If you have sensitive data you'd like to keep from prying eyes in a Microsoft Excel file, the easiest way to protect it is with Excel's built-in password tools.

A recommended approach to secure your most private documents — whether it’s a PDF, Word file, or Excel spreadsheet — is to lock them with a passcode. While this does help keep sensitive ...

Need to keep a file confidential? Microsoft Word and Excel make it simple to assign a password.

In Word, Excel, or PowerPoint for Windows, open the file you want to protect with a password, then select File and Info.