Do you ever encounter a locked file on your device? It can be frustrating when you need to access an important document or media file but it is locked. Fortunately, there are ways to unlock various types of files, including ZIP files, Excel files, and PDF files. Read on to learn the different methods.
How to Unlock a Locked ZIP File on Android
ZIP files are widely used for compressing and storing multiple files in one archive. However, sometimes they come with a password to protect the contents from unauthorized access. If you have a locked ZIP file on your Android device, here are some step-by-step instructions to unlock it:
Method 1: Use a Third-Party App
There are many third-party apps available on the Google Play Store that can help you unlock locked ZIP files. Here are the steps to use one of these apps:
- Download and install the app from the Google Play Store.
- Open the app and navigate to the locked ZIP file.
- Select the file and enter the password if prompted.
- The app will extract the contents of the ZIP file, and you can access them now.
Method 2: Use Online Tools
If you don’t want to download and install a third-party app on your device, you can use an online tool to unlock locked ZIP files. Here are the steps:
- Open your web browser and go to an online ZIP file unlocking tool.
- Upload the locked file to the website.
- Enter the password for the file if you know it. If you don’t know the password, you can try to crack it using the online tool’s password cracking feature.
- If the password is correct, the online tool will unlock the file, and you can download the contents of the ZIP file.
How to Unlock a Locked Excel File
If you have an Excel file that is password-protected and you don’t know the password, don’t worry, there are a few methods you can try to unlock it. Here are two methods:
Method 1: Use a VBA Code to Unlock the File
VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a programming language used by Microsoft Office applications, including Excel. With VBA, you can write a code to unlock a password-protected Excel file. Here are the steps:
- Open Excel and navigate to the password-protected file.
- Press the Alt + F11 keys to open the VBA editor.
- Select “Insert” from the top menu, and then click on “Module”.
- Copy and paste the following code into the module:
- Press the F5 key to run the code.
- A message box will appear with a password if the code works.
- Use the password to unlock the file.
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) & 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 2: Use a Password-Protected Removal Service
If you don’t want to write a VBA code, you can use a password-protected removal service online. Here’s how:
- Open your web browser and go to a password-protected removal service website.
- Upload the password-protected Excel file to the website.
- Enter the password to the file if you know it. If you don’t know the password, you can choose to crack it with the website’s password cracking feature.
- If the password is correct, the website will unlock the file, and you can download it without the password.
How to Unlock a Locked PDF File
PDF (Portable Document Format) files are widely used for sharing documents. Sometimes, these files come with password protection to prevent unauthorized access, but if you are the owner of the file, you can unlock it easily. Here are the methods:
Method 1: Use Adobe Acrobat
If you have Adobe Acrobat, you can use it to unlock a password-protected PDF file. Here’s how:
- Open Adobe Acrobat and load the password-protected file.
- Enter the password in the “Document Open Password” field.
- Click “OK”.
- Go to the “File” menu and choose “Save As”.
- Enter a new name for the file and click “Save”.
- The new file will be unlocked and ready to use.
Method 2: Use Online Tools
If you don’t have Adobe Acrobat, you can use a password-protected removal service online to unlock a PDF file. Here’s how:
- Open your web browser and go to a password-protected removal service website.
- Upload the password-protected PDF file to the website.
- Enter the password to the file.
- If the password is correct, the website will remove the password protection, and you can download the file without the password.
FAQ
What if I forgot the password for a locked file?
If you forgot the password for a locked file, you can try to crack the password using online tools or software. If you can’t crack the password, you may need to contact the file creator to get the password or recreate the file.
Are there any risks in using online tools to unlock locked files?
Using online tools to unlock locked files may pose some risks, such as data theft or malware infections. To minimize the risks, make sure you use a reputable website and antivirus software.
Conclusion
Having a locked file can be inconvenient, but there are multiple methods to unlock different types of files, including ZIP files, Excel files, and PDF files. You can use third-party apps, VBA codes, online tools or Adobe Acrobat to unlock files. Additionally, make sure that you use a reputable website and antivirus software when using online tools to unlock files to minimize the risks.
