# Create a Google Sheet, share it & protect cells

> Create a spreadsheet in Google Sheets, share it with your team, and protect a range or sheet so only the right people can change it.
>
> Source: https://docs.officeniaga.com/sheets-basics-share/

Google Sheets is a spreadsheet that runs in your browser. Your team can work in the same file at the same time, and every change is saved automatically.

## Create a spreadsheet

Start a new spreadsheet from the Sheets home screen or from Google Drive.

1. Go to [sheets.google.com](https://sheets.google.com) and click the blank spreadsheet at the top. In [Google Drive](https://drive.google.com), you can also click **New** > **Google Sheets**.
2. Click **Untitled spreadsheet** at the top left, type a name and press **Enter**.
3. Type your data. To finish a cell, press **Enter** or click another cell.

To keep your header row in view while you scroll, click **View** > **Freeze** > **1 row**.

## Share the spreadsheet

Sharing works the same way as for any Drive file. The [Drive sharing guide](/drive-share/) explains each option.

1. Click **Share** at the top right.
2. Type names or email addresses in **Add people, groups, spaces, and calendar events**.
3. Choose **Viewer**, **Commenter** or **Editor**.
4. Click **Send**.

To leave a note on a cell without changing it, click the cell, then **Insert** > **Comment**.

## Protect a range or sheet

Protect formulas, price lists or totals so colleagues do not change them by accident. Only the owner and Editors can set protection.

1. Select the cells you want to protect.
2. Click **Data** > **Protect sheets and ranges**. A panel opens on the right.
3. Click **Add a sheet or range**.
4. Choose **Range** to protect the cells you selected, or **Sheet** to protect a whole tab. For a sheet, you can tick **Except certain cells** to leave some cells open.
5. Click **Set permissions**.
6. Choose how strict to be:
   - **Show a warning when editing this range**: people can still edit, but they must confirm first.
   - **Restrict who can edit this range**: choose **Only you**, or **Custom** to pick the people who can edit.
7. Click **Done**.

To see which cells are protected, click **View** > **Show** > **Protected ranges**. Protected cells get a striped background.

## Remove protection

You can change or remove protection at any time.

1. Click **Data** > **Protect sheets and ranges**.
2. Click the protection you want to change.
3. Click the bin icon to delete it, or **Change permissions** to edit it.

To build formulas or tables with AI, see [Gemini in Google Sheets](/gemini-sheets/).

## Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at [+60 16-916 3324](https://wa.me/60169163324).

## Common issues

### Can I put a password on a Google Sheet?

No. Google Sheets does not use passwords. Control who can open the file with Share, and use protected ranges to control who can change specific cells.

### I protected a range, but a colleague can still copy the data. Why?

Protection only stops editing. Anyone who can open the spreadsheet can still view, copy, print or download it. Keep private data, such as salaries, in a separate spreadsheet shared only with the right people.

### Why is Protected sheets and ranges missing from the Data menu?

You are probably working on an Excel file. Click File > Save as Google Sheets and protect the ranges in the new Google Sheets copy. See open Excel files in Google Sheets (/sheets-excel/).