By default all cells in a worksheet are locked. I.e when you protect a worksheet every cell in the worksheet will be protected.
To handle cell protection differently then you have to change the default settings for the required cells.
Here is how to protect formula cells but allow access to data cells:
- Select all cells in the worksheet by clicking on the top left corner of the sheet.
- On the Home tab, Cells group, click Format.
- Under Protection click Format cells. The Format Cells window will be shown.
- Click on the Protection tab.
- Uncheck the Locked and Hidden check boxes, then click OK.
These five steps will make all cells in the worksheet unprotected and can therefor be modified. Next step is to protect the formula cells, and here is how we do it:
- Select all cells that have formulas.
- On the Home tab, Cells group, click Format.
- Under Protection click Format cells. The Format Cells window will be shown.
- Click on the Protection tab.
- Check the Locked and Hidden check boxes, then click OK.
- On the Home tab, Cells group, click Format.
- Under Protection click Protect sheet.
Applies to: Excel 2007 , Excel 2010
- On the Home tab, Cells group, click Format.
- Under Protection click Format cells. The Format Cells window will be shown.
- Click on the Protection tab.


