Have you ever encountered a situation where you need to open a password-protected Excel file or a password-protected ZIP file? It can be frustrating, especially if you don’t know how to do it. But fret not, in this article, we will guide you through the process of unlocking these types of files and provide some useful FAQ to help you understand the process better.
How to Unlock a Password-Protected Excel File
Excel is a widely used tool for data analysis and management, and it’s no surprise that people often secure their sensitive information by setting a password on their Excel files. However, what if you forgot or lost your password? Here’s a step-by-step guide to unlock a password-protected Excel file:
Option 1: Use an Online Excel Password Remover
One quick and easy way to unlock your password-protected Excel file is by using an online Excel password remover tool. These tools work by using powerful algorithms to remove the password from the Excel file, without damaging the data. Here’s how to use it:
- Open your web browser and go to an online Excel password remover, such as LostMyPass.com, Upload your password-protected Excel file to the website’s server.
- Once the file is uploaded, the online tool will begin the password removal process. Depending on the complexity of your password, this process can take a few minutes to several hours.
- After the password is removed, you will be able to download the unlocked Excel file. Save the file to your computer and open it with Excel. You should be able to access your data without a password now.
Option 2: Use VBA Code to Crack the Password
If an online Excel password remover doesn’t work, you can try using VBA code to crack the password. VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications, and it’s a programming language used to automate tasks in Excel. Please note that this method can be a little complicated, so it’s recommended for advanced users only. Here’s how to use it:
- Open your password-protected Excel file and press “Alt + F11” to open the Visual Basic Editor.
- Click on “Insert > Module” to create a new module.
- Paste the following VBA code into the module:
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) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & Chr(n) If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _ Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & Chr(n) Exit Sub End If Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next End Sub
- Press “F5” to run the code. This should unlock the password for your Excel file.
How to Open a Password-Protected ZIP File
A ZIP file is a compressed folder that contains one or more files. Often, people encrypt their ZIP files to protect their contents from unauthorized access. If you have a password-protected ZIP file, and you don’t remember the password, don’t worry. Here’s how to unlock it:
Option 1: Use an Online ZIP Password Unlocker
Similar to Excel password remover tools, you can use an online ZIP password unlocker to unlock your ZIP file. It’s a quick and easy solution that doesn’t require any technical skills. Here’s how to use it:
- Open your web browser and go to an online ZIP password unlocker, such as Password-Online.com.
- Upload your password-protected ZIP file to the website’s server.
- Select the type of attack you want to run. There are three types of attacks – Brute-force attack, Mask attack, and Dictionary attack. Brute-force attack is the most time-consuming but effective way of unlocking a ZIP file, while Mask and Dictionary attacks, are faster but less effective.
- Click on “Start” to begin the attack. The website will start attempting to unlock your ZIP file password. Depending on the complexity of your password and the attack type you selected, the process can take a few minutes to several hours.
- Once the password is unlocked, the website will prompt you to download the unlocked ZIP file. Save the file to your computer and extract its contents. You should be able to access the files without a password now.
Option 2: Use a Brute-Force Password Cracker
If the online ZIP password unlocker doesn’t work, you can try using a brute-force password cracker, such as Advanced ZIP Password Recovery. This method is suitable for advanced users, and it requires installation and configuration. Here’s how to use it:
- Download and install Advanced ZIP Password Recovery on your computer.
- Open the program and click on “Open” to select your password-protected ZIP file.
- Select the type of attack you want to run. There are two types of attacks – Brute-force attack and Dictionary attack. Brute-force attack is the most time-consuming but effective way of unlocking a ZIP file, while Dictionary attack uses a predefined list of words to attempt to guess the password.
- Click on “Start” to begin the attack. The program will start attempting to unlock your ZIP file password. Depending on the complexity of your password and the attack type you selected, the process can take a few minutes to several hours.
- Once the password is unlocked, the program will prompt you to download the unlocked ZIP file. Save the file to your computer and extract its contents. You should be able to access the files without a password now.
FAQs
Q1. Is it legal to use password cracker tools to unlock my own files?
Yes, it is legal to use password cracker tools to unlock your own files. However, it’s illegal to use them to unlock other people’s files without their permission.
Q2. What if I still can’t unlock my password-protected file?
If you have tried all the methods mentioned above and still can’t unlock your password-protected file, you may need to contact a professional data recovery service. They have specialized tools and software that can recover your data without damaging or corrupting it. However, this service can be costly and time-consuming.