How To Lock Cells In Excel: A Guide for Mac Users

Lock Cells in Excel for Mac

Understanding Cell Locking

Locking cells in Excel for Mac prevents unauthorized modifications by restricting editing, moving, or deletion of data. All cells are locked by default, indicating they're set for protection once sheet protection is enabled.

Enabling Lock Formatting for Cells

To initiate locking cells, add Lock formatting to the desired cells. Select the cells you wish to lock to prepare them for sheet protection.

Activating Worksheet Protection

After setting up Lock formatting, turn on worksheet protection. Use the Protect Sheet option found in the Review tab. Protection can be applied with an optional password, not exceeding 15 characters for enhanced security.

Temporarily Disabling Protection

Should you need to adjust locked cells, you can temporarily disable protection. Click Unprotect Sheet or Unprotect Workbook, make your changes, and re-apply protection as required.

Locking Cells During Formula Input

While typing formulas, the F4 key on the touchbar can be used to quickly lock cells. However, if the F4 function fails, check functionality of other function keys or seek troubleshooting steps.

Worksheet vs Workbook Protection

It's important to distinguish between worksheet protection and workbook-level password security. For wide-ranging protection, secure the entire workbook with a password.

Excel vs Sourcetable: Streamlined Data Management and AI Assistance

Excel, developed by Microsoft, is a robust spreadsheet tool compatible across various platforms and widely utilized for tasks such as business analysis and data manipulation. Excel's versatility lies in its data analysis, budgeting, and complex calculation capabilities, making it indispensable for business operations and management.

Sourcetable, on the other hand, offers a specialized interface for managing and reporting data, merging multiple sources into one accessible spreadsheet. This platform is user-friendly and optimized for growth teams, eliminating the need for coding skills. With a simple, AI-powered chat interface, Sourcetable's AI copilot aids users in formula creation, templating, and more, streamlining the intelligence process.

While Excel excels in deep data analytics, Sourcetable provides a streamlined solution for business intelligence by integrating data from various services and enabling easy-to-build live models that auto-update, pricing its starter plan at $50/month. Sourcetable's AI copilot and no-code functionality leverage modern AI for efficiency, revolutionizing data interaction without sacrificing the familiar spreadsheet feel.