WPS Lock Cells helps restrict edits to selected cells and works with sheet protection to control editable areas; this feature 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 protection feature in WPS Spreadsheet for Windows. It helps prevent selected cells from being edited directly, and it works together with sheet protection so the locked status takes effect.
Core tasks include:
- Set cell locking: Turn on the Locked option for selected cells in the Format Cells dialog under the Protection tab.
- Protect the sheet: Open Protect Sheet from the Review tab, then set a password and allowed actions.
This feature is useful for input forms, shared reports, reusable templates, and team collaboration. It helps protect formula areas, headers, and key data while keeping unlocked cells available for continued input.
System Requirements
| Item | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | A Windows device that can run WPS Office normally |
| App version | It is recommended to use the latest version of WPS Office |
| Network | Local locking and protection actions do not require a mandatory network connection |
| Other | If you set or remove a protection password, make sure you remember the current password |
Download & Installation
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Official download | WPS Office Free Download |
| Installation notes | Download and install WPS Office, then open WPS Spreadsheet to use Lock Cells |
| Post-install check | Open WPS Spreadsheet, right-click a cell to find Format Cells, and confirm that Protect Sheet is available 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 apply Protect Sheet so the lock takes effect, with password and permission options. | Excel lets you lock cell status first and then protect the worksheet, with selectable actions users are allowed to perform. | Google Sheets lets you protect a sheet or range and restrict who can edit it, but its official help says protected data cannot be secured with a password. | Notion can lock pages or database structure to reduce accidental changes, but it is not a spreadsheet-style cell locking workflow. | Acrobat can restrict PDF editing with a password, which fits finished document protection rather than spreadsheet cell-level editing control. |
| WPS Advantages | Advantage: Complete the two-step workflow of locking cells and protecting the sheet inside one spreadsheet interface. Distinct: Works well when part of the sheet should stay editable. | Compared with WPS: Excel follows a similar lock-then-protect workflow and offers more worksheet protection options, but the process is still centered on worksheet protection rather than a simpler partial-entry template flow. | Compared with WPS: Google Sheets focuses more on online permission control, and its official help states that password protection for data is not available in this feature. | Compared with WPS: Notion is better suited to page and database collaboration controls, not worksheet cell locking with editable and non-editable ranges in one sheet. | Compared with WPS: Adobe focuses on restricting edits in PDF files, not managing editable versus locked cells inside a spreadsheet grid. |
| Official Source | — | Protect a worksheet | Protect, hide & edit sheets | Collaborate in a workspace | Restrict PDF editing with password in Acrobat |
Overall Conclusion
If you need to protect selected areas in a spreadsheet while keeping other cells open for input, WPS Lock Cells with sheet protection fits that workflow directly. Other products are better aligned with online permission control, page or database locking, or finished PDF protection.
Use Cases
| No. | Scenario | Suitable Users | Pain Point | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Shared input forms | Team members, administrative staff | People may accidentally change headers or formulas | Lock header and formula areas, then protect the sheet |
| 2 | Finance templates | Finance staff, cashiers | Key calculation cells in templates should stay unchanged | Lock formula cells and apply sheet protection with a password |
| 3 | Classroom worksheets | Teachers, students | Only specific areas should be filled in | Keep input cells unlocked and protect the rest |
| 4 | Data summary sheets | Operations staff, analysts | Key data may be changed by mistake during review | Lock key data areas and turn on sheet protection |
| 5 | Standard form distribution | Internal business users | Instructions and layout areas may be changed after sharing | Lock instruction and format areas while leaving entry cells open |
Membership & Benefits
Free vs WPS Premium
Lock Cells and Protect Sheet are available without membership. The WPS pricing page also lists broader subscription plans for users who need additional office features and extended benefits.
| Capability | Free Users | WPS Premium |
|---|---|---|
| Lock Cells | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Protect Sheet | ✅ Available | ✅ Available |
| Additional advanced office and extended benefits | Use what is available in the product | More benefits may be available depending on the subscription plan |
Source: WPS Office pricing page
Recommendations
| Scenario | Recommended Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You only need to lock cells and protect sheets | Free version | This feature itself has no membership restriction for everyday spreadsheet protection |
| You also need more advanced office features | WPS Premium | Suitable if you want broader benefits, cloud space, or other advanced capabilities |
How to Subscribe
- WPS membership center: Subscribe now
Source: WPS Office pricing page