I have given admin access to 2 users but they cant access locked cells. am i missing something?

Hi everyone, this is the first time i have needed to post a question. i have been using Smartsheet for about a year and have developed the environment to suit our business quite easily, now i have it running i have set up all of the users (previously everyone was using the 1 login while i set it up). However now i have an issue that even after a user has admin access they cant access locked cells. Has anyone got a suggestion on what i am doing wrong?

Here you can see one of them Admin@……, they have System admin checked but when they use the sheets it says they don't have access.

Thanks in advance

Jim

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Accepted answers

Genevieve P.

Hi @JimBobWildBullock

Jumping in here to clarify!

It looks like @Naeem Ejaz may have used AI to respond to this post, however that information is incorrect.

The Admin sheet share permission does allow those users to edit locked columns / cells, even if they weren't the ones to lock the column! 🙂

Here's a Table with information on sharing and access: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2483288/sharing-permission-levels

However in your screen capture it looks like you're accessing the User Management Dashboard in the Admin center. This is talking about System Admin permissions for the account, not for that specific sheet.

You'll want to ensure that user is shared directly to the Sheet with Admin sheet permissions. See: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/1155182-sharing-permission-levels

Does that make sense?

Cheers,
Genevieve

All comments

Naeem Ejaz

Even if a user has Admin access to a sheet, they still cannot edit locked rows or cells unless they are:

✅ The sheet owner
✅ Or have been given Admin access and the cells are unlocked

What You Might Be Missing

Smartsheet distinguishes between:

Sheet Admin Access (can modify structure, columns, etc.)
Locked Rows/Cells (content editing restrictions)

So:

Only the person who locked the row/cell OR the sheet owner can unlock it or make changes to it — regardless of Admin permissions.

JimBobWildBullock

Hi Naeem,

Thanks for the quick response,

Is there a way to lock columns for some users and not others?

Thanks

Jim

Genevieve P.

Hi @JimBobWildBullock

Jumping in here to clarify!

It looks like @Naeem Ejaz may have used AI to respond to this post, however that information is incorrect.

The Admin sheet share permission does allow those users to edit locked columns / cells, even if they weren't the ones to lock the column! 🙂

Here's a Table with information on sharing and access: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/2483288/sharing-permission-levels

You'll want to ensure that user is shared directly to the Sheet with Admin sheet permissions. See: https://help.smartsheet.com/articles/1155182-sharing-permission-levels

Does that make sense?

Cheers,
Genevieve

Naeem Ejaz

My apologies

JimBobWildBullock

Thank you Genevieve. It was a great help it makes sense now so simple… I should have realised. thanks to everyone for your help

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