Unprotect Excel | Remove Password From Excel File | 2 Methods

By Mahesh Mahala

02-02-2019

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Unprotect Excel | Remove Password From Excel File | 2 Methods

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Sometime we need to protect excel sheets to prevent from unauthorized editing but what if we forget password. There are two methods:

Using zip tool like 7zip
Excel VBA

Method 1: Using zip tool like 7zip:

Download and install suitable 7Zip pack like 64 bit 32 bit from here

Right click on Excel file and go to 7zip then open Archive

Now Go to xl folder then worksheets there you will see sheet1.xml

Right click on Sheet1.xml then click on edit

Search for 'protection'

Delete tag. Tag starts with ()

Now Save File and then click ok on 7zip popup to modify excel file

Now You can edit or make changes in excel file protection is removed

Method 2: Using Excel VBA:

1. Open your worksheet which has been protected before.

2. Hold down the ALT + F11 keys, and it opens the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

3. Click Insert > Module, and paste the following code in the Module Window.

VBA code: recover lost worksheet protection password

Sub PasswordRecovery()
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

4. Then click F5 key to run this code, and a prompt box will pop out, click OK to close it, and your passwords of the protected worksheet will be canceled at once.