---
title: "How to lock cells in Google Sheets"
description: "If you're collaborating with others on a spreadsheet but need to protect important information from being edited, here's how to lock cells in Google Sheets."
image: "https://images.ctfassets.net/lzny33ho1g45/1d2ScS0XusebtTq7GvoL2T/783a6630bf45516429baa1a4e7ba4711/google-sheets-app-tips.jpg"
---

# How to lock cells in Google Sheets

If you're collaborating with others on a spreadsheet but need to protect important information from being edited, here's how to lock cells in Google Sheets.

Truthfully, I can't be trusted with anything nice—and this extends to [beautifully formatted](https://zapier.com/blog/conditional-formatting-google-sheets/), formula-filled [Google Sheets](https://vendors.selectsoftwarereviews.com/redirect/1767831752373x549042478702919700?p=1715808885462x244895206427328500) spreadsheets. I get all click-happy, and the next thing I know, I'm staring at empty cells where there were once data-filled cells. 

Sure, I could hit _Undo_, but that's helpful only if I know what [errors](https://zapier.com/blog/formula-parse-error-google-sheets) I need to undo. Or the person sharing their spreadsheet with me could [limit my permissions](https://zapier.com/blog/google-sheets-tutorial/#share) to view or comment only. But that's not practical if we need to collaborate on the file. 

Google rightfully predicted there were more click-happy humans like me, which is why they added the ability for users to protect certain cell ranges and sheets from being tampered with. 

Here's how to lock cells and sheets in Google Sheets. 

**Table of contents**: 

- [How to lock cells in Google Sheets](#lock-cells)
- [How to lock an entire worksheet in Google Sheets](#lock-sheets)
- [How to edit locked cell settings in Google Sheets](#edit-locked-cells)
- [How to unlock cells in Google Sheets](#unlock-cells)

## How to lock cells in Google Sheets

1. Open a Google Sheets spreadsheet.
2. Highlight the cell or cell range you want to protect.
3. Click **Data **> **Protect sheets and ranges**. (Alternatively, right-click your selection, and then click **View more [range] actions** > **Protect range**.

4. In the _Protected sheets & ranges_ panel that appears, click **Set permissions**.

5. Modify the _Range editing permissions_ in one of the following ways:
- **Show a warning** **when editing this range**. Other users can still edit the protected range, but they'll get a warning first. This is a good option for dealing with click-happy collaborators.

- **Restrict who can edit this range**. You can limit this to _Only you_. Or you can apply custom settings, giving specific people permission to edit the range.
6. Click **Done**.
7. Optionally, click back into the protected range you just created in the _Protected sheets & ranges_ panel, and enter a description for the locked cells. This is especially practical if you're managing multiple locked sheets and cell ranges.

That's it. Now, when someone who doesn't have permission to edit a cell range tries to modify it, they'll get a pop-up notifying them that the cell is protected and to contact the spreadsheet owner to remove the protection, if needed. 

## How to lock an entire worksheet in Google Sheets 

Let's say you have multiple worksheets in your spreadsheet and you want to lock specific worksheets. Here's the easiest way to do it.

1. Click **Data **> **Protect sheets and ranges**. Or right-click any cell, and then click **View more cell actions** > **Protect range**.
2. In the _Protected sheets & ranges_ panel that appears, click **Sheet**. (If you don't see the _Sheet_ tab, click **Add sheet or range** first.)
3. Select the sheet you want to lock.
4. Optionally, check **Except certain cells** to make certain cells within the locked sheet editable.

5. Click **Set permissions**.
6. Modify the _Range editing permissions_ the same way you would to protect any other range.
7. Click **Done.**

## How to edit locked cell settings in Google Sheets

### How to edit the cell range of locked cells in Google Sheets

1. Click **Data **> **Protect sheets and ranges**. Or right-click any cell, and then click **View more cell actions** > **Protect range**.
2. Click the locked cell range you want to edit.
3. To modify the range of locked cells, manually enter a new range in the range field. Or click the **Select data range **icon, which looks like a grid, highlight the new cell range directly in your worksheet, and then click **OK**.
4. Click **Done**.

### How to change editor permissions of locked cells in Google Sheets 

1. Click **Data **> **Protect sheets and ranges**. Or right-click any cell, and then click **View more cell actions** > **Protect range**.
2. Click the protected sheet or cell range you want to edit.
3. Click **Change permissions**.

4. Update the _Range editing permissions_.
5. Click **Done**.

## How to unlock cells in Google Sheets

1. Click **Data **> **Protect sheets and ranges**. Or right-click any cell, and then click **View more cell actions** > **Protect range**.
2. Click the protected sheet or cell range you want to edit.
3. Click the **Delete range or sheet protection** icon, which looks like a garbage can.

## Automate Google Sheets 

There are countless ways to accidentally mess up a spreadsheet—the process of entering data doesn't have to be one of those ways. When you use Zapier to [connect Google Sheets](https://zapier.com/apps/google-sheets/integrations) with the rest of your tech stack, you can automatically get data into Google Sheets and use AI to intelligently manage your data flow. 

In addition to adding new leads or form responses, for example, you can orchestrate dynamic updates, trigger contextual actions, and summarize or analyze entries automatically. Learn more about [how to automate Google Sheets](https://zapier.com/blog/automate-google-sheets/), or get started with one of these templates. 

**Related reading**: 

- [How to hide rows in Google Sheets](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-hide-rows-google-sheets/)
- [How to freeze columns in Google Sheets](https://zapier.com/blog/how-to-freeze-columns-google-sheets/)
- [Google Sheets add-ons to supercharge your work](https://zapier.com/blog/best-google-sheets-addons/)

_This article was originally published in February 2024. The most recent update was in November 2025._