Are you having trouble accessing password-protected Excel files? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. In this article, we’re going to discuss different ways to unlock Excel files when you forget the password. But before we dive into the methods, let’s first understand why securing an Excel file with a password is important.
Why Password-Protect Your Excel Files?
Excel is a widely used spreadsheet program that can contain sensitive information like financial data, business plans, personal information, and more. It’s important to secure this data to prevent unauthorized access or misuse.
Password protecting an Excel file is a simple yet effective way to protect your data from prying eyes. It ensures that only authorized users can access the protected file by requiring a password to open it.
How to Unlock Excel Files When You Forget the Password?
If you forget the password to your Excel file, don’t panic. There are several ways to unlock the file without the password. Let’s take a look at some of the most common methods.
Method 1: Use Online Excel Password Recovery Tools
There are several online Excel password recovery tools that can help you unlock password-protected Excel files. These tools use advanced algorithms to crack the password and provide you access to the file.
One such tool is the Online Password Recovery Tool by Password-Online. It uses a brute-force attack to recover Excel passwords. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the Password-Online website.
- Upload the password-protected Excel file.
- Select the type of attack you want to use. You can choose from Brute-Force, Mask, Dictionary, or Smart.
- Click the “Start” button.
- The tool will start cracking the password. Wait for it to complete the process.
- Download the unlocked Excel file.
Another online Excel password recovery tool is the Free Password Remover by iSeePassword. It uses a brute-force attack to remove Excel passwords. Here’s how to use it:
- Go to the iSeePassword website.
- Upload the password-protected Excel file.
- Click the “Remove Password” button.
- The tool will start removing the password. Wait for it to complete the process.
- Download the unlocked Excel file.
Method 2: Use VBA Code to Remove Password Protection
If you have some basic knowledge of Excel VBA (Visual Basic for Applications), you can use a VBA code to remove password protection from an Excel file. Here’s how to do it:
- Open the password-protected Excel file in Excel.
- Press “Alt + F11” to open the VBA editor window.
- Click on “Insert” from the menu bar and select “Module” from the dropdown menu.
- Copy and paste the following code into the module:
- Press “F5” to run the code.
- The code will start breaking the password protection. Wait for it to complete the process.
- Once the code has run successfully, you will see a message box displaying the password.
- Close the VBA editor window.
- Open the Excel file and enter the password to unlock it.
“`Sub PasswordBreaker()
‘Breaks worksheet password protection.
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox “Password is ” & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & _
Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & _
Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
“`
Method 3: Use PassCue for Excel
If you’re looking for a more reliable and efficient way to unlock Excel files, you can use PassCue for Excel. It’s a professional Excel password unlocking tool that can remove password protection from Excel files in a few clicks.
Here’s how to use PassCue for Excel:
- Download and install PassCue for Excel on your computer.
- Launch the program and click “Add” to upload the password-protected Excel file.
- Select the attack type you want to use. You can choose from Brute-Force, Mask, Dictionary, or Smart.
- Click the “Start” button.
- The tool will start cracking the password. Wait for it to complete the process.
- Once the password has been removed, you can save the unlocked file to your computer.
FAQs
1. Can I open a password-protected Excel file without the password?
Yes, you can open a password-protected Excel file without the password using various methods like online password recovery tools, VBA code, or professional Excel password unlocking software.
You can prevent unauthorized access to your Excel files by password protecting them, encrypting them, or using a third-party security software. You can also limit the access of certain users to specific cells or sheets by using Excel’s built-in protection features.
Conclusion
Password protecting your Excel files is essential to keep sensitive information secure. However, if you forget the password, don’t worry. You can use various methods like online password recovery tools, VBA code, or professional password unlocking software to unlock your Excel files. If you’re looking for a reliable and efficient solution, we recommend using PassCue for Excel.
