Frequently Asked Questions
Install SheetGuard from the Google Workspace Marketplace. Once installed, open any Google Sheet, go to Extensions > SheetGuard > Open Sidebar. The sidebar will appear on the right side where you can create your first rule.
Your edit triggered a validation rule. For example, if a rule says "IF Status = Done, THEN Approval must not be empty," changing Status to "Done" without filling Approval will cause the edit to revert. Check the toast notification or the note on cell A of that row for details on what needs to be fixed.
No. Only the spreadsheet owner can create, edit, delete, toggle, or reorder rules. Other editors see a "View only" banner and have rules enforced on their edits automatically. This prevents unauthorized changes to validation logic.
SheetGuard validates bulk pastes (up to 1,000+ rows) automatically. Rows that violate rules are highlighted in red with error notes on cell A. Your data is preserved — you can fix violations inline or press Ctrl+Z to undo the paste.
If your rule says "IF Column A = X, THEN Column B must = Y," you should fill Column B first, then set Column A. This way, when the condition triggers, the required column already has the correct value and validation passes.
Open the SheetGuard sidebar and click the "Clear all error highlights" button below the Active Rules section. This removes all red backgrounds and error notes added by SheetGuard. Once you fix the data and make a valid edit, highlights are cleared automatically for that row.
Free gives you 1 rule with 1 condition per sheet. Pro ($5.99/month) unlocks up to 25 rules per sheet, multiple conditions per rule, AND/OR logic, cross-column comparisons, custom required values, and rules on all sheets. See the Pricing page for a full comparison.
Yes. Click the "Export" button in the sidebar to copy your rules as JSON. Then open the target spreadsheet, open SheetGuard, and use the "Import" button to paste and apply the rules. Note that column headers must match between spreadsheets.
No. Rules are stored in the spreadsheet's DocumentProperties and persist even after uninstalling. However, rules will no longer be enforced without the add-on. To remove rules before uninstalling, delete them from the sidebar.