Problem: When using exporting from QuickBooks to Excel, QuickBooks displays the following error message,
Excel does not permit exporting to a protected or shared worksheet or adding a sheet to a protected workbook. Use the Excel Tools menu to change the workbook or worksheet setting and then try the export again.
Solution:
- Open the Excel workbook that QuickBooks is exporting to, or open a new Excel document if “Creating a new worksheet” is selected when exporting from QuickBooks.
- Verify the Workbook is not protected in Excel
- From the Excel ribbon, select, Review
- In the Protect section, verify the option to Protect Workbook is displayed. If Protect Workbook is not shown, select Unprotect Workbook.

- Verify the Sheet is not protected in Excel
- If this is an existing Workbook with multiple sheets, select the Sheet that QuickBooks is exporting to. Otherwise, the default Sheet is already selected.
- From the Excel ribbon, select, Review
- In the Protect section, verify the option to Protect Sheet is available. If Protect Sheet is not displayed, select Unprotect Sheet.
- Regardless of any changes, save and close the document. Saving a document will reset any locks Excel may be presenting to QuickBooks.