Excel adding rows in a table when sheet is protected

Question

I want to be alble to add rows to a table in protected sheet but I cannot get it to work.

In have named table (range) of which all the cells of that table are unlocked. (Selected the whole table, right click Format Cells, deleted the checkmark for Locking).

The I go to Review - Protect sheet and check the options like in the image.

Because I selected "Inserting Rows" my assumption is, it is possible to insert/add rows to the existing table.

But when I right click on the table and want to insert a new row, this option is grayed out. Maybe I misunderstood some settings, I don't know. But what am I doing wrong?

There are simular questions like this, but I still didn't see solution.

Seb · Accepted Answer · 2025-10-23 11:13:03Z

1

That’s expected behavior — Excel doesn’t allow inserting rows inside a protected table, even if the table cells are unlocked and “Insert rows” is checked.

Workarounds:

1. Unprotect → Add row → Reprotect via VBA or manually.

2. Use a data entry form that temporarily unprotects the sheet, adds a row, then protects it again.

3. Or move the table to an unprotected area and lock only the rest of the sheet.

Excel’s “Insert rows” permission only applies to rows outside structured tables, not within them.

answered Oct 23 at 11:13

Seb

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Stephan Oct 23 at 11:31

thanks I misunderstood the "insert row" setting. I thought it was meant for structured tables. But now I know how to use it, it is for inserting Excel rows. I will give the VBA option a thought, Since I also have a XLAM that is also an option.

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