How to Unprotect an Excel Workbook

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool that offers numerous features to help users organize and manage their data. One of the essential security measures in Excel is protecting workbooks. However, there may be instances where you need to access a protected workbook, but you do not have the password to unlock it. In this blog post, we will discuss how to unprotect an Excel Workbook in a few simple steps.

1. Check for the possibility of unprotected sheets

Before attempting to unprotect the entire workbook, make sure to check if there are any unprotected sheets within the workbook. To check, right-click on the sheet and select “Unprotect Sheet.” If it unprotects without requiring a password, then you have access to that sheet.

2. Using a password you know

If you know the password used to protect the workbook, you can use it to unprotect it. Open the workbook and enter the password. Then, go to “Review” in the ribbon and click on “Unprotect Workbook.”

3. Use the “Save As” feature

If you do not know the password, you can use the “Save As” feature. Open the password-protected workbook, click on “File” and select “Save As.” From here, choose “Excel Workbook” as the file type and save the file to a new location with a different name. The newly saved file will not have password protection enabled, and you can now access and edit it.

4. Use VBA code to unprotect

If the above methods do not work, you can use VBA code to unprotect the workbook. First, open the workbook, then press “Alt + F11” to open the VBA editor. In the editor, navigate to “Microsoft Excel Objects” and double-click on “ThisWorkbook.” Enter the following code:

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) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & Chr(n)            If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then                MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _                    Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & _                    Chr(n)                Exit Sub            End If        Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next        Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next    End Sub>

Then, press “F5” to run the function. It may take a while, but it will generate a message containing the usable password for the workbook.

By following these simple steps, you can unprotect an Excel workbook and regain access to its data. Always ensure that the information entered into Excel is protected with secure passwords to prevent unauthorized access in the future.

Tips for future protection

When creating a password for your Excel workbook, make sure it’s unique and difficult to guess. Avoid using common passwords such as birthdays, names, or simple patterns as they are easy to break. A good password should be at least eight characters long and contain uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Additionally, you can use the “Protect Workbook” feature in Excel to set passwords on specific actions. You can protect the workbook’s structure to prevent users from adding, moving, renaming, or deleting sheets, or you can also protect the workbook’s windows to prevent users from resizing and splitting windows. These features provide an extra layer of security for your data.

Considerations for shared workbooks

If you are working on an Excel workbook with other people, keep in mind that unprotecting the workbook may allow others to access sensitive information. Once you unprotect the workbook, anyone with access can view and edit the data, even if they don’t have the password. Make sure to share the password only with people you trust and who have a legitimate need for access.

In such cases, it’s best to use systems that allow individual access to specific workbook sections without requiring a password to be shared, or to use other Microsoft Office tools like MS Teams where collaborative work can be done.

Protecting your Excel workbook’s data is essential to ensure the security and integrity of your information. However, if you need to unprotect an Excel workbook for any reason, these methods can help. Remember, it’s crucial to keep passwords secure and unique, so you can prevent unauthorized access in the future.

FAQs

Here are some common questions about unprotecting Excel workbooks:

Can I unprotect an Excel workbook without a password?

Unprotecting an Excel workbook without a password can be difficult, but there are a few methods you can try. You can save the workbook as a new file, you can check for unprotected sheets within the workbook, or you can use VBA code to unprotect the workbook.

Is it legal to unprotect an Excel workbook without permission?

Unprotecting an Excel workbook without permission can be illegal, depending on the circumstances. If you unprotect a workbook that doesn’t belong to you or that you don’t have permission to access, it can be considered hacking and can result in legal consequences. Always make sure you have the proper authorization before attempting to unprotect an Excel workbook.

What should I do if I forget the password to an Excel workbook?

If you forget the password to an Excel workbook, there are a few things you can try. You can try guessing the password, remembering if you saved the password in a password manager, or checking with the person who protected the workbook if possible. If all else fails, you can use a third-party Excel password recovery tool to recover the password.

Can I recover the password for an Excel workbook without software?

If you forget the password to an Excel workbook, it can be difficult to recover it without special software. There are a few methods you can try, such as guessing the password or asking the person who protected the workbook if possible, but these methods are not always successful. If you don’t want to use software, your best bet is to recreate the workbook from scratch or restore the workbook from a backup that doesn’t have a password.

How do I protect an Excel workbook?

To protect an Excel workbook, you can choose from various options like Workbook settings, Protect Workbook, and Password Protect Excel. These options provide different levels of protection like prohibiting users from editing, deleting or adding new sheets, and opening the file. You can even include password protection on individual sheets to allow users to access data that they require. Always ensure that your password is unique and difficult to guess, so you can prevent unauthorized access in the future.