Opening locked files can be a real headache. Whether it’s an Excel file, PDF, or any other document, it can be frustrating when you can’t access it. Fortunately, there are ways that you can unlock these files without much hassle. In this article, we’ll go over some ways to open locked files and provide you with some helpful tips.
How to open a locked Excel file
If you’re having trouble opening a locked Excel file, don’t worry. Below are some methods that you can try to unlock the data:
Method 1: Password Recovery Software
One of the easiest ways to unlock an Excel file is to use password recovery software. There are plenty of options available online, such as PassFab for Excel and Excel Password Recovery Master. With password recovery software, you can quickly unlock an Excel file that is password protected. Simply download the password recovery software and follow the instructions to unlock your document.
Method 2: VBA Code
If you’re comfortable using VBA code, you can unlock a password-protected Excel file by using the following code:
Step 1:
Open the password-protected Excel file.
Step 2:
Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.
Step 3:
Click on the Insert tab in the menu bar and select Module.
Step 4:
Paste the following code into the module window:
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
Dim c As Integer
Dim potentialPassword As String
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
potentialPassword = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
ActiveSheet.Unprotect potentialPassword
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & potentialPassword
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
Step 5:
Press F5 or click on the Run button in the menu bar.
Step 6:
Wait for the code to run. The potential password will appear in a message box.
How to open a locked PDF file
Opening a locked PDF file is a little more complicated than opening an Excel file. However, there are a few methods that you can use to unlock a PDF file:
Method 1: Online PDF Unlock Tool
One of the easiest ways to unlock a locked PDF is to use an online PDF unlock tool. There are plenty of options available online, such as Smallpdf and PDFUnlock. Simply upload the locked PDF to the website and follow the instructions to unlock the file. Keep in mind that this method may not work for all PDF files, especially if the file is encrypted.
Method 2: Google Chrome Method
If you’re using Google Chrome, you can unlock a PDF file by following these steps:
Step 1:
Open the locked PDF file in Google Chrome.
Step 2:
Enter the password to unlock the document.
Step 3:
Click the Print button in the menu bar, or press Ctrl + P.
Step 4:
Select Save as PDF in the Destination section.
Step 5:
Click the Save button.
The new PDF file should be unlocked and ready to use.
FAQ
Q: Can I use Command Prompt to unlock a password-protected Excel file?
A: Yes, you can use Command Prompt to unlock a password-protected Excel file. However, this method is not recommended for beginners, as it involves using some complex commands. It’s always best to use password recovery software or the VBA code method mentioned above for ease of use.
Q: Can I still access a locked PDF file if I forgot the password?
A: If you’ve forgotten the password for a locked PDF file, you can still access it by using a PDF password recovery tool. There are several options available online, such as PDFCrack and GuaPDF, which can help you recover the password to unlock the file. However, keep in mind that these tools may not work for all PDF files, especially if the file is highly encrypted.
Conclusion
Opening locked files can be frustrating, but it’s not impossible. There are several methods that you can use to unlock a locked Excel file or PDF, such as password recovery software, VBA code, or an online PDF unlock tool. It’s always best to use tested and proven methods, and if all else fails, consider seeking expert help or advice.
Video Tutorial – How to unlock a password-protected Excel file or PDF
Here’s a helpful video tutorial that demonstrates how to unlock a password-protected Excel file or PDF:
