Dim Rng1 As Range Set Rng1 = ActiveSheet.UsedRange 'or whatever range you want Rng1.Sort Key1...
Another thing you can do so you don't have to continuously unprotect and reprotect the sheets is:
Option Explicit Private Sub Workbook_Open() For x = 1 To Sheets.Count Sheet1.Protect UserInterfaceOnly:=True Next x End Sub