WPS Lock Cells is a worksheet protection feature in WPS Spreadsheets on macOS for limiting edits to selected cells; it includes 2 core tasks, with 2 available without membership and 0 membership-related items.
At a Glance
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Core tasks | 2 | Matches the number of rows in the How-to Index |
| Available without membership | 2 | Matches the number of Free rows in the index |
| Membership-related items | 0 | Matches the number of membership-related rows in the index |
About This Feature
Overview
Lock Cells is a worksheet protection feature in WPS Spreadsheets on macOS that helps prevent selected cells from being edited by mistake or changed during collaboration. It is typically used together with Protect Sheet: first set the cell lock status, then turn on sheet protection so the lock setting takes effect.
Core tasks include:
- Set cell locking: apply the Locked property to selected cells or ranges.
- Enable sheet protection: use Protect Sheet to make the lock status take effect and define allowed actions.
This feature is useful for fillable forms, shared trackers, budget sheets, approval templates, and other spreadsheets that need a fixed structure with limited editable areas.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A macOS device that can run WPS Office for Mac normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | Local locking and sheet protection do not require a constant internet connection |
| Other | You need an editable WPS spreadsheet file; if a protection password has already been set, the password is required to remove protection |
Download & Installation
Before using Lock Cells, install WPS Office on your Mac and open a spreadsheet file.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Post-install check | Launch WPS Spreadsheets, open any worksheet, then confirm that you can open Format Cells from the right-click menu and see Protect Sheet on the Review tab |
Source: WPS Download Center
Compare with Alternatives
| Dimension | WPS | Microsoft | Notion | Adobe | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capability Summary | Lets you set the Locked property for cells first, then use Protect Sheet to make the lock effective and define allowed actions during protection. | Excel supports locking cells and protecting a worksheet to restrict editing, with configurable allowed actions. | Google Sheets supports protecting sheets or ranges and choosing who can edit them, but its official help states that protected data cannot be secured with a password. | Notion can lock database structure so people cannot change views or properties while still entering data, but this is not traditional spreadsheet cell-level locking. | Acrobat can restrict PDF editing with a password, which fits finished document distribution rather than spreadsheet cell protection during editing. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: WPS keeps the lock-property setup and sheet-protection workflow inside the spreadsheet editing process, which fits worksheets that need both editable and protected areas. | Compared with WPS: Excel follows a similar two-step protection model and offers detailed permission options. | Compared with WPS: Google Sheets focuses more on collaboration permissions by person or range, but the official help says it cannot protect data with a password. | Compared with WPS: Notion is better aligned with database structure control and does not provide the usual spreadsheet workflow for locking cells and protecting a worksheet. | Compared with WPS: Acrobat is more suitable for restricting edits in exported PDF files than for managing editable cell ranges during spreadsheet creation. |
| Official Source | — | Protect a worksheet | Protect, hide & edit sheets | Database settings | Restrict PDF editing |
Overall Conclusion
If you need to control which cells stay editable and which cells stay fixed while a spreadsheet is still being worked on, WPS Lock Cells with Protect Sheet fits that workflow well. Other products are more suitable for collaboration permissions, database structure control, or finished PDF distribution depending on the task.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable Users | Main Pain Point | Solution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shared input forms | Team members, administrative staff | Only input areas should stay editable while headers and formula areas stay unchanged | Lock the cells that need protection, then enable sheet protection |
| 2 | Budget and report templates | Finance and operations staff | Template structure can be changed by mistake and affect later calculations | Lock formula areas and title areas while keeping input cells editable |
| 3 | Approval record sheets | Project managers, supervisors | Historical records need to stay intact and not be overwritten | Protect key record areas with locking and sheet protection permissions |
| 4 | Teaching or test worksheets | Teachers, trainers | Editing should be limited outside answer areas | Protect the worksheet and allow editing only in unlocked cells |
| 5 | External spreadsheet templates | Business users | Template formatting can be changed after the file is shared | Finish the lock setup and enable sheet protection before sending the file |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
| Capability | Free Users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Cells | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Protect Sheet | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Basic spreadsheet editing | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Additional advanced office and value-added features | Depends on the specific feature | More features may be included depending on the subscription plan |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Use Case | Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Everyday spreadsheet protection and template sharing | Free | Lock Cells and Protect Sheet can cover basic worksheet protection needs directly |
| Office work that also needs broader value-added features across modules | WPS Premium | Suitable for users who also want more advanced office features, cloud storage, or other subscription benefits |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page