How to prevent adding or deleting sheets in an Excel workbook?

Excel is a full-featured spreadsheet software, in which there are two concepts: workbook and worksheet. A workbook is the entire Excel file, while a worksheet is a single table page. A workbook consists of multiple sheet worksheets. If we want to prevent others from adding or deleting sheet worksheets in the workbook, we can set a restriction password for Excel to lock the entire workbook structure.

Preview of Locked Excel Workbook Structure

Before Processing:

After Processing:

Steps to Batch Set Workbook Restriction Passwords for Excel

1. Open HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , select Excel Tools → Excel Add Password Protection.

2. Click Add Files or import files from a folder to add the Excel files that need password protection.

3. Select Restrict Editing Password → Protect Workbook Structure, and fill in the password to set below.

4. After processing, click Save Location to view. All Excel files now have workbook restriction passwords set. When right-clicking a sheet tab, functions like Insert, Move, Delete, and Rename are unavailable.

What is the Difference Between Excel Workbook Password and Worksheet Password

1. A workbook is an entire file, while a worksheet is a single sheet page. Setting a workbook password mainly prevents the entire workbook structure from being modified, such as moving, deleting, renaming, or adding worksheets. Once a workbook is password-protected, its structure is locked, and the above operations cannot be performed.

2. Setting a worksheet password aims to prevent others from editing and modifying it, mainly to protect the data within the sheet from being changed. Once a worksheet is password-protected, all cells in the current sheet are locked from editing. It will prompt that the cell is in a protected worksheet, and a password must be entered to edit.

What Types of Passwords Exist for Excel Files

Open Password: Protects the entire Excel file, preventing others from casually viewing the file contents. This is the highest level of protection.

Read-Only Password: Protects the entire Excel file, allowing only viewing but no editing or modifications.

Restrict Editing Password (Workbook): Protects the Excel workbook structure, preventing others from inserting, deleting, or rearranging worksheets.

Restrict Editing Password (Worksheet): Protects the data content within a worksheet, preventing the data in the sheet from being edited or modified.