Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Protecting a Worksheet's Format.
Klara knows how to protect the contents of a worksheet by protecting cells. She wonders, however, if there is a way to protect only the format. She's not too concerned if the content changes, but she wants to protect the format.
You can easily protect the formatting of the worksheet, without regard for the contents. Just follow these steps:
Figure 1. The Protection tab of the Format Cells dialog box.
Figure 2. The Protect Sheet dialog box.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (11601) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Protecting a Worksheet's Format.
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2018-03-06 19:47:39
Huck Rorick
I tried this technique. However, it removed the protection status of all the cells in my worksheet.
2015-12-07 12:49:44
Dave Bonin
Pam,
The text above the list of checkboxes says, "Allow all users of this worksheet to:"
In this case, you do not want them to be allowed to format the cells, so you need to UNCHECK the box.
2015-12-07 10:00:26
Pam
Shouldn't step 8 be to CHECK the Format Cells check box instead of clear it? If not, I am really confused at how this will work to protect the formatting of the cells.
Thanks!
2015-12-05 10:17:31
Petros
Excel Protection Myths Busted
Some online articles (not this one!) and video tutorials are littered with falsehoods that have suckered millions of Excel users over the years. Some whoppers persist, repeated in reasonable voices, until they are accepted as the truth. Except they're not! Learn how to protect your data and Office files. Here’s your guide to separate fact from fiction when it comes to protection features in Excel.
http://www.spreadsheet1.com/excel-protection-myths-busted.html
2015-12-05 05:11:33
Jon
This does not protect formats when copying and pasting or using the format painter.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and Excel in Office 365. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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