Remove protection in excel

Workbook passwords can be changed or removed by anyone who knows the current password.

Caution: Passwords in Excel for Mac and Word for Mac have a 15-character limit. You cannot open a workbook or document that has been password protected in the Windows-based version of Excel or Word if the password is longer than fifteen characters. If you want to open the file in Office for Mac, ask the Windows-based author to adjust the password length.

1. Open the workbook that you want to change or remove the password for.

2. On the Review tab, click Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook.

   

3. Click Unprotect Sheet or Protect Workbook and enter the password.

   Clicking Unprotect Sheet automatically removes the password from the sheet.

4. To add a new password, click Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook, type and confirm the new password, and then click OK.

   To remove a password from the workbook, click Protect Workbook, and then click OK without entering a new password.

Change a workbook password

1. Open the workbook that you want to change the password for.

2. On the Review tab, under Protection, click Passwords.

3. In the Password to open box or Password to modify box, select all contents.

4. Type the new password, and then click OK.

5. In the Confirm Password dialog box, type the password again, and then click OK.

6. Click Save  .

Remove a workbook password

1. Open the workbook that you want to remove the password from.

2. On the Review tab, under Protection, click Passwords.

3. Select all contents in the Password to open box or the Password to modify box, and then press DELETE.

4. Click Save  .

See also

Require a password to open or modify a workbook

Excel is a popular Microsoft office suite program used mainly for creating spreadsheets and compiling data. To help you protect your work, excel gives you options by providing security features including securing it with a passcode.

If you are tasked with preparing these files and want to ensure no one else tampers with them, you need to set a strong password on the program such that no unauthorized users can interfere with the content therein. Furthermore, there may arise circumstances that may require access to the file that may necessitate doing away with the password. For instance, when collaborating, or when the creator is unavailable. This post highlights ways you can remove an excel password on your Windows PC or Mac.

Why include a passcode in an Excel file?

A password is one of the many security features at your disposal to prevent work-tampering and unauthorized access. For instance, if you are working on a sensitive project, say a financial audit, then you need to secure it for enhanced protection.

Sometimes you can create a file for sharing on a read-only basis. Such files cannot be left unprotected to maintain the integrity of the content. Hence, you need to apply for password protection. A read-only document can be shared by multiple people over various platforms, but without permission to edit, one cannot change its content.

Method 1: How to remove password protection in Excel manually using the info feature

1. Go to your Microsoft Office Suite and launch the Microsoft Excel program.

2. Open the encrypted Excel spreadsheet file you want to remove the password. In case you have set opening password protection in the file, it means the file is locked. You will be required to enter it. Click OK when done.

3. On the upper left corner of your opened worksheet, click the File tab. Click on ‘Info.’

4. Click on ‘Protect Workbook’ to open a drop-down menu. Then, choose the type of password protection you had set to remove.

• For Encrypt with Password option, all you have to do is clear the password written and click OK to remove the password. It works mostly for Excel from 2019 to 2010.

• For the ‘Protect Current Sheet’ and ‘Protect Workbook Structure options,’ get an Unprotect Sheet window and enter a password. Click OK to remove the protection. It works for Excel 2007 and older versions.

Note that you can remove password protection from the Review tab and click Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook. Clicking on Unprotect Sheet or Protect Workbook will automatically remove the password from the sheet.

Method 2: How to remove a password in Excel using iSeePassword

iSeePassword Dr.Excel is a powerful third-party tool that can be used to recover Excel open passwords and remove protection passwords from Excel Worksheet. You can unlock the worksheet pretty quickly with this password removal software. When you forgot the Excel password and the above tricks didn’t work, Dr.Excel is the best solution out there to help you get away from an awkward situation.

First, please download iSeePassword Dr.Excel from this link:

Download from this source

Recover Open Password from Excel

Open Dr.Excel from your computer and click Recover Open Password from the Excel menu on the welcome screen.

Please import the password-protected Excel file from the new window with the Add File button. Next, choose a password attack module. Usually, we will use Brute-force with Mask Attack as it allows you to set a couple of parameters to shorten the password recovery time.

Hit the Settings button on the right side and make proper settings accordingly.

Save the changes, and Dr.Excel starts to recover Excel open password based on your settings. Once the password is found, it will be shown on the screen.

After the password was recovered, you can now remove the password using the methods shared previously in this article.

Remove worksheet protection password from Excel using Dr. Excel

Well, it is much easier to remove the Excel worksheet password with the Dr.Excel app. It is almost done instantly.

First, choose Remove Workbook, Worksheet Password from the main window. Now, locate Add File button in the upper left corner to import the Excel file into the program. Finally, click the Start button to remove the worksheet protection password from Excel. The password will be removed in seconds without waiting, even if it has a complex password.

The unlocked Excel file is saved in the same folder as the original one sits. If you try to open the unlocked file, you will find no password attached to it. iSeePassword Dr.Excel is by far the easiest way to remove a password from Excel when you forgot the password.

Method 3: How to remove a password in an Excel sheet using the Home tab

1. Launch the Excel program and open the worksheet. You need to remove the password.

2. On the main ribbon menu, go to the Home tab.

3. Under the Cells group, click Format’s drop-down arrow. From the list, select Unprotect Sheet.

4. Type in the password and then click OK to remove the password.

Method 4: Using Save As to remove password protection in Excel

1. Open the password-protected Excel worksheet. After this, go to the File tab and select Save As.

2. Click the drop-down arrow to display a pop-up window. On the window, click Tools, then select General Options from the drop-down menu.

3. In the dialogue box, clear the password to open and modify fields to remove them.

4. Click the OK button to save all changes made. Remember to click the save button to save your modified document.

Method 5: Remove Encryption with Excel VBA

Running a simple VBA code can prove significantly essential in unprotecting all sheets and workbooks in excel.

To remove protection from excel files, you need to open the file, access the basic visual tool, and write a VBA code in the Visual Basic Editor. Follow these steps;

1. Find and click on Developer on the Excel ribbon.

2. Tap on the Visual Basic option

3. In this window, choose to Insert, and on the dropdown, select New Module

4. Input your code in the Visual Code Editor and run it, either by selecting the Run tab or press F5.

Use the following in the process above;

Password argument: worksheet.Unprotect method

Code: i. for a single password;

Sub UnprotectAllSheets()
     For Each wsheet In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
         wsheet.Unprotect (123456)
      Next wsheet
End Sub

ii. for those secured with different passwords;

Sub UnprotectAllSheets()
    Sheets("January").Unprotect ("password")
    Sheets("February").Unprotect ("password")
    Sheets("March").Unprotect ("password")
    Sheets("April").Unprotect ("password")
End Sub

 iii. for all sheets except some specified ones, say a sheet named January.

 Sub UnprotectAllSheets()
     For Each wsheet In ActiveWorkbook.Sheets
      If wsheet.Name = "January" Then
         wsheet.Protect
    Else
         wsheet.Unprotect
    End If
      Next wsheet 
End Sub

Copy the codes above and paste them into the Visual Basic Editor for the specific scenarios.

Method 6: Remove Excel Passwords Using Zipping File Tool

The goal here is to do away with password protection. The process, therefore, involves compressing the file into a zip file, a little editing, then converting back to .xlsx format. Below are the steps;

1. Click on View in the Windows File Explorer and tick the box enabling File Name Extension.

2. From the Home tab select the file and select Rename

3. Remove the .xlsx extension from the name only and replace it with .zip. Press Enter

4. Click Yes on the warning popup window.

5. The .xlsx file changes to a .zip file

6. Open the zip file and select the xl folder

7. Click on the worksheets inside the xl folder.

8. Find the XML file

9. Select and right-click on the mouse; from the resulting menu window, choose Copy To

10. On the directory window, enter a directory and click OK

11. Go to the selected directory, select the file, and right-click the mouse. Hover the mouse on Open with from the context menu, then choose Notepad.

12. This will open the file on Notepad.

13. Press Ctrl+F on the keyboard to trigger the Find tool

14. Click Find Next on the window that opens.

15. The location of Protection shall be highlighted.

16. Select the part of the text from <sheetProtection … to scenarios=»1″/>

17. Press delete or backspace to wipe the text from the pad.

18. Press Ctrl+S to save the text.

19. Open Windows Explorer and select the original file.

20. Rename this file back to .xlsx from .zip

21. Open the Excel file

22. You can check that there is no protection by trying to edit the file or go to Click Format on the Home tab and confirm there is Protect Sheet from the dropdown menu. If there were a password, there would be Unprotect Sheet.

Method 7: Remove Protection from An Excel File Online

Groupdocs is the online tool used to clear passwords from excel files. It is, however, better suited when the password is known.

Here are the steps;

1. Log onto the Goupdocs

2. Click on the Click or drop your file here handle on the page

3. Select the file you want to unprotect, then hit on Open button

4. After the upload, input your password into the empty field shown

5. Then click UNLOCK

6. Wait until the process is complete, then click Download Now to download the file on your PC

Method 8: Remove Password Using the Review Tab

Follow these steps

1. Tap on the Review

2. Click on Protect subtab, then Protect Sheets.

3. Input your password into the popup window and click OK

4. Your sheet is now unprotected.

Method 9: Remove Password Using Unprotect Sheet Command

Follow the following steps:

1. Open the file, and from the Home tab, go to Cells.

2. Click Format, and on the dropdown menu, tap on Protect Sheet.

3. A box will pop up; input your password and click OK.

Conclusion

The article above provides some methods to remove password protection from your Excel files. The procedures mentioned above are some ways you will end up with the same results. Always remember to save your work again after making any changes to it.

«How to remove the password from my Excel file and sheet? What is the way of removing the protection?.»

Put it simply, you set a password to encrypt your workbook/spreadsheet, and now what to remove password protection from Excel, do you? OK, here you’ll find 7 effective solutions!

Hey, before you dive into it further, ask yourself if you know the Excel password. As you can see, the methods are divided into 2 groups.

Now, let’s check how to remove a password from Excel 2019/2017/2016/2013/2010/2007.

Way 1. Delete the Encrypted Password (Open Locked Microsoft Excel)

Way 2. Unprotect Excel Workbook or Spreadsheet

Way 3. Remove Read-Only Limit Protection on Excel

Part 2. Remove Password from Excel (You Forgot the Password)

Way 4. Unprotect Excel Spreadsheet without Password 

Way 5. Crack/Break Excel Opening Password with Software

Way 6. Use Workbook Unprotect Genius

Way 7. Remove passwords from Excel files Online

Part 1. Remove Password from Excel (You Know the Password)

There are 4 types of Excel password encryption/protection. I’ll give brief introductions and show you how to remove.

Since you remember the passcode, it’ll be super easy for you to remove password from Excel File, Sheet, Workbook, and Read-Only Protection.

Way 1. Delete the Encrypted Password (Open Locked Microsoft Excel)

If it requires a password to open a password-protected Excel file, it means this workbook is locked. To remove Excel opening encrypted password, follow the steps below.

Step 1. Double-click your encrypted Microsoft Excel Workbook, then enter the password to open it.

Step 2. Click «File» in the top left corner and then select «Info».

Step 3. For Excel 2019/2017/2016/2013/2010, click on «Protect Workbook» and select «Encrypt with Password» from the drop-down list.

(For Excel 2007 and older versions, click on «Protect Document» and select «Encrypt with Password»)

Step 4. Clear the password box (make it empty) and then click OK.

After removing password in Excel file, don’t forget to save the file. Now you’ve successfully deleted the encryption protection.

Way 2. Unprotect Excel Workbook or Spreadsheet

Excel «Protect Workbook» password is set to protect its structure from being altered, hidden, and renamed. And the «Protect Sheet» password is to keep your important data safe in the worksheet.

Now let’s check how to remove password protect from Excel.

Step 1. Find and open the Excel Workbook/Worksheets.

Step 2. Click «Review» in the top menu bar.

Step 3. Select «Unprotect Sheet» or «Protect Workbook», and then enter your password. Lastly, click OK.

This will remove the password from encrypted Excel sheet or Workbook.

Way 3. Remove Read-Only Limit Protection on Excel

You can’t edit or modify the Excel spreadsheets if the read-only mode is turned on. If you know the password and want to turn it back off, here are the steps for you to disabled read-only restriction in excel document.

Step 1. Open the read-only protected Excel file and enter the password. Next, click OK.

Step 2. Go to the menu top toolbar and then click File > Save As > Browse (select a location) > Tools > General Options

Step 3. Locate «Password to modify» and empty the text box next to it. Click OK to continue.

Step 4. After that, click Save.

Part 2. Remove Password from Excel (You Forgot the Password)

What to do if you forgot Excel password? That’s OK. Even though you don’t know the passcode, there’re useful workarounds to help. In the following sections, you’ll learn methods that enable you to remove password from Excel without password.

Way 4. Unprotect Excel Spreadsheet without Password

With this trick, you can easily unprotect Excel spreadsheet/worksheet without knowing the password. Let’s see how to do it!

Note: make a backup of your Excel workbook and save it to another folder on computer.

Step 1. Change the extension of the protected worksheet: rename it from *.xlsx to *.zip.

Step 2. Open the ZIP File, double-click the «xl» folder, and then open the «worksheets» folder.

Step 3. In there, you can find the spreadsheets (in .xml format).

Step 4. Open a sheet file in Notepad. Now search for the content: <sheetProtection algorithmName=»SHA-512″ hashValue=».

Then, select the entire line (the characters between»<» and «> «) and delete it.

Step 5. Save the file to a new folder.

Step 6. Do the same steps for all other spreadsheets.

Step 7. When it’s done, drag and drop the modified .xml files to the «worksheets» folder. Make sure they overwrite all the original XML files.

Step 8. Rename the *.Zip file back into *.xlsx

Voila! Open it and check if the password protection for Excel Spreadsheet/worksheet is removed.

Way 5. Crack/Break Excel Opening Password with Software

Can you remove the opening password from excel without a password? Sure! FoneCope Excel Password Recovery can easily break Excel file password, and then you can use the passcode to delete the encryption.

Check how to crack forgotten Excel password:

Step 1. You can download FoneCope Excel Password Recovery for free and install it on your computer.

Step 2. Launch the software and select Recover Excel Open Password on the main interface.

Step 3. Import the excel file you need to crack the password, or directly drag the encrypted excel file into the add box. Then the software will start to detect the complexity of the encryption algorithm and password.

You can see that there are 3 modes of password recovery below, you can choose the appropriate mode according to the actual situation.

#1. Dictionary Attack: Import the used passwords you know into the software in txt format and automatically analyze them to find the correct password. Of course, the software also has the latest password dictionary.

1. After selecting this mode, click «Settings» at the back to download the latest password dictionary constructed by the software.

2. Click «Download Dictionary» and it will download automatically. After the download is complete, click OK to run the software.

3. You can put the previously used secret into txt text, and then insert the software, it will retrieve the password from the information you provide or recover the password from the built-in password dictionary.

#2. Brute Force with Mask Attack: If you still have a little memory of the forgotten password, such as length, characters, prefix, or suffix, then you can consider that choose this mode.

1. After selecting this mode, click Settings, and then in the settings panel, set the password information you remember. After the setting is completed, it will obtain the password intelligently.

#3. Brute Force Attack: If you really know nothing about the forgotten password, this will be your last choice.

1. After selecting this mode, then directly click the «Recover» to perform Excel password recovery.

Step 4. After selecting the mode you need, the software will start to recover the Excel password. After a few minutes, you will be able to see the password in a pop-up window.

PasswordFab for Excel can quickly remove password from excel. The three attack types provide the highest possibility to recover passwords. When you cannot open excel with a password for some reason, PassFab for Excel is a recommended tool. Additionally, there are more excel password removers that can help.

Way 6. Use Workbook Unprotect Genius

Likewise, you can use another assistant software Excel Workbook Unprotect Genius to remove sheet protection password, read-only password, and Workbook protection password.

How to use the Workbook Unprotect Genius

Step 1. Get the software downloaded on your computer. After that, click Open to import a password protected excel Workbook.

Step 2. Click the «Remove Password» button

Note: If the file is .XLS, you’ll need to convert it to .xlsx before password protection removal.

Way 7. Remove passwords from Excel files Online

In case you don’t want to install the program on your computer, you can an online tool (www.lostmypass.com).

It’s very convenient to use. Just go to the site and upload your password locked Excel document. A few minutes later, you will get the recovered password on screen.

The problem is, I don’t think it’s safe to upload important documents to an online site. Besides, the service pricing is higher than using software.

The Bottom Line

All in all, we talked about 7 solutions to remove password from Excel workbook and spreadsheet. As you can see, removing protection from Excel is not so much difficult.

As always, if any method helps you solve your problem, please leave a comment and let me know. Thanks a lot!