sheet has hidden columns, multiple tabs, or non-adjacent working areas.
Assuming protection hides or encrypts information. Protected cells are not a privacy feature. People who can view the spreadsheet may still see the data, and a protection does not prevent copying, printing, or taking a screenshot. Do not rely on it to safeguard passwords, personal data, or other confidential content.
Expecting a password lock. Google Sheets does not offer a password that makes a protected cell editable only after entering that password. Permissions are managed through Google accounts and the spreadsheet’s sharing settings.

Tips

Protect formulas but leave input cells open. A common setup is to protect calculated totals and formulas while leaving clearly marked input columns available to collaborators. Protect the formula range first, then check that the data-entry cells are outside it.
Use sheet protection with exceptions for broad layouts. If most of a tab should be read-only but a few cells are intended for updates, protect the sheet and specify the allowed exceptions. For a sheet with many open areas, protecting individual ranges may be easier to understand and maintain.
Use clear range descriptions. Names such as “Do not edit—lookup formulas” explain the purpose better than a generic label. This is especially helpful when more than one person administers the file.
Check sharing permissions as well as cell protection. Protected ranges control editing inside a spreadsheet for people who already have access. The Share settings control who can open the file and whether they are a viewer, commenter, or editor. Adjust both when appropriate.
Keep a record of intentional exceptions. If a protected sheet has input cells that remain editable, note their purpose in a nearby instruction or a separate documentation tab. That helps prevent someone from treating an exception as a mistake and changing the setup later.
Remember that Google Sheets and Excel use different controls. In Google Sheets, use the Data menu’s protection panel. Excel has its own sheet-protection workflow, so instructions for Excel menus or passwords do not directly apply to a Google Sheets file.

Troubleshooting

The protection option is missing or unavailable. Confirm that you opened the file in Google Sheets in a browser and have editing access. A viewer or commenter cannot set protections. In a managed work or school account, the file owner or organization may control who can change the spreadsheet setup. Ask the owner for the required access rather than making a copy and assuming the original will be protected.

People can still edit the cells. Reopen Data > Protect sheets and ranges and inspect the rule. If it is set to show a warning, change it to restricted permissions. If it is already restricted, verify that the person is not included in the allowed editors list and that the correct sheet and range are covered. The owner may retain control, and someone with access to manage protections may be able to alter the rule.

A collaborator cannot edit cells they should be able to change. Check whether the range was included in a larger protected area or whether the whole sheet was protected without the intended exception. Edit the protection rule and correct the range or exception list. Then confirm the collaborator is signed in to the Google account you added, rather than a different personal or work account.

The wrong range is protected. Open the protection panel, select the rule, and edit its range or remove the rule and create it again. Before saving, check both the tab name and cell addresses. A range such as B2:D20 applies only to the tab specified in the rule, so a similarly named range on another tab may not be affected.

The sheet is protected, but some cells remain editable. Look for exceptions in the sheet protection settings. Those cells are intentionally excluded from the restriction. Remove or update an exception if it should no longer be editable, while taking care not to lock an area that people still need for normal work.

You meant to keep cells visible while scrolling. Protection does not affect scrolling. Select View > Freeze and choose the rows or columns to keep visible. You can use freezing and protection in the same spreadsheet because they solve different problems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I lock only one cell in Google Sheets?
Yes. Select the cell, for example C5, then create a protected range for that cell through Data > Protect sheets and ranges. Set the editing permissions for that range.

Can I protect formulas but let people edit other cells?
Yes. Protect only the formula cells or formula range, then leave the input cells outside the protection. For a mostly locked sheet with a few editable cells, protect the sheet and set those cells as exceptions.

Can I lock cells for some editors but not others?
Yes. In the protection permissions, choose the custom editor option and specify who is allowed to edit the protected area. People with view or comment access cannot edit the file regardless of range protection. The spreadsheet owner retains administrative control.

Can people copy or see protected cells?
Yes. Range protection is an editing control, not a way to hide or encrypt data. People who can access the spreadsheet may be able to view or copy its contents, so keep sensitive information in a properly access-controlled location.

Can I lock cells in the Google Sheets mobile app?
Protection settings are managed through the Sheets web interface. If the app does not offer the protection controls you need, open the spreadsheet in a desktop browser and use Data > Protect sheets and ranges.

Does locking cells stop me from moving or resizing them?
No. Protection controls whether people can edit cell contents; it does not pin cells in place or prevent scrolling. Use View > Freeze to keep rows or columns visible as you move through the sheet.

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