One common issue faced by Excel users is forgetting their password to unlock or unprotect their Excel files. This can be a frustrating experience, especially if the file contains important data or information needed for work or personal projects.
Fortunately, there are ways to recover or bypass Excel passwords without relying on third-party software. In this article, we will delve deeper into the different methods of unlocking or unprotecting Excel files, including their advantages and limitations.
1. Using Excel’s In-Built Features
Excel provides various features to protect users from unauthorized access to their files. One of these features is password protection, which allows users to set a password for opening or editing an Excel file. However, if you forget the password, unlocking the file can be a daunting task. To unlock an Excel file using Excel’s in-built features, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open the Excel file you want to unprotect.
Step 2: Click on File at the top left-hand corner of the Excel window and select Info.
Step 3: Click on the Protect Workbook dropdown and select Encrypt with Password.
Step 4: Remove the existing password and click on OK.
Step 5: Save the file to apply the changes.
This method will work only if the Excel user has protected the file with a password to modify but accidentally applied ‘Encrypt with a password’ feature, as it will remove the password applied to protect the workbook itself. However, this method won’t work if the file is protected with a different kind of password.
2. Using the ZIP Compression Method
This method involves renaming the Excel file extension from .xlsx or .xlsm to .zip, unzipping the file and deleting the file containing the password, then zipping the file and renaming it back to .xlsx or .xlsm. This process will clear the password, allowing the user to open the file without a password.
The steps involved in using the ZIP compression method to unlock an Excel file are:
Step 1: Make a duplicate of the Excel file you want to unlock and rename the file extension from .xlsx or .xlsm to .zip.
Step 2: Unzip the file by right-clicking and selecting Extract All.
Step 3: Open the extracted folder and locate the ‘xl’ folder.
Step 4: Locate the ‘workbook.xml’ file, right-click, and select Edit.
Step 5: Locate the line with the following text: sheetProtection algorithmName=”SHA-512″ hashValue=” ” saltValue=” “/> and delete it.
Step 6: Save the changes made to the file.
Step 7: Go back to the extracted folder, select all the files and folders, right-click, and select Send to, then Compressed (zipped) folder.
Step 8: Rename the newly created ZIP folder back to the Excel file extension (.xlsx or .xlsm).
The ZIP compression method is only useful if the user has forgotten the password to edit the file. It won’t work if the user has forgotten the password to open the file.
3. Using VBA Code
Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is a programming language used in Microsoft Office to automate repetitive tasks. It can also be used to recover and bypass Excel passwords. The VBA code method involves writing a macro that extracts the password used to protect the Excel file.
The steps involved in using VBA code to recover an Excel password are:
Step 1: Open the Excel file with the password you want to recover.
Step 2: Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.
Step 3: Click on Insert at the top of the VBA Editor window and select Module.
Step 4: Copy and paste the following code into the module:
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 “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
Step 5: Press F5 to execute the macro. It will take some time to run, and if successful, a message box will appear with the password.
The VBA code method is useful if the user has forgotten the password to modify or edit the Excel file but won’t work if the user has forgotten the password to open the file.
4. Using Online Password Tools
Several online password tools allow users to remove or bypass Excel passwords. These tools use advanced algorithms and brute-force techniques to crack Excel passwords. However, using online password tools can be risky, as most of them require the user to upload the Excel file with the password to their servers. This can expose the Excel file to hackers and malicious actors.
Some popular online Excel password tools are:
Password Online Recovery: This tool decrypts Excel password-protected files using various algorithms like dictionary and brute-force. It works by uploading the encrypted Excel file to their servers, and the password is then extracted and sent back to the user.
Password-Find: This tool uses brute-force methods to crack Excel passwords. It works by uploading the Excel file to their server, and the password is then decrypted.
Using online password tools should be the last resort when all other methods have failed. The user should also be cautious and ensure that they use reputable and reliable online password tools.
Video Tutorial
Here is a video tutorial on how to unprotect an Excel worksheet without a password:
FAQ
Q1: Can I unlock an Excel file on a Mac using these methods?
A1: Yes, most of the methods mentioned in this article can be used on Mac computers. The only difference is the keystrokes used to perform some functions like launching the VBA editor.
Q2: Can I unlock an Excel file protected with a digital signature using these methods?
A2: No, unlocking an Excel file protected with a digital signature requires a different set of steps that are beyond the scope of this article. It is advisable to contact the person who signed the file to get access or permission to unlock the file.
In conclusion, forgetting an Excel password can be a frustrating experience. However, with the methods discussed in this article, users can unlock or unprotect their Excel files without relying on third-party software. Whether it is using Excel’s in-built features or VBA code, the key is to remain patient and follow the instructions carefully to ensure a successful password recovery. Remember also to exercise caution while using online password tools and to use reputable and reliable tools to avoid exposing your Excel file to malicious actors.
