How do I unlock a Google Sheets view only?

Have you recently come across a Google Sheets spreadsheet that you cannot edit because it is in view only mode?

If this is the case with you, then read on to find how you can edit a view only Google Sheets spreadsheet.

Edit View Only Google Sheets Spreadsheet

As seen in the image below, the example spreadsheet we are working on is in view only mode.

As the name suggest, when a spreadsheet is in view-only mode, you cannot make any changes to it at all.

There are two ways to solve this problem and edit the worksheet.

1. Make a copy of the spreadsheet and edit the copy
2. Request editing access

1. Making a Copy of the Spreadsheet

Here is how to make a copy of a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

1. Click on File > Make a Copy

Note: You need to be signed into a Google Account in order to make a copy of a Google Sheets spreadsheet.

2. From the pop-up enter a name for the spreadsheet and then click on OK.

A copy of the spreadsheet will open automatically, and you can now fully edit this copy.

2. Request Editing Access

If you absolutely need to edit the original spreadsheet, then the only way to go about this is by requesting the original owner of the spreadsheet editing access.

1. Click on the View only option (See image below)

2. From the pop-up, click on Request Edit Access

3. Enter a message to send to the owner and then click on OK to send your request to edit the spreadsheet.

Now it is completely up to the owner of the worksheet if they would like to grant you permission to edit their Google Sheets spreadsheet.

If you are editing a colleague or friend’s Google Sheets document, then we recommend you also send them a personal message saying that you have requested to edit their spreadsheet.

Recently, there have been changes to how Google Sheets handles access and permissions. While the permission levels remain the same (“Owner”, “Commenter”, “Viewer”, and “Editor”), these levels can now also be applied to specific sheets or cell ranges. In fact, you now have more options regarding what is shared and what permissions users have, which makes it even more important to manage user access and permissions carefully.

In this article, you can learn about the different permission levels available in Google Sheets, how to change existing permissions for a workbook and a sheet, and how to request editing access for a workbook. You can check out the blog to learn more about how to share Google Sheets, how to share only one tab, and how to make Google Sheets editable.

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Imagine you’re collaborating with your colleague on a spreadsheet they created. Everything is fine when you are just reading, but now you need to edit something. You discover that you’re in View Only mode, and you’re not able to make any changes. Unfortunately, you’ll have to ask the document’s creator to give you permission to edit the spreadsheet.

To help with this issue, or if you’re the creator, here’s how to switch from View Only to Edit mode in Google Sheets.

Sharing Options

First, we’ll explain how you can share a spreadsheet with your colleagues and what options you have. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Open your spreadsheet.
   
   
2. Click on the Share button at the top right corner.
   
   
3. Enter the email address of the person you want to share it with.
   
   
4. On the right of their email, you’ll see a box.
   
   
5. Click on it to open a drop-down menu.
   
   
6. Choose one of the following options: Viewer, Commenter, or Editor.
   
   
7. Click on Send to send your invitation.
   
   

That’s it! Now, let’s talk about the permissions you can give them and what these mean:

• Viewer – This is what we call View Only mode. Viewers can only view and read your spreadsheets, but they can’t make changes, or add any comments.
• Commenter – Commenter means they can’t change the data in your spreadsheet, but they can leave comments on the side. This can be a good option if you want to protect your data when collaborating with someone. At least they can write their suggestions, which is not possible in View Only mode.
• Editor – Editors can make changes in your spreadsheet, enter new data, or delete some of your entries. The good thing is that you can always access spreadsheet history if you want to see the first version.

Bonus: If you open the Advanced Settings, you’ll see that you can permit editors to share the document with others. This can be a great help, especially if you have a big team and can’t handle all their requests alone. Editors with this special permission can help you. However, if you don’t want this feature, make sure to disable it.

Change from View Only to Edit

We’ve described how to share documents and give various permissions, but what if you’ve changed your mind? Maybe you want to allow your colleagues to edit the document, or they’ve asked you to do so because they want you to add something. No problem. You can change their status whenever you want to. Here’s what you have to do:

1. Open your spreadsheet.
   
   
2. Click on Share with people and groups.
   
   
3. You’ll see a list of people you’ve shared it with as well as the status of each of them, next to their name.
   
   
4. Click on the box next to their name and open a drop-down menu.
   
   
5. Instead of Viewer, select Editor.
   
   

That’s all! If you need to change the status of more people, it may take a while because you’ll have to repeat this process for each one of them. However, this has a positive side as it means you can always customize the access to your document and give different permissions to various people.

Sharing with a Link

If you want to share your spreadsheet with a lot of people, sometimes it’s easier to share it by sending them a link or simply posting a link somewhere. This method is very convenient, but you have to be careful to make sure what people with a link can do and what they can’t do (it may not be a good idea to give all of them Editor’s permission).

Here’s how you can share a spreadsheet with a link:

1. Open your spreadsheet.
   
   
2. Click on the Share button on the top right corner.
   
   
3. Click on Get a link.
   
   
4. Click on the box below it and change the settings from Restricted to Anyone with a link (this is a mandatory step, as you have to allow people to see the spreadsheet.)
   
   
5. Then, click on the box next to Anyone with a link.
   
   
6. Choose whether you want them to be Viewers, Commenters, or Editors.
   
   
7. Copy link.
   
   
8. Click on Done.
   
   

That’s it! You can now post the link somewhere, and anyone can access the spreadsheet unless you change the settings. If you’re sharing it with a lot of people, we highly recommend you give them Viewer or Commenter status, but not Editor status.

You’re in Charge

Collaborating on documents has never been easier, thanks to Google Sheets. However, some rules still have to exist, especially if you’re sharing a file with a lot of people. The best thing is that you can always change their status and editing privileges.

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