Excel Tip : How to Make an Excel Cell secured for Password

Original Post # http://www.learnexcelmacro.com/wp/2014/06/excel-cell-masking-for-password/

Step 1: Set your Cell or Cell Range as Hidden but NOT Locked

First of all you need to decide which range or cells you want to allow users to edit. Why is this required here at first step?? — because this masking is going to be achieved by Protecting the sheet hence you should know those cells which are needs to be made a editable even after protecting the sheet. Refer this article to know how to protect the sheet except few cells or range.

i) Select all your cells or range which has to be made editable (including the Password cell as well)

ii) Right Click and go to Format Cells -> Protection Tab as shown in below picture:

iii) Now Select your Password cell which you want to make it as masked.

iv) Right click and again go to Format Cells –> Protection Tab (as shown in above picture)

v) Now Check the Hidden check-box for your Password Cell as shown in the below picture:

Step 2: Custom Masking (Custom Formatting) of Password Cell

Now you need to Custom Format your password cell so that after typing your password it shows ******** a masked password. To do so follow below steps:

i) select the password cell

ii) Right Click –> Format Cells –> Number Tab

iii) Select category as Custom

iv Enter type as ;;;** and Click OK as shown in below picture:

>

— This formatting will show Star(*) in full cell. It means no matter how many letters you have typed in your cell but once you come out of the cell, your cell will be shown as full of Stars *.

Now you are done with all the necessary formatting which is required before you Protect your Sheet

Step 3: Protect your WorkSheet

Protect your WorkSheet with all default options selected. To know more about protecting a WorkSheet..read this article. It is recommended that you pass a valid password to protect your sheet if you really want to make your password protected