Do you have a password-protected Excel file that you cannot access? Do not worry, as we have got you covered. We have compiled a list of different methods that you can use to access your password-protected Excel file. Whether you are using Windows or Mac, there is a solution for you. Let us dive in and explore each method in detail.
Method 1: Online password cracker tools
If you have forgotten the password to your Excel file, there are various online password cracker tools available that you can use to retrieve the password. Some popular online password cracker tools include Online Hash Crack, Crack My PDF, and PassFab for Excel. These tools use different algorithms to crack the password and help you access your Excel file.
Method 2: Using VBA code to crack the password
If you are well-versed in VBA code, you can use it to crack the password of your Excel file. You can create a simple VBA code that extracts the password from the Excel file. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use VBA code to crack the password:
- Open the password-protected Excel file and press alt f11 to open the VBA editor.
- Select Insert, then module and paste the following code.
- Run this code by pressing F5 key.
- Wait for a few minutes for the code to retrieve the password. Once the password is retrieved, a message box will appear on the screen displaying the password.
- You can then use this password to access your Excel file.
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
Method 3: Using Zip software to crack the password
If your Excel file is saved in the .xlsx format, you can use Zip software to extract the password. A .xlsx file is essentially a compressed folder that contains various files and folders. By extracting this compressed folder, you can access the XML files that store information about the Excel file, including the password. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to use Zip software to crack the password:
- Rename the .xlsx extension of the Excel file to .zip. For example, if your Excel file is named “sample.xlsx”, rename it to “sample.zip”.
- Right-click on the renamed file and select “Extract All”.
- Open the extracted folder and navigate to the “xl” folder.
- Open the “worksheets” folder and locate the “sheet1.xml” file.
- Open the “sheet1.xml” file in Notepad or any other text editor.
- Press “Ctrl+F” and search for the term “password”.
- You will find a line that says “<sheetProtection password="password"”.
- The value of the “password” attribute is the password that is protecting your Excel file.
FAQ
1. Can I use these methods to crack any password-protected Excel file?
While these methods can help you crack most password-protected Excel files, they may not work on every file. The success rate of these methods depends on various factors, such as the complexity of the password, the version of Excel you are using, and the type of encryption used to protect the file.
2. Is it legal to crack the password of an Excel file?
Cracking the password of an Excel file without the owner’s permission is illegal and may lead to serious legal consequences. However, if you have forgotten the password to your own Excel file, you are legally allowed to use the methods mentioned above to retrieve the password.
