Not every cell in a spreadsheet should be editable by everyone.
Sometimes you need to lock down core data, formulas, or an entire department’s sheet — while still letting the right people make changes.
In Lark Sheets, you can do exactly that with protected ranges and protected sheets.
This guide shows you how to protect a range or a whole sheet, add collaborators with the right permissions, and edit or remove protection later.
Platform requirement: These steps can only be performed on the Lark desktop app and web version.
Why Protect a Range or Sheet?
Protecting parts of a spreadsheet helps you keep data accurate and secure, especially when many people share the same file. For example:
- Protect a range to set separate view or edit permissions for specific cells — such as allowing only some collaborators to edit core data, keeping it safe from accidental changes.
- Protect a sheet to set separate permissions for an entire tab — such as giving each department its own dedicated sheet and allowing only that department to edit it.
Note: Only collaborators with edit permission for the spreadsheet can protect a range or sheet and configure its settings.
How to Set a Protected Range
You can protect a single cell or a range of cells. Only users with manage permission for the spreadsheet and specified collaborators can edit the protected data — other users can only view it. Once a range is protected, grey diagonal lines appear in the protected cells.
- Open the spreadsheet and select the cells you want to protect.
- Right-click and select Set Protected Range > [Range to protect], or click Menu from the toolbar and select Data > Protect Range > [Range to protect].
- In the Protect range settings panel, configure the following as needed:
- In the Select range section, click the Field icon to change the range to protect or add more ranges.
- In the Permission settings section, click Add Collaborators to give users, groups, or departments edit or view permissions for the protected range. Users with manage permission for the spreadsheet will also have edit permission for the protected range by default (this cannot be modified).
- (Optional) If the user you added is not a collaborator of the spreadsheet, an authorisation pop-up will appear. Click Confirm to add them as a collaborator. Note that the permission granted to collaborators of the protected range applies to the whole spreadsheet — for example, granting edit permission for the protected range also gives edit permission for the whole spreadsheet.
Note: A spreadsheet can support a maximum of 500 collaborators, but different limits apply to different types of collaborators.
Tip: Because granting edit access to a protected range also grants edit access to the whole spreadsheet, think carefully about who you add. Use view permission where you only need someone to see — not change — the protected data.
How to Protect a Sheet
You can also protect an entire sheet, allowing only users with manage permission for the spreadsheet and specified collaborators to view or edit it. Other users can only view the protected sheet.
- Open the spreadsheet, right-click the sheet tab you want to protect, and select Protect Sheet.
- In the Protect sheet settings panel, configure the following as needed:
- In the Permission settings section, click Add Collaborators to give users, groups, or departments edit or view permissions for the protected sheet. Users with manage permission for the spreadsheet will also have manage permission (including edit permission) for all sheets by default (this cannot be modified).
- (Optional) If the user you added is not a collaborator of the spreadsheet, an authorisation pop-up will appear. Click Confirm to add them as a collaborator. As with ranges, the permission granted applies to the whole spreadsheet.
Note: A spreadsheet can support a maximum of 500 collaborators, but different limits apply to different types of collaborators.
How to Edit or Delete Protection Settings
Protection is not permanent — you can review, change, or remove it whenever you need.
- Open the spreadsheet. Right-click any cell and select Set Protected Range > View Protection. Alternatively, click Menu from the toolbar and select Data > Protect Range > View All Protection Settings.
If you know the exact protected range or sheet, you can also:
- Right-click the protected range, then click Set Protected Range and select View Protection or Remove Protection.
- Hover over the Lock icon of the protected sheet and click View Protection. Alternatively, right-click the tab of the protected sheet and click View Protection Settings.
- In the Protection settings panel that pops up, you can view the protection settings for the current sheet and all sheets. Click the Edit icon or Delete icon for the settings you want to modify or delete as needed.
Note: You can only edit or delete protection settings for which you have edit permission.
Practical Use Cases for SMEs and Startups
- Shared financial trackers: Protect formula cells and totals so only finance staff can edit them, while everyone else sees the figures.
- Department dashboards: Give each department its own protected sheet so teams only edit their own data.
- Templates and forms: Lock headers, labels, and structure so collaborators fill in data without breaking the layout.
- Client-facing sheets: Let clients view a sheet while keeping internal working areas protected from edits.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How do I protect a range of cells in Lark Sheets?
Select the cells, right-click and choose Set Protected Range (or use Menu > Data > Protect Range), then add collaborators with edit or view permission in the Protect range panel.
What is the difference between protecting a range and protecting a sheet?
Protecting a range secures specific cells within a sheet, while protecting a sheet secures an entire tab. Both let you set separate view or edit permissions for the protected area.
Who can edit protected data?
Only users with manage permission for the spreadsheet and the specific collaborators you grant edit permission can edit protected data. Everyone else can only view it.
Does granting access to a protected range affect the whole spreadsheet?
Yes. The permission you grant a collaborator for a protected range or sheet applies to the whole spreadsheet. For example, granting edit permission for a protected range also grants edit permission for the entire spreadsheet.
How do I remove protection from a range or sheet?
Right-click the protected range and choose Set Protected Range > Remove Protection, or open the Protection settings panel and click the Delete icon for the protection you want to remove. You can only edit or delete protections you have permission for.
Keep Your Spreadsheet Data Secure
Protected ranges and sheets give you precise control over who can view and edit your data — without giving up collaboration. For SMEs and startups managing shared trackers, department dashboards, and client-facing files, it is a simple way to keep your most important data accurate, secure, and in the right hands.
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