Are you having trouble opening your locked or corrupted Excel files? Worry not because we have got you covered! In this article, we will provide you with simple and effective solutions in unlocking password-protected or corrupted Excel files. But first, let us discuss the possible reasons why you are encountering these issues.
Why is my Excel file locked or corrupted?
Excel files may be locked due to security reasons or by mistake. Corrupted Excel files, on the other hand, may be caused by various factors such as:
- Virus or malware attacks
- Power failure while the file is open
- Sudden system shutdown while editing the file
- Storage media errors or damage
Unlocking Password-Protected Excel Files
Are you having trouble accessing an Excel file because you have forgotten the password? There are several ways on how to unlock the file without the password:
Method 1: Using the Excel Password Recovery Tool
The Excel Password Recovery Tool is a reliable and efficient software in unlocking passwords of encrypted Excel files. Here are the steps in using this tool:
- Download and install the Excel Password Recovery Tool on your computer
- Open the software and click on the “Add” button to select the password-protected Excel file
- Choose the appropriate attack type: Brute Force attack, Mask attack, or Dictionary attack
- Click on “Start” button to initiate the password recovery process
- Once the password is found, it will be displayed on the software interface. Use the password to unlock the Excel file.
Method 2: Using the ZIP Method
The ZIP method is a simple and straightforward approach in unlocking password-protected Excel files. Here are the steps:
- Change the file extension of the Excel file from .xlsx to .zip
- Extract the ZIP file and open the “xl” folder
- Open the “workbook.xml” file using Notepad or any other text editor
- Search for the “sheetProtection” tag and delete it
- Save the changes and close the file
- Compress the folder and change the file extension back to .xlsx
- Open the Excel file and you will now have full access without entering the password.
Fixing Corrupted Excel Files
Are you having trouble opening a corrupted Excel file? Don’t worry because there are various methods on how to fix this issue. Here are some of them:
Method 1: Automatically Repair the File
Excel has a built-in tool that can automatically detect and repair corrupted Excel files. Follow these steps to use this tool:
- Open Excel and click on “File”
- Click on “Open” and select the corrupted file
- Click on the arrow on the “Open” button and select “Open and Repair” from the options
- Choose the appropriate repair option: Repair or Extract Data
- The repaired file will be opened automatically once the repair process is complete.
Method 2: Using the Open and Repair Feature
Another option is to use the Open and Repair feature of Excel. Here are the steps:
- Open Excel and click on “File”
- Click on “Open” and select the corrupted file
- Click the arrow on the “Open” button and select “Open and Repair” from the options
- Choose the appropriate repair option: Repair or Extract Data
- Save the repaired file with a new name to avoid overwriting the original file.
FAQs
1. Can I recover a corrupted Excel file if Excel’s built-in repair tool did not work?
Yes, you can recover a corrupted Excel file even if Excel’s built-in repair tool did not work. There are various third-party software that can recover corrupted files such as Stellar Excel Recovery and DataNumen Excel Repair.
2. Can you recover a password-protected Excel file if you forgot the password?
Yes, you can recover a password-protected Excel file without knowing the password using the Excel Password Recovery Tool or the ZIP method discussed earlier. However, it is important to note that unauthorized attempts to access password-protected files may be illegal or in violation of company policies or laws. Be sure to obtain permission and follow proper guidelines before attempting to unlock password-protected files.
Watch this video for more tips on fixing locked or corrupted Excel files:
Conclusion:
We hope that this article has provided you with useful information on how to unlock password-protected and fix corrupted Excel files. These simple and effective solutions can help you save time and effort in accessing important Excel files. Remember to take precautionary measures to avoid encountering these issues in the future such as backing up your files and using reliable anti-virus software.
