Solved Xlsx-unprotect sheet


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lbeck

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I'm trying to find a word in my workbook. Excel states "we couldn't find what you're looking for...." Trying to determine why, I find that I may be searching a "Protected" sheet. When I try to unprotect (Review/Protect/Protect Sheet/Password to unprotect sheet) I don't believe that I ever protected that (or any) sheet and I don't have a password. I tried several of my secret passwords. None works.

Excel Help doesn't address this dilemma. Can Eleven forums help??

Thanks,

Lee
 

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Where is the Excel sheet from?
 

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If it’s a 3rd party Excel file, the 3rd party would have protected it.
“Save As” another Excel file and see if the protection carries over.
Alternatively "Select All" of the Worksheet content, copy/paste into another Excel file Worksheet.

I can’t see how a protected Worksheet prevents searching the sheet. I can’t remember if that’s an option when protecting or locking an Excel file. (Edit: No, it isn’t)

General purpose of sheet Protections

GoalMethodSearchable?
Prevent accidental editsProtect Sheet (Review tab)Yes
Hide sensitive infoHide Sheet + Protect WorkbookNo (if done correctly)
Hide formulasLock cells + HiddenYes (shows results)
High securityEncrypt file with passwordNo

EDIT:

I have an Excel file that has over 30 Worksheets in it containing extensive formulas, text etc
I just tried protecting Worksheets and then the whole Workbook.
I cannot replicate any way to prevent searching due to a Protected Worksheet.

How are you searching the Excel Sheets?
What are you searching for?
This information could prove useful.
 
Last edited:

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168
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    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
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    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / Mx Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    2000/500Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
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    Kaspersky Premium
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    ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
    TP-Link BE9300 WiFi 7 Bluetooth 5.4 (Archer TBE550E)
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    Grandstream HT812 - VoIP
    ASUS DSL-AX82U - Mesh
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    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
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    Graphics card(s)
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
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    Hard Drives
    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
    Antivirus
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    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
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    Camera
    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Monitor
    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
Probably not your issue but I've had instances when I could not find a word in excel and all I had to do was click inside any cell in the worksheet and retry the search and that worked. I've never even tried to figure out why that happens but it's annoying. I knew the word was there, I just wanted the search to get me to it faster than scrolling and looking.
 

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Thanks for the thoughtful replies. I found a workaround.

Throughout the workbook I used a formula =PROPER and copied it throughout. So when I looked for a word it wasn't found - even though I could "see" the word in cell(s). I rectified the problem by copying the errant column, and then pasting "values" onto a different column. I then deleted the column with =PROPER.
 

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 1113th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13400F 2.50 GHz32.0 GBNVIDIA Gforce RTX 4060
    OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Device name CyberPowerPC
    CPU
    13th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-13400F 2.50 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA Gforce RTX 4060
    Hard Drives
    2 TB ADATA Legend 800 Gold SSD and several HDDs
    PSU
    650W
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Windows 11 23H2 10.0.26100 Build 26100

  • At a glance

    Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.4123Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz32.0 GBGforce GTX 745
    Operating System
    Windows 10 Home 22H2 19045.4123
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Acer_Desktop
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4790 CPU @ 3.60GHz 3.60 GHz
    Memory
    32.0 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Gforce GTX 745
    Sound Card
    ONN24
    Hard Drives
    Many
    Keyboard
    JLAB supports 2 computers/monitors
    Mouse
    Acer wired USB
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Only what W10 installed
    Other Info
    64-bit operating system, x64-based processor
  • OS Windows 11 Home 25H2, 26200.8894, 5/‎20/‎2025

    Computer type = PC/Laptop

    Manufacturer/Model = HP

    Device name = Victus

    CPU = 12th Gen Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-12700H (2.30 GHz)

    Motherboard

    Memory = 16.0 GB (15.7 GB usable)

    Graphics Card = NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop GPU (4 GB)

    Sound Card = Internal

    Monitor(s) Displays = Attached

    Screen Resolution = UNK

    Hard Drives = 954 GB and several external HDDs

    PSU = UNK

    Case = NA

    Cooling = UNK

    Keyboard = NA

    Mouse = Wireless Logitech (Touchpad also)

    Internet Speed = 31Mbps download; 8.24 Mbps upload

    Browser = Chrome

    Antivirus=Windows Defender only

    Other Info
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