How to Lock a Row in Excel? 4 Useful Ways
(Note: This guide on how to lock a row in Excel is suitable for all Excel versions including Office 365)
When working with data, Excel can be an invaluable tool to help you organize, analyze, and visualize data. But imagine if you’re working on a large spreadsheet and you don’t want certain rows to move when you scroll. No need to stress as Excel allows you to lock a row in place so that it remains visible as you scroll down or to the side.
If you don’t know how to do it, worry not! In this article, I will tell you how to lock a row in Excel in 4 proven useful ways.
You’ll learn:
- What Is a Locked Row?
- How to Lock a Row in Excel?
- By Using Freeze Panes
- By Using Protect Sheet
- By Using data Validation
- By Using Conditional Formatting
- How to Lock a Row in Excel in 7 Simple Steps?
- Benefits of Locking Rows in Excel
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What Is a Locked Row?
Before moving on to see how to lock a row in Excel, let us first understand what a locked row is.
A locked row in Excel is a row that is protected from changes. This means that any changes you make to the sheet will not affect the locked row, and you will not be able to delete, insert, or move it.
Locking rows in Excel allows you to protect critical information and maintain the integrity of your data. While there’s no limit to the number of rows you can lock in Excel, it’s important to note that locked rows are only effective when the entire sheet or workbook is protected.
Once you lock a row, Excel adds a lock symbol to the upper-left corner of the row. You can also tell if a row is locked by looking for a thin line at the top of the row.
Sometimes, Excel may prevent you from locking a row in certain circumstances. For example, if you’re trying to lock the header row of a table, Excel won’t allow it. This is because the header row is usually used to identify the columns in a worksheet, and locking it would prevent you from being able to make changes to the table.
Another example can be found when working with an Excel spreadsheet that contains formulas. If you try to lock a row that has a formula in it, Excel won’t let you. This is because the formulas rely on data in other cells, and locking the row would prevent the formula from accessing the necessary data.
How to Lock a Row in Excel?
There are several ways to lock a row in Excel:
By Using Freeze Panes
Freeze panes allow you to lock certain rows and columns in place so that when you scroll down or across the worksheet, the locked rows and columns remain visible.
- To do this, select the row below the row you want to lock, then go to View. Click on the dropdown from Freeze Panes and select Freeze Panes. This will lock all rows above the row you selected.
By Using Protect Sheet
You can also lock a row in Excel by using the Protect Sheet feature. The Protect Sheet feature in Excel is a security feature that enables users to lock certain parts of a worksheet, such as cells, ranges, objects, or sheets.
Using the Protect Sheet feature, you can prevent other users from making changes to the data or formatting a specific worksheet. It also allows you to set permissions for other users, so they can view and edit specific parts of the worksheet.
- To do this, go to Home. Click on the dropdown from Format and click on Protect Sheet. Select the Locked checkbox next to the rows you want to lock. You can also select the Hidden checkbox to hide the locked rows.
By Using data Validation
Data validation is a feature in Excel that allows you to restrict values that can be entered into a cell.
- To lock a row in Excel using data validation, select the row you want to lock, then go to Data. Click on the dropdown from Data Validation. Select the Allow only list and enter the values you want to allow. This will lock the row so that no other values can be entered.
By Using Conditional Formatting
Conditional formatting is a feature in Excel that allows you to set rules for when a cell should be formatted based on the value in the cell.
- To lock a row in Excel using conditional formatting, select the row you want to lock, then go to Home. Click on the dropdown from Conditional Formatting and click on New Rule. Select the Format-only cells that contain the option and enter the values you want to allow. This will lock the row so that no other values can be entered.
Now the question is how to lock a row in Excel, the easy way.
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How to Lock a Row in Excel in 7 Simple Steps?
Suppose you are working on a spreadsheet in Excel and want to lock a certain row so that it cannot be edited or moved. Just follow these simple steps.
- Step 1. Select the row or rows you wish to lock. You can do this by clicking and dragging on the row headers. To select adjacent or non-adjacent rows, hold the keys Shift or Ctrl and select the individual rows respectively.
- Step 2. Right-click the selection and select “Format Cells” from the popup menu.
- Step 3. Select the “Protection” tab in the Format Cells dialog box.
- Step 4. Check the “Locked” box and click “OK” to close the dialog box.
- Step 5. But if you want to protect the spreadsheet, go to the “Review” tab, click on “Protect Sheet,” and then enter a password if you want to.
- Step 6. Click “OK,” and the selected row will be locked.
- Step 7. To unlock a row, follow the same steps, but uncheck the “Locked” box in the Format Cells dialog box.
Benefits of Locking Rows in Excel
Locking rows in Excel provides the following benefits:
- Protect Data: Locking rows and columns in a spreadsheet can protect essential data from being accidentally deleted or changed. This is especially useful when you have formulas that rely on specific data in the spreadsheet.
Related Read: How to Password Protect an Excel File? 2 Effective Ways
- Prevent Accidental Editing: It’s very easy for users to accidentally delete or modify data in a spreadsheet. Locking rows and columns can help prevent accidental editing from happening.
- Ensure Formula Integrity: If a formula in a spreadsheet relies on specific data, locking rows and columns can ensure that the formula remains intact. This can be especially important when working with complex formulas.
- Easily Unlock and Lock Rows: With modern versions of Excel, users can easily lock and unlock rows or columns with a few clicks. This makes it very easy to access and protect data in a spreadsheet.
- Improved User Experience: Locking rows and columns can improve the user experience by preventing accidental editing and helping users find the data they need. This can be especially useful when working with complex spreadsheets.
Also Read
HOW TO INSERT MULTIPLE ROWS IN EXCEL? THE 4 BEST METHODS
HOW TO SHADE EVERY OTHER ROW IN EXCEL? (5 BEST METHODS)
HOW TO SUBTRACT IN EXCEL?- 4 DIFFERENT SCENARIOS
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a locked row in Excel?
A locked row in Excel is a row that has been protected from changes. This means that any changes you make to the sheet will not affect the locked row, and you will not be able to delete, insert, or move the row.
How do I lock a row in Excel?
There are several ways to lock a row in Excel, including Freeze Panes, Protect Sheets, Data Validation, and Conditional Formatting. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, so you should choose the one that best suits your needs.
What are the benefits of locking rows in Excel?
Locking rows in Excel can effectively protect important data, prevent accidental editing, and ensure that formulas in the spreadsheet remain intact. It also improves the user experience by preventing accidental editing and helping users find the data they need.
Closing Thoughts
Locking rows and columns in Excel can be a great way to protect important data, prevent accidental editing, and ensure that formulas remain intact. And it’s very easy to do with modern versions of Excel.
So, if you’re working with sensitive data or complex formulas, it’s a good idea to use the locking feature in Excel to keep your data safe.
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Simon Sez IT taught Excel and other business software for over ten years. You can access 150+ IT training courses for a low monthly fee.
Simon Calder
Chris “Simon” Calder was working as a Project Manager in IT for one of Los Angeles’ most prestigious cultural institutions, LACMA.He taught himself to use Microsoft Project from a giant textbook and hated every moment of it. Online learning was in its infancy then, but he spotted an opportunity and made an online MS Project course - the rest, as they say, is history!
