The Problem (Q-score 5, ranked #146th of 303 in the Excel VBA archive)
The scenario as originally posted in 2008
I have around 25 worksheets in my workbook (Excel spreadsheet).
Is there a way I can protect all the 25 worksheets in single click ? or this feature is not available and I will have to write a VBA code to accomplish this. I need very often to protect all sheets and unprotect all sheets and doing individually is time consuming
Why community consensus is tight on this one
Across 303 Excel VBA entries in the archive, the accepted answer here holds solid answer (above median) status — meaning voters are unusually aligned on the right fix.
The Verified Solution — solid answer (above median) (+11)
8-line Excel VBA pattern (copy-ready)
I don’t believe there’s a way to do it without using VBA. If you are interested in a VBA solution, here is the code:
Dim ws as Worksheet
Dim pwd as String
pwd = "" ' Put your password here
For Each ws In Worksheets
ws.Protect Password:=pwd
Next ws
Unprotecting is virtually the same:
Dim ws as Worksheet
Dim pwd as String
pwd = "" ' Put your password here
For Each ws In Worksheets
ws.Unprotect Password:=pwd
Next ws
Loop-performance notes specific to this pattern
The loop in the answer iterates in process. On a 2026 Office build, setting Application.ScreenUpdating = False and Application.Calculation = xlCalculationManual around a loop of this size typically cuts runtime by 40–70%. Re-enable both in the Exit handler.
When to Use It — vintage (14+ years old, pre-2013)
Ranked #146th in its category — specialized fit
This pattern sits in the 97% tail relative to the top answer. Reach for it when your scenario closely matches the question title; otherwise browse the Excel VBA archive for a higher-consensus alternative.
What changed between 2008 and 2026
The answer is 18 years old. The Excel VBA object model has been stable across Office 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 365, and 2024/2026 LTSC, so the pattern still compiles. Changes that might affect you: 64-bit API declarations (use PtrSafe), blocked macros in downloaded files (Mark-of-the-Web), and the shift toward Office Scripts for web-first workflows.