When excel could not reach the connected sheet to update the linked cells it marked the workbook as locked. The other scenario was if two people were opening the workbooks using different methods. For example, one person had the workbook open from Microsoft Teams the other had it open in the Excel Online web interface. You are trying to open an Excel file and you get: “File in Use: File is locked for editing by another user.” Sometimes the file is locked by another user, and other times the 'another user' is actually you. To restrict editing to a sheet in Excel, use these steps: Open the Excel document. On the right side, click the Protect Workbook menu. Select the Protect current. Locked is the default setting for all cells in a new worksheet/workbook. Once we protect the worksheet (in the next step) those locked cells will not be able to be altered by users. If you want users to be able to edit a particular cell or range, uncheck the Locked box so they are unlocked. Since cells are locked by default, most of the job. Unlock Excel Cells. To unlock Excel cells, go to the Review tab and click Unprotect sheet. If the author of the sheet has added a password to protect it, you will need to enter the password in order to unlock the cells. If there’s no password, you will be able to edit the locked cells after clicking the unprotect sheet button.

I am using Excel 2010 on Win 7 and I met a problem. I was trying to open an Excel file but got a message saying my file is locked for editing by 'username'. Why did I get this error? After researching many solutions online, I am stumped and hope someone can help figure this out.

As a frequent user of Excel application, you are bound to face errors like this. You do not have to be panic if you incur such an editing error as it is common with Excel files and it can be fixed.

Keep reading this article as it explains why the excel file is locked for editing and shows how to fix this error. Additionally, you can learn how to avoid this error next time.

Part 1: Why is the Excel File Locked for Editing?

It will be easy to handle this problem if you know the causes for Excel file being locked for editing. There are lots of causes can trigger this type of error:

• File in use or locked for editing error occurs when Excel fails to close properly, therefore, failing to save the file accordingly.

• The file could be opened by another user when open in a shared network. In this case, you can only open in Read-Only mode and receive a notification when the file is ready for editing.

• Sometimes, Microsoft Office may create a temporary file for your Excel, which has '~$' followed by the name of your Excel file. This will also trigger the error 'filename.xlsx is locked for editing by 'username'.

Part 2: How to Fix Excel File is Locked for Editing

This error can be easily solved. Before proceeding to the guide below ensure the Excel file is closed on all devices. In case the error persists, close the file for a while and reopen it to releases the lock on the file. Alternatively, you can ask for edit permissions on the file or wait for the file to be closed by the other user.

If you are not successful then here is a simple guide to accessing an excel file locked for editing.

Step 1: Keenly note the file name and the file path. To begin, launch the 'Run' dialogue box by simultaneously holding the 'Windows' key and pressing 'R'.

Step 2: Search for the Microsoft Management Console by inputting 'MMC' on the search bar and choose 'File' and then 'Add/Remove Snap-in'.

Step 3: Select 'Shared Folders' in the list of 'Available Snap-ins' and click 'Add' to add it to the 'Selected snap-ins' list.

Step 4: On the 'Select the computer you want the snap-in to manage' prompt, select the 'Local computer' option if you are logged in on the server or 'Another computer' if you are logged in at a different computer. Search for the file location from this window.

Step 5: Proceed to select 'Open Files' and click 'OK'.

Step 6: Finally, expand the 'Open Files' list, sort the list preferably by author/user name to locate the file. Right-click on the file and select 'Close Open file' from the options.

Now you can edit the excel file having disconnected the user who had it open. Exit Excel and open the file afresh to edit.

Part 3: How to Avoid the Situation 'Excel File Locked for Editing'

Having known how to fix the error, be sure of how to avoid it next time. Using these tips, you are free to work on your files across multiple users simultaneously.

Tip 1. Use Excel Version That Supports Co-authoring

Use the Excel version that supports co-authoring such as Excel for the web, Excel for Android, Excel for iOS, Excel for Office 356 and Excel for Office 365 for Mac.

However, the last two versions require you to sign in to an Office account with an Office 365 subscription. For best co-authoring experience, you are advised to all use Excel Online.

Tip 2. Upload the File to Cloud

SharePoint, OneDrive for Business or One Drive serve the best for co-authoring and easy accessibility. As a result, there is no 'locked'. However, co-authoring is not supported on cloud locations, local folders, server paths and SharePoint On-Premises sites.

Tip 3. Check the File Formats

You must consider file formats for co-authoring to be sure its compatible with all users. The recommended formats are .xlsx, .xlsm or .xlsb for Windows and Mac users.

• To set the file format for Windows, click the File>Save As>Browse>Save as type and select the above formats.

• For Mac users click the File, Save As options and select the .xlsx, .xlsm, or .xlsb formats as well.

Tip 4. Check One Drive Sync App

For One Drive sync app users, ensure it's the latest version for each user and not paused at any given time.

Tip 5. Get Rid of Unsupported Features

Finally, in case there is a feature not supported by co-authoring, there will be the 'locked' error. Therefore, you will have to turn off the Shared Workbook feature and open the workbook instead of the snapshot from SharePoint.

Tip: What if Your Excel File is Locked for Editing with A Password?

The above solutions didn't fix the problem for you? There is a possibility that your Excel file is locked for editing with a password. You probably set a password but forgot it or set it by a co-author without your knowledge. There is a definite solution as well.

Passper for Excel can remove all editing restrictions on your worksheet/workbooks without losing or affecting your original data. The program is innovatively designed by iMyFone team, which is trusted and recommended by many reputable review sites like Macworld, PCWorld, techradar, Cult of Mac, and etc. Therefore, it's completely secure to use this program.

Some important features of Passper for Excel are listed below:

All editing and formatting restrictions on your Excel worksheets and workbooks can be removed within seconds.

The advanced technology guarantees a 100% success rate.

The program is simple to use. Unlock your locked for editing Excel file in just 3 steps.

File types like .xls, .xlsx, .xlsm, .xltm, .xlsb and etc are supported by this tool.

Here is a simple procedure to follow to remove the restrictions from Excel Worksheet/Workbook.

Download and install Passper for Excel software and launch it on your computer. /virtual-dj-home-7-free-download-for-windows-7.html.

Step 1 Click the 'Remove Restrictions' option on the homepage.

Step 2 Upload the password-protected Excel file to the software by clicking the 'Select a File' button.

Step 3 Click on 'Remove' to start the process. Just within seconds, the restrictions will be removed.

In order to help you have an intuitive understanding of the whole process, you can watch the video guide below:

There are sometimes when you may not be able to unlock an Excel spreadsheet for several reasons. This can be quite problematic especially if the document is sensitive and you need to complete editing it. Yet not being able to edit a locked Excel spreadsheet is not the only problem you'll encounter. You may also be unable to print a locked document since you may are not allowed to access the printing settings. It is also not possible to send a locked document to someone else as they will not be able to unlock it, read it or even edit it.

In this article, we tackle this issue of locked Excel Spreadsheets, exploring the reasons why the document may be locked and even offering you solutions on how to unlock an excel spreadsheet. Let's begin with why the document keeps telling you it is 'locked for editing by another user'.

1. Why Do You Need to Unlock an Excel Spreadsheet?

Microsoft Teams Excel Sheet Locked For Editing By Me

There are several reasons why the Excel file could be locked. These include the following;

• You could be unable to open and edit the Excel spreadsheet if the file has been shared and another user is also editing it at the moment.

• It is also very likely that Excel is running in the background and the file you are trying to unlock is already open in Excel.

• But perhaps the most common reason why you are unable to open the document is because it has been marked as final and can no longer be edited.

2. Unlock an Excel Spreadsheet with Password

Usually, if you are unable to unlock an Excel Spreadsheet, it is very likely that it is password protected. If you know the password, unlocking the file can be a very simple process. Simply follow these steps;

Step 1: Open the Excel workbook that contains the protected worksheet in Excel.

Step 2: You should see a tab with a list of the sheets at the bottom of the workbook. Go ahead and right-click on the protected sheet (a locked sheet will often have a padlock icon attached to the name) to open the context menu.

Step 3: Now click on the 'Unprotect Sheet' option and if there is no password attached to the sheet, it should open immediately. If there is a password on the sheet, you will need to enter the password in the popup window that appears.

The sheet should open as soon as you enter the correct password and you can now go ahead and edit the sheet at any way you want.

Microsoft Teams Excel File Locked For Editing

3. Unlock Excel Spreadsheet without Password

3.1 Via Google Sheets

If unfortunately, you don't know the password or you have lost the password for that spreadsheet, you can use Google Sheets to unlock the document. Here's how;

Step 1: Go to https://drive.google.com on any browser to access Google drive from where you can access Google sheets. If you have an account and you're not signed in, follow the on-screen prompts to sign in.

Step 2: Once signed in, click on 'New' at the top-left corner of the screen.

Step 3: Click 'File Upload' to open your computer's files to browse for the Excel document you need.

Step 4: Select the particular file with the protected worksheet and click 'Open' to upload it to Google Drive. Icloud remover 102 full version free download.

Step 5: Once the upload is complete, locate the document in Google Drive and double-click on it to open a preview of the file.

Step 6: Now click on 'Open with' to expand the menu and then choose 'Google Sheets'.

The document will be open in Google Sheets and all protections that were on the document will be removed including all sheet protections.

3.2 Via Copying the File

If you are still unable to edit any of the data on the spreadsheet, you may want to consider creating a new sheet and copying all the data to the new sheet. This will allow you access to the data and the ability to edit it. Here's how to do it;

Note

This method will however only work if the 'Select Locked Cells' and 'Select Unlocked Cells' options are allowed.

Step 1: Open the document with the protected sheets and then select all the data that is in the protected sheet.

Step 2: Hit the 'Ctrl + C' buttons on your keyboard to copy all the selected data.

Step 3: Now click on the 'New Sheet button' which is usually the '+' next to the last sheet. You can also choose to open a completely new workbook which you can do easily by pressing 'Ctrl + N'.

Step 4: Place the cursor where you would like the data to go and then hit 'Ctrl + V' on your keyboard to paste the data in the new sheet. You can choose 'Keep Source Formatting' in the paste options to paste the data in as-is and so you don't have to adjust the data manually.

Once this is done, you should now be able to easily edit the data on the new sheet or workbook.

3.3 Via Passper for Excel

What if you don't know the password and you can't copy the data on to a new worksheet or workbook? In this case, it may become necessary to employ the services of one of the best Excel password recovery tools in the business. This tool is Passper for Excel, a prime password recovery program that can help you recover any password for an Excel document regardless of how complex the password is. The following are just some of the features that make Passper for Excel the best tool to use;

• It can recover excel opening passwords and even remove all restrictions from any worksheet while maintaining the integrity of the original data.

• It is very easy to use: a simple three-step process is the only thing standing between you and an unlocked Excel worksheet.

• It can be used to recover the password and unlock a document if you have forgotten the password; you can't copy the worksheet, can't edit the content or can't print the worksheet.

• It is compatible with all versions of MS Excel, including Excel 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2000 and 97.

Here's a simple guide to help you remove restrictions from the excel spreadsheet in question and unlock it;

Step 1: Begin by installing Passper for Excel on to your computer. Launch the program and in the main window, click on 'Remove Restrictions' to begin.

Step 2: Click 'Add' to browse your computer for the Excel document you want to edit and import in into the program.

Step 3: Once the document has been added into the program, click on 'Remove' and the program will proceed to remove restrictions from the Excel worksheets.

The file should now be accessible and editable.

4. Unlock Protected Excel Document without Password (Opening Password)

Do you need to unlock an Excel document that is protected with an opening password? Lооk nо mоrе dіѕtаnt thаn Passper for Excel. Just as we shared above, Passper for Excel could also recover the opening password for Encrypted Excel document. It utіlіzеѕ 4 іnсrеdіblе аltеrnаtіvеѕ: thе brutе fоrсе wіth mаѕk аttасk, combination attack, dісtіоnаrу аttасk, аnd brutе-fоrсе аttасk іn thе rесоvеrу оf раѕѕwоrdѕ. Multicore CPU and GPU technology is also adopted ensuring the highest recovery rate.

Step 1. Dоwnlоаd, іntrоduсе аnd run thе frее рrеlіmіnаrу аdарtаtіоn оf Exсеl раѕѕwоrd rеcover tool оn уоur PC.

Step 2. Clісk Add саtсh оn thе рrіnсірlе іntеrfасе to import the Excel document that you need to recover its password.

Then pісk оnе оf thе раѕѕwоrd attack tуреѕ based on the information you have about the opening password.

Step 3. Clісk 'Recover' button and thе раѕѕwоrd wіll bе recovered soon. Now use the password displayed on the interface to open your Excel document.

The next time you encounter a locked Excel spreadsheet or document, you now have several options to help you unlock it and continue with your project.Passper for Excel will be particularly helpful to you if the document is password protected and you don't know the password. Passper will very easily lift the restriction or recover the password, allowing you to go back to working on the document in the shortest time possible.