Mostly, we have worked on excel sheets that have confidential information like passwords, private data, or other sensitive information that we would rather protect from prying eyes. Well, hiding these spreadsheets from unauthorized users is the solution to this problem. Excel is a powerful tool that provides different ways to hide your worksheet; in this article, we will discuss how to hide excel sheet with password protection.
Video Tutorial:
The Challenge of How to Hide Excel Sheet with Password
Not everyone is familiar with excel’s in-built password protection feature, and the process can be time-consuming and challenging. Fortunately, once you understand the key steps and methods, password-protecting your excel spreadsheet becomes an easy task. This article will help you understand how to use password protection in excel for hiding your data.
Things You Should Prepare for
Before password protecting your excel sheet, ensure you have the latest version of Excel installed on your device. You also need to identify the specific worksheet that you want to hide. Once you have identified the worksheet, it would be best if you also thought of a strong password to protect your worksheet.
Method 1: Protect sheet via Excel settings
Step 1:
Open the excel workbook that contains the worksheet you want to hide.
Step 2:
Select the sheet from the bottom tab that you want to hide.
Step 3:
Right-click the worksheet, and select “Protect Sheet” from the dropdown list.
Step 4:
Enter the password to encrypt the worksheet.
Pros:
– The method is simple, and it requires no external software for encryption.
– It’s relatively fast, and the password encryption is secure.
Cons:
– The password is not recoverable when forgotten; this is due to the secure encryption used.
– When you forget your password, the sheet becomes inaccessible.
Method 2: Protect sheet via VBA code
Step 1:
Open your excel workbook, then press ALT+F11 keys to access VBA editor.
Step 2:
Insert a new module and paste the following code snippet.
Private Sub Workbook_SheetVisibilityChange(ByVal sh As Object, ByVal visible As Boolean)
If visible = xlSheetHidden Then sh.Visible = False
End Sub
Step 3:
Close the VBA editor and save the changes.
Step 4:
Go back to your excel sheet, and select the worksheet you want to hide.
Step 5:
Right-click and select “Hide.”
Pros:
– The method works for all Excel versions.
– The password is recoverable if you forget it.
Cons:
– This method is relatively complicated for beginners.
– Requires technical knowledge.
Method 3: Using external software
Step 1:
Download an external software like Folder Lock, WinRAR, or any other software of your choice.
Step 2:
Install the software on your system and launch it.
Step 3:
Select the excel sheet you want to hide, then click on “Add to Archive” or any designated button for hidden files.
Step 4:
Enter a strong password for encryption and select the encryption level.
Pros:
– The password is recoverable if you forget it.
– External software offers additional security levels, making it more difficult for unauthorized people to access your data.
Cons:
– The method requires external software, and you must download and install the software.
– For beginners, this method can be complicated.
Why Can’t I Hide Excel Sheet without Password?
1. Protection from unauthorized access: Password protecting your excel sheet helps prevent unauthorized access to your confidential data.
2. Avoiding accidental deletion: When your excel sheet is password-protected, it becomes hard to delete, and this feature comes in handy if you have sensitive data that you need to safeguard.
3. Preventing alterations: Password-protecting your excel sheet ensures that no one else can make changes to it without your permission.
When you hide an Excel sheet without using a password, it will still be accessible to anyone with access to the workbook. Using proper password protection is vital when it comes to securing sensitive information permanently.
Additional Tips
Always use a strong password that contains upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and at least one special symbol. Password length should be a minimum of 8 characters.
When password-protecting your excel sheet is essential to keep a hardcopy of the password in a safe and secure location.
5 FAQs about How to Hide Excel Sheet with Password
Q1: How Do I Unhide the Sheet?
A: Unhiding a sheet is quite simple. Go to Excel, click on the worksheet button at the bottom of the Excel workbook, and select the “Unhide Sheet” option.
Q2: What Happens If I Forget My Password?
A: When you forget your password, the sheet becomes inaccessible, and you will have no other option but to delete it. Therefore, it’s essential to keep a hardcopy of the password in a safe and secure location.
Q3: How Do I Change the Password for the Hidden Sheet?
A: Open the Excel file, go to the “Review” tab and select “Protect Sheet”. Change the password by clicking the “Password” box and follow the prompts provided.
Q4: Can I Use the Same Password for Multiple Sheets?
A: Yes, you can use the same password for multiple sheets as long as you don’t share it with anyone else.
Q5: Can I Hide Multiple Sheets with the Same Password?
A: Yes. You can use the “Protect Workbook” feature to password protect multiple sheets with the same password.
In Conclusion
Protecting your excel sheets with a password is essential if you want to safeguard sensitive information from prying eyes. This article has outlined three different methods that you can use to password-protect your excel worksheets. Always remember always to keep your passwords safe and use a strong password when encrypting files.