Are you having trouble opening a locked or protected Excel file? Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. Many people face this problem and finding a solution can be quite difficult. In this article, we will provide you with various methods on how to open a locked or protected Excel file.
Method 1: Using Password Unlocker
If you know the password of the Excel file, then this method is the easiest way to unlock it. All you have to do is use a password unlocker tool. These tools are designed specifically to recover or remove the password from protected Excel files. There are various password unlocker tools available online such as Passper for Excel, Excel Password Recovery Master, and many more.
Using these tools is quite simple, just follow these steps:
- Download and install a password unlocker tool such as Passper for Excel.
- Launch the tool on your computer and select the option “Recover Passwords”.
- Click “Add” and select the locked Excel file from your computer. Then click “Next”.
- Choose the appropriate password attack mode and then click “Start”.
- The tool will start the password unlocking process and once it is done, you can open the Excel file without any password.
Method 2: Using ZIP Method
If you don’t want to use any third-party tool and have some technical knowledge, then you can use the ZIP method to unlock the Excel file. In this method, we use the fact that Excel files are actually a collection of XML files that are compressed into a ZIP archive. We can extract the ZIP archive and remove the password protection from the XML files. Here’s how:
Follow these steps:
- Make a copy of the protected Excel file and rename the extension from .xlsx to .zip.
- Right-click on the ZIP file and select “Extract All”.
- Enter the password if prompted, to extract the files.
- Open the extracted folder and then open the “xl” folder.
- Delete the “workbook.xml” file.
- Close the folder and right-click on the extracted folder. Select “Send to” and then select “Compressed (zipped) folder”.
- Open the newly created ZIP archive, and rename the extension from .zip to .xlsx.
- Now you can open the Excel file without the password.
FAQ
Q1. Is it legal to use password unlocker tools on protected Excel files?
A1. Yes, it is legal to use password unlocker tools on protected Excel files if you are the owner of the file or have permission from the owner to use it.
Q2. Can I protect my Excel file without using a password?
A2. Yes, you can protect your Excel file without using a password by using the “Encrypt with Password” option. This option encrypts the entire workbook using a strong encryption algorithm and requires a password to open the file. However, this option is only available for Office 365, Office 2019, and Office 2016.
Video Tutorial: How to Unlock a Protected Excel File
Check out this video tutorial on how to unlock a protected Excel file using Passper for Excel:
Conclusion
In conclusion, opening a locked or protected Excel file can be a challenging task, but with the methods mentioned in this article, it should be much easier. Remember to always keep your passwords safe and secure to avoid any potential unauthorized access to your sensitive data. We hope this article has helped you in unlocking your protected Excel files.
