Opening a locked Excel file can be a daunting task, especially if you’ve forgotten the password. But fret not, for there are methods that you can use to unlock your Excel file and gain access to your data. In this article, we will discuss the different methods to open locked Excel files and provide FAQs for commonly encountered issues.
Method 1: Use VBA Code
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a programming language used in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel. With VBA code, you can bypass the password and access the locked Excel file.
Step 1: Open the Visual Basic Editor
To open the Visual Basic Editor, you can use the shortcut key “ALT+F11” or navigate to the “Developer” tab and choose “Visual Basic.”
Step 2: Insert the VBA Code
Once the Visual Basic Editor is open, choose “Insert” from the menu and select “Module.”
Copy and paste the following VBA code:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
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 n = 65 To 66
For o = 65 To 66: For p = 65 To 66: For q = 65 To 66
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(n) & Chr(o) & Chr(p) & Chr(q)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(n) & _
Chr(o) & Chr(p) & Chr(q)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next
End Sub
Note: This code is for Excel 2010 and above. For earlier versions, there may be slight variations.
Step 3: Run the Macro
Once you have inserted the VBA code, press F5 to run the macro. The macro will attempt to break the password protection on the worksheet.
If the macro is successful, it will display the password on a pop-up message. Use the password to unlock the Excel file.
Method 2: Use Online Password Crackers
There are several online password crackers that can help you unlock your Excel file. These password crackers use advanced algorithms to crack the password and gain access to your data. Here are some of the popular online password crackers:
- LostMyPass – This online password cracker supports Excel files created in Excel 97-2016. It can remove, edit, or recover passwords with 100% success rate.
- OnlineHashCrack – This online tool supports Excel files created in Excel 97-2013. It uses powerful algorithms to recover passwords quickly and efficiently.
- CrackMyPDF – This online tool is designed to crack password-protected PDF files, but it can also be used to crack password-protected Excel files. The website supports Excel files created in Excel 97-2013.
Select the online password cracker of your choice and follow the instructions provided on the website to unlock your Excel file.
FAQs
1. I can’t remember my Excel file password. What should I do?
If you can’t remember your Excel file password, try the following methods:
- Use the VBA code to crack the password
- Use an online password cracker to remove the password protection
- Try common passwords, such as your name, birth date, or phone number
- Ask others who have access to the file if they know the password
2. I unlocked my Excel file, but the data is now corrupted. What should I do?
If the data in your unlocked Excel file is corrupted, try the following methods:
- Try repairing the Excel file using Microsoft Excel’s “Open and Repair” feature. To access the feature, follow these steps:
- Open Excel
- Click “File” and select “Open”
- Select the corrupted file and click the dropdown arrow next to the “Open” button
- Select “Open and Repair”
- Follow the prompts to repair the file
- If the “Open and Repair” feature doesn’t work, try using a third-party Excel repair tool. Some popular Excel repair tools include Stellar File Repair and Kernel for Excel.
Conclusion
Unlocking a password-protected Excel file is a common problem faced by many people. In this article, we discussed two methods to unlock Excel files: using VBA code and using online password crackers. We also provided FAQs to address commonly encountered issues. By following the methods and tips provided in this article, you can unlock your Excel file and access your data with ease.