Document-based Microsoft Office applications like Excel, Word, and PowerPoint include a Mark as Final feature to inform the other users not to update the file. If Mark as Final feature is active for a document, Excel welcomes the user with a warning message. In this guide, we are going to show you How to mark a workbook as final in Excel.
Excel 2016 and Newer Versions
You can find this setting by following these steps: File > Info > Protect Workbook > Mark as Final.
Click on OK on the approval dialog to mark your workbook as final and save it.
You will see one last informative dialog box about Mark as Final feature. Click OK to go back to Excel.
Excel displays the status of the file to users with a yellow informative bar and an icon in the Status Bar. The workbook is in Read-only mode which only allows to select and copy cells.
Please note that this is a helper feature rather than a security feature which completely blocks all users accessing the file. Users can start editing either by clicking on Edit Anyway button or following the same steps to remove the marked as final status.
To prevent users entirely from altering your workbook, consider using password protection: How to Password Protect Excel Files
Here is a sample file which is marked as final.
Excel 2010 - 2013
In Office 2010 and Office 2013, the Protect Workbook commands are under Permissions title. You can find the Mark as Final command under the Protect Workbook.
Excel 2007
In Excel 2007, look for Prepare section: Office Button > Prepare > Mark as Final to mark your workbook as final.
