The user's problem isn't really about Excel settings. It's about a deeper tension between collaboration and control. They want to share data entry access with a coworker while keeping sensitive financial figures hidden from that same person. And they want their less tech-savvy bosses to be able to reach the dashboard without friction. That's a reasonable ask. But the tools they're using, Excel Online on OneDrive, weren't built for this kind of granular, role-based access. Password protecting a sheet sounds like a solution, but it breaks the moment a boss can't remember the password or the coworker accidentally sees a hidden tab. Hiding the sheet is equally fragile; anyone with basic Excel knowledge can unhide it. The real issue is that the workbook is trying to serve two different audiences with two different levels of trust, and Excel's native sharing model treats everyone the same.
What this means in practical terms is that the user needs to rethink the architecture of their data, not just the permissions. Instead of trying to lock down one sheet inside a single file, the smarter move is to separate the data from the sensitive reporting. Keep the "Database" sheet as its own shared workbook where the coworker can enter invoice data freely. Then build the "Dashboard" as a separate file that pulls from that database, accessible only to the bosses. This approach works within the limits of Excel Online because it doesn't require hidden sheets or passwords. It also makes the system more resilient: if the coworker accidentally deletes a formula in the database, the dashboard isn't affected. And the bosses see exactly what they need, without ever touching the raw data entry.
We think this user is asking the right question, but they're focused on the wrong layer. The problem isn't Excel's privacy settings. It's that they're trying to use a single spreadsheet as both a data entry tool and a confidential report. That's a design choice, not a technical limitation. Once you separate those two functions, the security question becomes much simpler. You don't need to hide or password-protect anything. You just give each person access to the file that matches their role. The coworker gets the database. The bosses get the dashboard. No one sees what they shouldn't.
The concrete takeaway is this: stop trying to make one workbook do two jobs. Split the database and the dashboard into separate files. Use Excel's built-in data connection features to link them. That way, your coworker can help with data entry without ever seeing financial summaries, and your bosses can view the dashboard without needing to understand hidden sheets or remember passwords. It's a cleaner, more secure workflow that works within the tools you already have.