Microsoft Excel is one of the widely used office applications. It is used for various purposes such as data analysis, reporting, and budgeting. Protecting sensitive data with a password is a common practice in Excel. However, if you forget the password, it can be a frustrating experience. Here are some ways to open password-protected Excel sheets without the password.
Method 1: Save as a Different File Type
The easiest way to remove Excel password protection is by saving the file as a different file type. This method works with almost all versions of Excel and is the most straightforward way to open password-protected sheets. Follow the steps below to remove Excel password protection.
Step 1: Open password-protected Excel sheet
Open the password-protected Excel file. You will be prompted to enter a password to open the file. Enter the correct password if you remember it or proceed to the next step if you don’t remember the password.
Step 2: Save as a different file type
Click on ‘File’ and then ‘Save As.’ Choose a different file format, such as ‘CSV(Comma delimited).’ Do this by selecting the new file format from the ‘Save as type’ drop-down menu. Save the file by clicking on ‘Save.’
Step 3: Confirm file conversion
Excel will prompt you to confirm the file conversion by warning you that some formatting might be lost. Click ‘Yes’ to proceed.
Step 4: Close and reopen file
Close the current file and then reopen the newly saved file. You should now be able to see all the contents of the file without being prompted for a password.
Method 2: VBA Macro Code
If the first method does not work, you can use VBA macro code to extract the password from the Excel sheet. This method requires some programming knowledge and can be a bit complicated, but it is relatively effective.
Step 1: Open VBA editor
First, open the Excel sheet that you want to unlock and press Alt + F11. This will open the VBA editor. If you see the ‘Project’ window on the left, the VBA editor is open.
Step 2: Insert a new module
Click on ‘Insert’ and then click on ‘Module.’ This will create a new module. Double click on the new module to open a blank module pane.
Step 3: Insert VBA macro code
Copy and paste the following code into the blank module pane:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
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 "One usable 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
This code will generate all possible password combinations for the Excel sheet.
Step 4: Run the macro code
Run the macro code by pressing F5. This will execute the code and generate all possible password combinations for the Excel sheet. Once the code finds the right password combination, it will display a message with the password.
FAQ
1. Can I use these methods to unlock someone else’s password-protected Excel sheet?
No. The methods presented here are intended for unlocking Excel sheets that you have lost the password for or have forgotten the password. Accessing someone else’s password-protected Excel sheet without their permission is illegal and can result in serious consequences.
2. What if the Excel sheet is highly encrypted?
If the Excel sheet is highly encrypted, it might not be possible to remove the password protection using the above methods. You might need to use special software to decrypt the file. However, using such software can be risky, and you should use it with caution.
