How to Remove Excel Password

If you’ve ever password-protected an Excel workbook, you know how important it is to remember that password. But sometimes things happen, and you might end up forgetting the password to your own file. Whether it’s due to a sudden change in plan or simply forgetfulness, you don’t have to worry about losing access to your data forever. Fortunately, there are several ways to remove the password from an Excel file and get back to your data in no time. In this blog post, we’ll walk you through some of the most effective methods for removing Excel password.

Method 1: Using the “Save As” Feature

If you’re the original creator of an Excel file or are authorized to make changes to it, you might be able to remove the password on your own, without using any special software. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Open the encrypted Excel file

First, open the Excel file that is password protected. You will see a prompt asking for a password to open the file.

Step 2: Click on “File” and select “Save As”

In the top left corner of the screen, click on “File” and select “Save As”.

Step 3: Select “Excel Workbook” from the dropdown menu

In the “Save As” dialog window that appears, select “Excel Workbook” from the “Save As Type” drop-down menu.

Step 4: Rename the file and save it without a password

Finally, choose a new name for the file (or keep the same name if you like), and save it to your desired location. You will not be prompted to enter any password when saving the file this way.

Method 2: Remove Password using VBA

If the first method doesn’t work, or if you’re working with a file that someone else created and you do not have their permission to change the file’s security settings, you can try removing the password through a VBA macro. Here’s how:

Step 1: Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor

Open the workbook in Excel, then press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.

Step 2: Insert the code in the editor

Next, copy and paste the following code in a VBA module:

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    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: NextEnd Sub

Step 3: Run the code

Go to the Run option in the menu and click Run Sub/UserForm option from the drop-down list.

Step 4: The code will require some time

The code will take some time to work through all possible password combinations. When complete, a message box will appear that contains the password.

Remember that this method will only work with passwords of fourteen characters or less. If your password has more than fourteen characters, you can use any of the other methods discussed in this article.

Method 3: Using Passper for Excel

If both of the previous methods do not work for you, or if you don’t want to deal with writing code, you can use a specialized Excel password remover tool like Passper for Excel. Here’s how you can use it:

Step 1: Install and open Passper for Excel on your computer

Download and install Passper for Excel on your computer. Open the program once it’s installed.

Step 2: Select the Excel file and choose the attack mode

Click the “Add” button in the Passper for Excel window to add the password-protected Excel file. Then choose the attack mode you want to apply to remove the password.

Step 3: Start the password removal process

Click on the “Remove” button, and the software will start the process of removing the password for your Excel file.

Passper for Excel offers high success rates of password removal for Excel files, with four different attack modes. However, it isn’t a free tool, and a license must be purchased to use it beyond its trial version.

Conclusion

As you can see, there are several ways to remove a password from an Excel file, depending on factors like your level of access, the password’s complexity, and whether or not you’re comfortable working with VBA. Try the methods we’ve shared above, and you should be able to remove the password from your Excel file in no time.

Some tips to keep in mind

Here are some additional tips to keep in mind regarding Excel passwords and their removal:

• When creating a password, remember that longer is better, and include a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using common words or phrases.
• Remember your password or create a secure place to store it. Writing it down on a piece of paper is not recommended.
• If you’re concerned about security, add two-factor authentication to your Excel files to increase their overall protection.
• Always make a backup of your password-protected files before attempting to remove their password by any of the methods described above.
• When removing a password from a file for which you do not have the necessary permissions, be sure to get the owner’s authorization first. Unauthorized changes to files owned by others can lead to legal trouble.

Additional Resources

If you’d like to learn more about Excel passwords, their protection, and consequences of losing them, check out these additional resources:

• Password protect Excel files – Microsoft Support
• Excel Password Protection: How to Protect & Unlock Excel Workbook [2021]
• Passper for Excel Official Website
• How to Remove Password from Excel File Quickly & Easily

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about removing passwords from Excel files:

Q: Is it legal to remove passwords from Excel files?

A: If you’re the owner of the file or have been authorized to make changes to it, removing the password is legal. However, if you’re dealing with someone else’s file without their permission, removing passwords might be illegal. Be sure to get the owner’s authorization first.

Q: Can I remove a password from an Excel file that I didn’t create?

A: If you don’t have the owner’s permission to make changes to the file’s security settings or don’t remember the password, it’s not recommended to try to remove the password. However, if you have a legitimate reason for trying to access the file, you can try using a password remover tool like Passper for Excel if none of the other methods work.

Q: Which is the most effective way to remove an Excel password?

A: There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question since the most effective method depends on factors such as your level of access to the file, the password’s complexity, and your level of technical expertise. Typically, using the “Save As” feature is the simplest and most effective method if you are authorized to make changes to the file. Otherwise, using a specialized tool like Passper for Excel is often an effective method.

Q: How can I avoid losing my Excel password in the future?

A: You can avoid losing your Excel passwords in the future by using a password manager to store them securely. Additionally, be sure to create strong passwords with a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using common words or phrases. Finally, make a backup of your password-protected files so that you don’t lose them if you forget your password.

Q: Is it possible to remove a password from an Excel file without using specialized software?

A: Yes, you can remove a password from an Excel file without using specialized software if you’re authorized to make changes to the file’s security settings. You can do this by using the “Save As” feature to save a new copy of the file without a password.