Are you having troubles accessing your Excel files due to password issues? Don’t worry, we got you covered! Here are some simple steps that you can follow to unlock your Excel files and access your important data. But before we delve into the steps, let’s first understand why we need to lock files with a password and how to unlock it in different scenarios.
Why do we lock files with a password?
Encrypting files with a password is a common practice to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Excel provides a built-in feature to password-protect your files, which can prevent anyone from opening, modifying, copying, or printing the files. This is particularly useful when sharing confidential information with others or storing sensitive data on a shared computer.
How to unlock an Excel file with a password?
If you have forgotten the password for your Excel file, there are different ways to recover or reset the password depending on the type of file, the version of Excel, and the level of security set on the file. Here we will discuss some of the common methods to unlock an Excel file:
Method 1: Using known password
The simplest and most straightforward way to unlock an Excel file is to use the password that you have set on the file. If you know the password, you can enter it when prompted and unlock your file. However, if you have forgotten the password, you will need to try other methods.
Method 2: Recovering the password with VBA code
If you have a basic knowledge of VBA code, you can use a macro to recover the password from the Excel file. Here are the steps:
- Open a new Excel workbook and press ALT + F11 keys to open the VBA editor.
- Click on the Insert menu and select Module.
- Copy and paste the following VBA code into the new module:
Sub PasswordRecovery() 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 select Run from the menu to run the code. This will generate a message box with one usable password. Copy the password and use it to unlock the Excel file.
Method 3: Using Excel Password Recovery tool
If you are not familiar with VBA code or unable to recover the password with the above methods, you can use a third-party Excel Password Recovery tool to unlock your file. There are many tools available online that can help you recover your password quickly and easily. Some of the popular tools include PassFab for Excel, iSunshare Excel Password Genius, Stellar Phoenix Excel Password Recovery, and more. These tools use advanced algorithms to crack the password and provide you with the password to unlock the file.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question 1: Can I unlock an Excel file without using any software?
Answer: Yes, you can unlock an Excel file without using any software if you know the password or use the VBA code to recover the password. However, if you have forgotten the password or unable to recover it with VBA code, you may need to use a third-party Excel Password Recovery tool to unlock the file.
Question 2: Is there any way to protect my Excel files from password cracking?
Answer: Yes, you can protect your Excel files from password cracking by following some best practices such as using a strong and unique password, avoiding common words and phrases, adding numbers, special characters, and uppercase letters to the password, changing the password frequently, and not sharing the file with untrusted parties. Additionally, you can also use additional security measures such as encryption and digital signatures to protect your files from unauthorized access.
Conclusion
Unlocking an Excel file is not a difficult task if you follow the right steps and use the right tools. Whether you have forgotten the password or need to access a protected file, you can use the above methods to unlock your file quickly and easily. However, it’s important to remember that password cracking is illegal and unethical, and should only be done for legitimate and legal reasons. So, use these methods responsibly and protect your Excel files from unauthorized access.