Excel is a popular software program widely used in businesses and organizations to organize, analyze, and manipulate data. Often, users lock their Excel files with passwords to prevent unauthorized access to their data. However, forgetting the password for a password-protected Excel file can be frustrating, especially if the file contains important data. Fortunately, unlocking an Excel file that is password-protected isn’t impossible. In this article, we’ll explore the different methods you can use to unlock a password-protected Excel file.
Method 1: Using the “Open Password” Feature
If you know the password for the Excel file’s “Open Password” feature, unlocking it shouldn’t be too hard. Here are the steps you can follow:
- Open the Excel file you want to unlock and click on “File” at the top left corner of the screen.
- Click on “Info” on the left menu bar.
- Click on “Protect Workbook” in the middle section of the screen.
- Select “Encrypt with Password.”
- Clear the password field to remove the existing password, or enter the correct password to unlock the file.
- Click on “OK.”
Method 2: Using a VBA Script
If you don’t know the password for the file’s “Open Password” feature, you’ll need to use a VBA script to unlock the file. Here are the steps you can use:
- Open the Excel file you want to unlock.
- Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA Editor.
- Click on “Insert” from the main menu and select “Module.”
- Enter the following code into the new module:
- Press F5 to execute the code.
- The VBA script will search for the password and display it in a pop-up window.
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
FAQs about Unlocking Password-Protected Excel Files
1. Can I unlock an Excel file if I don’t know the password?
Yes, you can still unlock an Excel file even if you don’t know the password. You’ll need to use a VBA script as outlined in Method 2 above. Note that the process can take some time, and it may take multiple iterations before the script finally uncovers the correct password.
2. Can I use an online tool to unlock a password-protected Excel file?
While there are many online tools that claim to unlock password-protected Excel files for free, we recommend that you steer clear of them. Many of these tools are scams that may either steal your data or infect your computer with malware. Instead, use the methods outlined above to unlock your Excel file.
Conclusion
Unlocking a password-protected Excel file doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By using the methods outlined in this article, you can quickly and easily unlock your Excel file to regain access to your data. Remember that it’s always essential to keep your passwords safe and secure and avoid overwriting them frequently, so you don’t lose access to your valuable data.
