Efficient Strategies to Bypass Excel’s Protected View Mode- A Comprehensive Guide

How to Get Out of Protected View in Excel

If you’re working with Excel and find yourself locked in Protected View, it can be quite frustrating. Protected View is a feature designed to prevent accidental modifications to a workbook that may contain potentially harmful content. However, if you need to edit the workbook, you’ll want to know how to get out of Protected View. In this article, we’ll discuss the steps to exit Protected View in Excel and provide some tips to avoid it in the future.

Steps to Get Out of Protected View in Excel

1. Open the Workbook: First, open the Excel workbook that you want to edit. If it’s in Protected View, you’ll see a message at the bottom of the screen indicating that the workbook is protected.

2. Enable Editing: Click on the “Enable Editing” button located at the bottom of the Excel window. This will allow you to make changes to the workbook.

3. Enter Password (if applicable): If the workbook is password-protected, you’ll be prompted to enter the password. Type the password and click “OK” to proceed.

4. Edit the Workbook: Once you’ve enabled editing and entered the password (if necessary), you’ll be able to edit the workbook as you normally would.

Alternative Methods to Exit Protected View

If the “Enable Editing” button is not visible, you can try the following alternative methods:

1. Close and Reopen the Workbook: Close the workbook and reopen it. Sometimes, simply closing and reopening the workbook will allow you to exit Protected View.

2. Use the Quick Access Toolbar: If you have the Quick Access Toolbar visible at the top of the Excel window, you can add an “Unprotect Workbook” button to it. Right-click on the Quick Access Toolbar, select “Customize Quick Access Toolbar,” and then choose “Unprotect Workbook” from the list of commands.

3. Use the Developer Tab: If the Developer tab is visible in the Excel ribbon, you can use the “Unprotect Sheet” button to exit Protected View. If the Developer tab is not visible, you’ll need to enable it by going to “File” > “Options” > “Customize Ribbon,” and then checking the “Developer” box.

Preventing Future Incidents of Protected View

To avoid getting locked in Protected View in the future, consider the following tips:

1. Save Your Workbooks in a Safe Location: Save your workbooks on your computer or a secure cloud storage service to prevent accidental deletion or corruption.

2. Use Passwords Wisely: If you need to protect your workbooks, use strong passwords and store them in a secure place. Avoid using the same password for multiple files.

3. Keep Excel Updated: Regularly update your Excel software to ensure that you have the latest security features and fixes.

4. Be Mindful of Email Attachments: Be cautious when opening email attachments, especially those from unknown senders. These attachments may contain malicious content that triggers Protected View.

By following these steps and tips, you’ll be able to get out of Protected View in Excel and continue working on your workbook without any issues.