Have you ever encountered a locked Excel file and have no idea how to unlock it? Well, worry no more, because in this article we will discuss several methods to open a password-protected Excel file without using any application. Let’s dive in!
Method 1: Use Google Sheets
If you are not able to open an Excel file due to password protection, one way to bypass it is by using Google Sheets. Here’s how:
- Go to Google Sheets and sign in to your account.
- Click on the “File” tab and select “Import.”
- Click on the “Upload” tab and select your password-protected Excel file.
- Enter the password if prompted and click “Import.”
- Google Sheets will create a new spreadsheet with all the data from your Excel file, and you can now access it without any restrictions.
Method 2: Use VBA Code
If you are familiar with the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code, you can use it to unlock a password-protected Excel file. Here’s how:
- Open the password-protected Excel file.
- Press “Alt + F11” to open the VBA editor.
- Double-click on the “ThisWorkbook” module and paste the following code:
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 "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
- Press F5 or click on the “Run” button to execute the code.
- Wait for a few minutes, and the code will generate a usable password.
- Use the generated password to unlock the Excel file.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
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 Google Sheets or VBA code.
2. Is it illegal to unlock a password-protected Excel file?
No, it is not illegal to unlock a password-protected Excel file as long as you have the legal right to access the file. However, if you are trying to break into someone else’s Excel file without their permission, it is considered illegal.
Video Tutorial: How to Unlock a Password-Protected Excel File
Conclusion
Having a locked Excel file can be frustrating, especially when you need to access important data. However, with the methods discussed above, you can easily unlock password-protected Excel files without using any application. If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave a comment below.