Microsoft Excel has become an essential part of businesses and organizations all over the world. It is used for everything from tracking inventory to analyzing financial data. However, sometimes we come across Excel files that are password-protected or cannot be opened for some other reason. In this article, we will discuss the ways to open Excel files that cannot be opened and how to overcome password-protected files.
How to Open Password-Protected Excel Files
Excel is a powerful tool that allows users to create and manage spreadsheets with ease. However, there are times when Excel files are password-protected, and users need to unlock them to access the data inside. Here are some methods of opening password-protected Excel files:
Method 1: Use the Password Reminder Feature
If you have forgotten the password for an Excel file, you can try the Password Reminder feature. This feature is available in Excel 2007 and later versions. Here’s how you can use it:
- Open the Excel file that you want to unlock.
- Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon menu and select “Info.”
- Click on the “Protect Workbook” button and select “Encrypt with Password.”
- Enter a password hint in the “Password Hint” field.
- Save the Excel file.
- Close the Excel file and reopen it.
- When prompted for the password, click on the “Password Hint” button to see the hint that you entered earlier.
If the password hint doesn’t help you remember the password, you can try the next method.
Method 2: Use a Third-Party Password Recovery Tool
If you are unable to remember the password for an Excel file, you can try using a third-party password recovery tool. These tools are specifically designed to help users recover lost or forgotten passwords. Here are some popular third-party password recovery tools:
- PassFab for Excel
- Excel Password Recovery Lastic
- Accent Excel Password Recovery
These tools are easy to use and offer a quick solution to open password-protected Excel files. However, they come at a cost and may not be necessary if you remember the password or use the Password Reminder feature.
How to Open Excel Files That Cannot Be Opened
There are times when you try to open an Excel file, but it doesn’t open due to various reasons. Here are some methods of opening Excel files that cannot be opened:
Method 1: Disable Protected View
If you cannot open an Excel file, it may be due to the Protected View feature. When Excel detects that a file may be unsafe, it opens the file in Protected View. Here’s how you can disable the Protected View feature:
- Open Excel.
- Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon menu and select “Options.”
- Click on “Trust Center” and then click on “Trust Center Settings.”
- Click on “Protected View” and disable the options that you don’t need.
- Click on “OK” to save the changes.
After disabling the Protected View feature, try opening the Excel file again. If it still doesn’t open, try the next method.
Method 2: Repair Excel File
If an Excel file is corrupted, it may not open properly. Here’s how you can repair a damaged Excel file:
- Launch Excel.
- Click on the “File” tab in the ribbon menu and select “Open.”
- Browse to the location of the damaged Excel file and select it.
- Click on the arrow next to the “Open” button and select “Open and Repair.”
- Choose the repair option that you want to use and click on “OK.”
- Wait for Excel to repair the file.
- After the repair, save the file with a different name to avoid overwriting the original file.
If none of these methods work, the Excel file may be permanently damaged. In that case, you will need to recreate the file or restore it from a backup.
FAQ
Q1. Can I remove the password from an Excel file without knowing the original password?
No, you cannot remove the password from an Excel file without knowing the original password. You will need to use a third-party password recovery tool or the Password Reminder feature to recover the password.
Q2. How can I avoid Excel files from becoming corrupted?
You can take the following steps to avoid Excel files from becoming corrupted:
- Save the Excel file frequently while working on it.
- Close the Excel file properly before shutting down your computer.
- Avoid opening Excel files from unknown sources.
- Keep your computer and antivirus software up to date.
Conclusion
Excel files are an essential part of businesses and organizations, and knowing how to open and unlock them is crucial. In this article, we discussed the methods of opening password-protected Excel files and Excel files that cannot be opened. We also provided some tips to avoid Excel files from becoming corrupted. Hopefully, this article has helped you to overcome some of the Excel file-related problems that you may encounter in your work.
