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How to Protect/Unprotect Workbook Structure and Windows

Microsoft Excel offers the option "Protect Sheet" to protect each sheet with a password, but unfortunately it doesn't prevent users from deleting the sheet. So another option "Protect Workbook" is usually used when we want to protect excel sheet, which will not allow others to insert, delete, rename, move, copy, hide or unhide worksheets. Besides, it would also protect your workbook structure and windows.

In this article, we will show you how to make full use of option "Protection Workbook" to protect workbook with password in Excel 2016/2013/2010/2007 and how to unprotect workbook structure and windows when you don't need the password protection any longer.

  1. Part 1: Protect workbook structure and windows
  2. Part 2: Unprotect workbook structure and windows

Part 1: Protect Workbook Structure and Windows

What's the difference between "Protect Workbook Structure and Windows"?

1. Protect workbook structure: unable to add, delete, rename, move, copy, hide or unhide sheet

2. Protect workbook windows: cannot change workbook and worksheet windows size and position, cannot close the workbook

How to protect workbook structure and windows?

1. In opening excel workbook 2010, click Review tab, and choose Protect Workbook option in Changes group.

select option to protect workbook

2. On following Protect Structure and Windows dialog, there are two selections available for you, Structure and Windows. Check that you want to protect, and enter a password then click OK.

enter password to protect workbook structure and windows

3. Reenter the password and click OK to make sure workbook protection.

make sure workbook protection password

 

Part 2: Unprotect Workbook Structure and Windows

After protecting workbook structure and windows with password, please follow this part when you want to unprotect workbook structure and windows no matter you know or forget workbook protection password.

Case 1: Unprotect workbook structure and windows with password

When you know password, unprotecting workbook would be an easy thing to do.

1. Navigate to Review tab in Excel workbook, and click Protect Workbook option.

2. On Unprotect Workbook dialog, enter the password you know and click OK to unprotect workbook structure and windows.

unprotect workbook structure and windows with password

Case 2: Unprotect workbook structure and windows without password

As is known, workbook protection password should be removed if we want to unprotect workbook structure and windows. But if you forgot the workbook protection password, how can you do to unprotect it? Could you remove workbook protection password by yourself? If not, get powerful software iSunshare Workbook Unprotect Genius to remove it in one click.

1. Add protected excel workbook into Workbook Unprotect Genius.

After Workbook Unprotect Genius full version runs on your computer, just click the "Open File(s)" icon to select the protected excel workbook from your computer, and add it to the iSunshare software.

add protected excel workbook to isunshare  software

2. Click Remove Password button and workbook protection password is removed.

remove password to unprotect workbook structure and windows

Click OK and open the unprotected excel workbook you get after protection removal. You would find there has been no password protection on this workbook structure and windows.

Tips: If your excel workbook is also protected with open password you forgot, please recover and remove workbook password protection at first with Excel Password Genius or Excel Password Remover. And then you could remove forgotten workbook protection password to unprotect workbook structure and windows with Workbook Unprotect Genius.

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