How To Protect Only Certain Cells, Columns or Rows in Excel

Selective protection allows you to safeguard critical formulas or reference data while still letting users edit other parts of the sheet, reducing errors and maintaining flexibility. This is especially helpful where collaboration is needed without compromising the integrity of key calculations.

Select all cells in the spreadsheet. Right click and choose Format cells. 

Go to the Protection tab, uncheck Locked option and click Ok.

Now select only the cells, columns or rows that you want to protect. Right click and choose Format 
cells again. Go to the protection tab and check Locked option and click Ok. 
 

Right-click the main sheet and choose protect sheet. 

Then, you can choose which functions are allowed to be performed in the locked cells.

Now only certain cells of the sheet will be protected. To unprotect, just right-click the sheet,
Unprotect sheet and enter the password.