Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Opening a Workbook as Read-Only.
There may be times when you want to open a workbook as read-only. This means you will not be able to save any changes to the workbook you are loading. You can use the Save As option from the File menu in order to save the workbook using a different filename, however. Opening a workbook as read-only is self-insurance so you don't inadvertently mess up your file. To open a workbook as read-only, follow these steps:
If you are still using Excel 97, then the steps are a bit different.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2223) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Opening a Workbook as Read-Only.
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2017-08-11 04:18:23
Anton Thelander
Big thanks! Helped me. Generally worked for Excel 2013. Cheers and have a really nice day!
Anton from Sundsvall, Sweden
2016-12-13 10:39:54
Joey
Super stuff. I wanted to open a file without locking out someone else and without making it a shared file and this worked like a charm.
2015-10-02 00:03:13
Hi,thanks very much for this solution.It really help me in my studies.
2014-07-04 08:57:27
There may be times when you want to open a workbook as read-only. This means you will not be able to save any changes to the workbook you are loading. You can use the Save As option from the File menu in order to save the workbook using a different filename, however. Opening a workbook as read-only is self-insurance so you don't inadvertently mess up your file. To open a workbook as read-only, follow these steps:
2014-05-20 11:37:39
Miguel Costa
Hi, thanks for this solution. It works fine but I just wanted to know if there is any context action on windows that would allow you to define this as default behaviour or just to have a quick link like open as or something like this
2014-02-01 08:48:35
Barry Fitzpatrick
Whilst both of these methods work, it all to easy to accidentally open the workbook normally and then accidentally overwrite the original file with the modified version (if you have macros running these might even execute "Saves" behind the scenes).
This is especially true if it is someone else using the file.
I believe a better way is to set the properties of the file from within Windows Explorer to be "Read-only". Although this not infallible the modified file would have to be named before saving, or deliberately saved using the original files name (so overwriting the original) even then Windows complaining profusely..
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: 
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