Cell locking in Excel - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What does 'cell locking' mean in Excel?

Cell locking means preventing changes to a cell's content by protecting it. Locked cells cannot be edited when the sheet is protected.

beginner

How do you lock a cell in Excel?

By default, all cells are locked but this only works after you protect the sheet. To lock specific cells, select them, right-click, choose 'Format Cells', go to the 'Protection' tab, and check 'Locked'. Then protect the sheet.

intermediate

What is the difference between 'locking' a cell and 'protecting' a sheet?

Locking a cell marks it as locked but does not prevent editing until the sheet is protected. Protecting the sheet activates the locking and stops changes to locked cells.

intermediate

How can you allow users to edit some cells but lock others?

Unlock the cells you want users to edit by unchecking 'Locked' in Format Cells. Then protect the sheet. Only locked cells will be uneditable.

beginner

What happens if you try to edit a locked cell on a protected sheet?

Excel shows a warning message saying the cell or chart is protected and cannot be changed.

What must you do after locking cells to prevent editing?

A Save the workbook

B Protect the sheet

C Hide the cells

D Change cell color

Locking cells only works after you protect the sheet.

By default, are cells locked or unlocked in Excel?

A Locked

B Hidden

C Unlocked

D Protected

All cells are locked by default but locking has no effect until sheet protection is on.

How do you allow editing only in certain cells?

A Unlock those cells and protect the sheet

B Lock those cells and protect the sheet

C Hide those cells

D Change font color

Unlock cells you want editable, then protect the sheet to lock the rest.

What tab do you use to lock or unlock cells?

A Data tab

B Home tab

C Protection tab in Format Cells

D Review tab

Cell locking is set in the Protection tab inside Format Cells.

What message appears if you try to edit a locked cell on a protected sheet?

A Cell unlocked

B Cell format changed

C File saved

D The cell or chart is protected and cannot be changed

Excel warns you that the cell is protected and cannot be edited.

Explain how to lock specific cells in Excel so others cannot change them.

Think about the two steps: locking cells and protecting the sheet.

Describe the difference between locking cells and protecting a sheet in Excel.

One is a setting on cells, the other is a sheet-wide action.