A guide on how to password protect an excel file!
What is Microsoft Excel:
Microsoft Excel is a simple-to-use spreadsheet program widely used around the world.
Microsoft has always made sure that its products are fascinating and engaging to its users. This was made feasible by the large range of options and tools available for a better experience.
However, one unintended consequence of this, which has been widely explored, is that users frequently forget where they can locate a certain tool, making navigation within the software complicated and time-consuming. We can use many built-in equations and procedures to arrange spreadsheets.
While many of us use the most basic capabilities, learning to use some of the more advanced ones will make your life much easier. For example, you can password protect an excel file! When some of the most tedious and time-consuming processes, like data entry and looping through the data, are simplified with just one click, the true power of an excel sheet is shown.
Microsoft Excel is widely regarded as one of the greatest accounting programs available. Excel is used by practically everyone these days for office work, school work, and home activities.
Excel assists users in data organization, which comes in handy from time to time. Finance is one such domain where spreadsheets manage budgets, make financial decisions, make estimates, and make predictions.
Excel is the best in two fields, data entry and data management, respectively. Excel allows you to organize your schedule, make modifications to your schedule, and synchronize information between devices and accounts. That is why time management and task management are simple to accomplish.
Excel is the most widely used tool in the business sector. Excel is used to keep track of office work in businesses ranging from small to large. In most offices, Excel is utilized for business management. Because the tool is so adaptable, it can also be programmed.
Now that you know what excel is, let us guide you on how to password protect an excel file.
The password protection feature for excel files:
The password protection feature allows you to protect your important data like digital signature, financial data, and security templates. Without knowing the password to your file, another user can not make changes to your excel files.
With the password protection feature, Microsoft guarantees that your sensitive information is secured, and it is virtually impossible to crack excel spreadsheet passwords with the technology that is widespread these days. In short, password-protected files are a secure place in the digital world.
Why passwords are important:
Passwords allow you to create a safe and secure place in the tech world where hackers and trolls are always trying to know more about you.
Password protecting your files can help you secure your data. The stronger your password is, the less are the chances that unauthorized personnel will modify your workbook structure.
It is not that, just average people use excel. Excel is being widely used by government institutions, big businesses, and millions of other people, so it is important to keep information and documents safe. It becomes important for the integrity of companies, and many businesses, that they protect individual excel files for data security.
Procedure to follow: How to Password Protect an Excel File
Here is a simple guide about password-protecting an excel file. There are two methods, one for Microsoft office 2011 and another for newer versions. Not much of the process has changed, but minor details must be considered.
For the latest version of Microsoft office:
- On your desktop, open the excel file you want to protect
- Next, go to the “file” tab, and select protect sheet or protect workbook option, depending on your requirements.
- You will have to enter your password in the password box.
- The software will make sure that you want to password protect your current sheet, so you will have to reenter your password and save it.
For office 2011:
- Open the excel document you wish to password protect in Microsoft Excel.
- Go to the “file” tab. You will see an option named protection. Click on the password.
- You can see a box named Protect Workbook. Now, you must select the Encrypt with password option.
- Enter your chosen password in the password box. Click on OK.
- You will see a box for confirming the password, and please re-enter your password here. Again, select OK. This will save the password for your workbook.
Congratulations! Your excel file is now password protected! You now know how to secure data with only a few simple steps.
A few important things to remember:
Note that the password you are using for the excel document will be case sensitive, so please make sure that you can remember or retrieve the password.
You can not recover the password in case you forget it; consider this while choosing your pattern of password protection.
The password for your excel spreadsheet can be of any length, contain as many characters and numbers, or combine both. You can choose numeric or alphanumeric passwords according to your wish.
Please make sure that you only share the excel worksheet with people you trust and share the password with people you want to access the excel files.
Tips for creating a strong password:
# Do NOT use your personal information for passwords. It may be easy to remember, but this is not a handy option.
# Do not use the same password for securing all your accounts. Again, it might be easy to remember but possesses higher risks in case of data breach and exposure to malicious programs and software.
# In most cases your password should contain a minimum of 8 characters. It must also contain uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and special characters.
# Always sign out of your account at the end of the day. Make sure that only the users you trust know the password. You can always easily change your current passwords.
# Never, ever write down your passwords. Also, make sure that you are changing the passwords at regular intervals.
Restrict access to specific content in excel files:
With this feature, you can set permissions for your excel spreadsheets on three levels. Firstly, you can allow others only to read your excel sheet.
Or, you can allow other users to read, edit, copy, paste and save the changes made to your excel file. With the full control feature, you can do everything mentioned above, plus print and make changes to your excel spreadsheets.
Click Permissions in the drop-down menu for protection in the review tab and click manage permissions. With this, you can manage your excel worksheets according to your privacy needs. Make sure you click save after you are done with managing the access to your excel spreadsheet.
How to remove the password protection:
Open the excel sheet for which you do not need password protection anymore. Enter your unique password and click OK.
In the upper left corner of your screen, you will see the file tab. Click on info and the go-to protect workbook to open the drop-down menu. Here, select encrypt with a password and then delete the stored password. After deleting the password, go to the File menu and click Save.
Get help in windows:
Microsoft has ensured that users have quick and easy access to technical support if a problem arises.
Here are a few options for swiftly and painlessly resolving your problems.
On your pc, without internet connectivity:
The very first step would be to press the F1 key to get help. The shortcut is on the leftmost side of your keyboard.
If you are using windows, there will be a search window on the taskbar. Here, you can type your questions or keywords regarding the problem you have run into.
With the help of the internet:
You can always connect your pc to the internet and search on the browsers for solutions. Most technical forums will get back to you with detailed solutions.
Visit the official Microsoft website support.microsoft.com
You’ll discover detailed solutions to even the most ordinary of your concerns here. There are also articles, thorough video tutorials, and discussion forums. You can also email them, and they will respond as soon as they are able.
You’ll find the phone number and email address on the same website. You can also use live chat with the support team to get immediate answers to your questions.
Some other information that you might find useful:
You must keep up with the latest technology developments and innovations to keep learning better and aid your career progress.
We believe these resources will be helpful in this regard. Now is the time to check them out!
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The bottom line:
We’re sure you’ve got the best of the tricks under your sleeve. You now know the best ways to password protect an excel file.
Please contact us if you have any questions, encounter any unexpected problems, or encounter any errors. We will respond as quickly as possible with quick and easy-to-follow answers.
After going through this article, do you think you can now use Microsoft Excel to its full potential? Do you think you can keep your data and files secured? Do you think this should be a mainstream cyber security practice?
Would you like more articles like this from us? Is there a particular topic bothering you about the use of Microsoft excel?
Please let us know in the comment section below!
