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Unprotect Excel | Remove Password From Excel File | 2 Methods


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:
  1. Using zip tool like 7zip
  2. Excel VBA

Method 1: Using zip tool like 7zip:

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

    7zip

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

    7zip-tool-2

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

    7zip-tool-3

  4. Right click on Sheet1.xml then click on edit

    edit-sheet1-xml

  5. Search for 'protection'

    Remove excel password Protection

  6. Delete tag. Tag starts with ()

    remove-sheet-password-protection

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

    Excel-Password-Removed

  8. 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

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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.





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