When using Area Permissions, the most common questions are about permission management, removing protection, and controlling collaboration scope; this FAQ includes 4 common questions and a glossary.
FAQ
Can the spreadsheet creator manage all area permissions?
- Yes. The spreadsheet creator and spreadsheet managers can manage all area permission settings in the sheet.
- If you need to review all rules together, open the Protect Range panel on the right to see all added areas.
- You can then edit or delete individual protected areas as needed.
How do I remove protection from one area?
- Open the Protect Range panel on the right.
- Find the target area in the protected area list.
- Click Delete next to that area to remove its protection.
- If you want to stop all protection, turn off the main Area Permissions switch.
Why can't I edit some protected areas?
- Check whether the area is set to Only I Can Edit or assigned to specific people.
- Make sure the account you are signed in with is one of the authorized collaborators.
- If password control is enabled, complete the required verification.
- If you still cannot edit the area, ask the spreadsheet creator or manager to adjust the permission.
How can I let other collaborators view only the remaining unprotected areas?
- Open the Protect Range panel on the right.
- Find the setting for remaining areas for other people.
- Change it to View Only or the level you need.
- Review the permissions of each protected area again so the full collaboration setup matches your needs.
Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Area Permissions | A feature that sets view or edit permissions for specific cell ranges in a spreadsheet. |
| Protected Area | A cell range or worksheet scope that has its own permission rule. |
| Specified People Can View/Edit | A setting that gives selected collaborators view or edit access. |
| Remaining Areas for Other People | The collaborator permission scope applied to cells that are not included in protected areas. |