Have you ever found yourself in a situation where you forgot the password to an important Excel file? It can be frustrating when you need to access the file but can’t because of the password protection. Luckily, there are ways to bypass Excel password protection. In this article, we’ll go through the steps of how to open password-protected Excel files and provide answers to some commonly asked questions.
How to Open Password-Protected Excel Files
If you need to unlock an Excel file that you don’t remember the password for, there are several methods you can try.
Method 1: Use Passper for Excel
Passper for Excel is a professional password recovery tool that can help you regain access to your password-protected Excel files. It has a high success rate and can remove passwords of any complexity in a matter of seconds.
Here are the steps to use Passper for Excel:
- Download and install Passper for Excel on your computer.
- Launch the program and select “Recover Passwords.”
- Click “Add” to import the password-protected Excel file.
- Choose a suitable attack mode based on your specific situation.
- Click “Recover” and wait for the process to complete.
- Once the password is recovered, you can open the Excel file without any issue.
Method 2: Use VBA Code
If you’re comfortable with coding, you can use VBA code to crack the password protection in Excel. Here’s how:
- Open the password-protected Excel file and press “Alt + F11” to open the Visual Basic Editor.
- Click on “Insert” and select “Module.”
- Paste the below VBA code into the new module:
- Press F5 to run the code.
- The password will be displayed in a pop-up message.
- You can now use the password to open the Excel file.
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
FAQs
1. What Can I Do If I Forgot The Password To An Excel File?
If you forgot the password to an Excel file, you can use a password recovery tool like Passper for Excel or use VBA code to bypass the password protection. Both methods are effective in unlocking Excel files that are password-protected.
2. Is It Legal To Crack Password-Protected Excel Files?
The legality of cracking password-protected Excel files is often debated. While cracking passwords for malicious purposes is illegal, it is generally accepted that cracking passwords for legitimate reasons like recovering lost or forgotten passwords is legal. However, it’s important to note that attempting to crack passwords that don’t belong to you without permission is considered illegal hacking.
Conclusion
Password-protected Excel files can be difficult to access if you forget the password. However, with the help of password recovery tools or VBA code, you can easily unlock Excel files that are password-protected. Remember to use these methods for legitimate purposes only and with proper permission. Hopefully, this article has helped you understand how to bypass Excel password protection and answer some of your frequently asked questions.