Excel 365 (Online) - User not able to edit unlocked cells on protected sheet

Anonymous
2023-12-18T07:03:05+00:00

We have a team working on Excel files online (in the browser). The files:

  • are stored on an internal SharePoint site
  • accessed/edited in the browser (default is Chrome)
  • have been made using Excel 365 desktop version and uploaded to SharePoint

I have one user who randomly cannot edit unlocked cells on a protected sheet, receiving the error message "This sheet is protected. Some parts may be view-only and can't be changed". The unlocked cells are surrounded by locked cells, and some of the unlocked cells are merged. The issue could appear when opening a file and then not be present when the file is opened again later. It is not specific to any particular file; it can happen to any file.

It's interesting to note that all other users with the same permissions can simultaneously work on these files without the issue, even while the user in question is experiencing the block/issue. Also, the user is able to edit cells with the same protection set up on other sheets, but could later be blocked on these same sheets when re-opening the file at another time. Recreating this issue is not consistent.

The cells locked/unlocked property has been set via 'Protection' tab in the 'Format Cells' dialog in Excel desktop. The sheet's protection has also been set in the desktop app.

I have tried:

  • Removing and re-instating specific cell protection via the user's device when they have this issue present
  • Un-merging protected cells and then re-enabling protection
  • Using other devices with the user's login/account (Apple Mac and iPad) and browsers (Edge, Safari)
  • Removing and re-adding the user to the required permissions group on the SharePoint site

Any ideas for why this particular user may be experiencing this issue?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For business | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-12-18T16:14:16+00:00

    Exact same experience here, Collin. We had one user with the issue up until this morning; a second started experiencing it this afternoon.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-12-18T16:17:57+00:00

    Thank you for your response, Snow Lu. I’ll follow up with our IT team. However, based on Collin’s and Ernie’s replies/exact experiences and the issue starting on the same date (December 11th), it looks like it may not be limited to our individual environments?

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-19T09:38:43+00:00

    This issue has started today for a colleague of mine using a a file I created about 2 years ago, only one user on a team of 19 experiencing this issue.

    Have any tickets been created for this? Just so I can give to our IT team here if this needs to be logged by them with Microsoft.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-19T12:10:34+00:00

    It looks like a major issue. Many of my colleagues have reported this same issue since today. They can open the file in Excel desktop application and edit the cells but the same cannot be edited online and gives the error ''this sheet is protected. Some parts may be view only and can't be changed'.

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  5. Anonymous
    2023-12-19T13:11:43+00:00

    I'm having the same issue. Different users and different spread sheets. They can edit unlocked cells in desktop app, but not online.

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