Excel is a widely used spreadsheet software that allows users to organize and manipulate data. However, sometimes users may forget the password they set to protect their Excel files. In this article, we will discuss how to unlock password-protected Excel files without any software.
Step by Step Guide to Unlock Password-Protected Excel Files
Follow these steps to remove password from your Excel file without using any software:
Step 1: Open the Password-Protected Excel File
The first step to unlocking a password-protected Excel file is to open it in Excel. When you try to open the file, you will be prompted for the password. If you don’t know the password, you can skip this step and move to the next one.
Step 2: Press Alt + F11
Once the password-protected Excel file is open, press Alt + F11. This will open the Visual Basic Editor.
Step 3: Double click on the Sheet you want to Unlock
Once the Visual Basic Editor is open, double click on the sheet that you want to unlock from the Project Explorer.
Step 4: Paste the Code
Paste the following code into the blank window on the right side of the editor:
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 "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
Step 5: Run the Code
Run the code by clicking on the Play button or by pressing F5. The code will take some time to run, and once it’s done, it will display a message with the password.
FAQ
Q: Can I use this method to unlock any Excel file?
A: No, this method will only work on Excel files that are protected with a password. If the Excel file is protected with other security measures, such as digital certificates or encryption, this method will not work.
Q: Will unlocking an Excel file remove all the data in it?
A: No, unlocking an Excel file will not remove any data in it. It will only remove the password protection from the file.
Video Tutorial: Unlocking Password-Protected Excel Files
Watch this video tutorial to learn how to unlock password-protected Excel files using the method discussed in this article:
Conclusion
Unlocking password-protected Excel files can be tricky, but with the method discussed in this article, you can easily remove the password protection without using any software. Remember to always keep your passwords safe and secure, and avoid using easy-to-guess passwords to protect your sensitive data. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below.
