Create a Google Sheet, share it & protect cells

Watch the steps

1. 1Click the blank spreadsheet at the top
2. 2Untitled spreadsheet
3. 3Type your data. Press Enter to finish a cell
4. 4Share
5. 5Type your colleague's email address
6. 6Viewer
7. 7Send
8. 8Data
9. 9Add a sheet or range
10. 10Range
11. 11Set permissions
12. 12Choose who can edit this range
13. 13Done
14. 14To change it later, click the protection in the list
15. 15Change permissions

Create & share a Google Sheet (0:47)

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 and click the blank spreadsheet at the top. In Google Drive, 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 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.

Still stuck

WhatsApp our support team at +60 16-916 3324.

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.

Related articles

• Sort, filter & chart your data in Google Sheets
• Open Excel files in Google Sheets & save as .xlsx
• Share a Google Drive file or folder & stop sharing
• Create tables & formulas with Gemini in Google Sheets