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How to unprotect the excel
sheet if forgot the password
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 vedangbapna
NEW CONTRIBUTOR
Aug 08 2020 04:10 AM

How to unprotect the excel sheet if forgot the password

Hi team need support to unprotect my sheet
which is password protected and forgot the
password
 
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How-to
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42 Replies

 
HenryPhillipsNimbitech
 replied to  vedangbapna
Aug 08 2020 11:33 AM
Hi,
I am afraid the quick answer is you can't as
to do so is to circumvent security.

So the best I can do is to say search for it

via a search engine, but I can't condone any
of the methods.

Thanks

Henry
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ThereseSolimeno
 replied to  vedangbapna
Aug 10 2020 12:11 PM

Hello @vedangbapna   This really should be in the Excel community conversation so I'm going to move it there to increase you
1 Like
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NikolinoDE
 replied to  vedangbapna
Aug 10 2020 12:25 PM
@vedangbapna 
 
CAUTION only to be used for your own
Excel sheets!
 
 
Option Explicit

Sub GetPass()

Const a = 65, b = 66, c = 32, d =

126
 Dim i#, j#, k#, l#, m#, n#, o#, p#,
q#, r#, s#, t#

With ActiveSheet

If .ProtectContents Then

On Error Resume Next

For i = a To b

For j = a To b

For k = a To b

For l = a To b

For m = a
To b

For n =
a To b

For
o = a To b

For p = a To b

For q = a To b

For r = a To b

For s = a To b

For t = c To d

.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j)

& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & _

Chr(n) & Chr(o) & Chr(p) &

Chr(q) & Chr(r) & Chr(s) & Chr(t)
 Next t

Next s

Next r

Next q

Next p

Next o

Next n

Next m

Next l

Next k

Next j

Next i

MsgBox "Finished"

End If

End With

End Sub
 
For any irresponsible action with this code,
by any user, cannot and will not be
responsible.
 
Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
* Kindly Mark and Vote this reply if it helps
please, as it will be beneficial to more
Community members reading here.
* Beware of scammers posting fake support
numbers here.
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Eviee1265
 replied to  NikolinoDE
Feb 17 2021 08:24 AM
Hello,
This code doesn't seem to work for me.
Apparently an expression is required before
.Unprotect

Are you able to advise please?

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NikolinoDE
 replied to  Eviee1265
Feb 17 2021 08:36 AM
ALT + F11
Double click on the workbook
Copy the code on the right
Press the play button (execute macro) and
let it run.
Takes a little time depending on the length
of the password.
but it sure works.

Cheers,
Nikolino
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Amarya_Williams
 replied to  vedangbapna
Feb 28 2021 11:15 PM
To my knowledge, there is no way to
recover an Excel workbook / spreadsheet
password without downloading third-party
apps or add-ins, virtually none of which I
would ever trust personally.

You can also try VBA code to remove your

excel sheet password, but this method only
works with single sheets. If you have
multiple worksheets that need to be
unlocked then you will have to run this code
over and over again by opening each and
every sheet manually.

Finally, if you want to crack the forgotten password to open Excel, there are many software you can choose like iseepassword

https://www.iseepassword.com/open-a-password-protected-excel-file.html

https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/2016/02/10/protect-unprotect-excel-sheet-password/

https://www.passcue.com/unprotect-excel-worksheet-without-password.html
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NikolinoDE
 replied to  vedangbapna
Feb 28 2021 11:39 PM
Did the instructions work?

If not send the workbook and with the same

code I'll remove the password. It works
100%.
Don't forget to save the workbook with a
different name at the end of the instructions
and then run it again.
If you have any doubts, you can send an
encrypted Excel file and I will send it back
decrypted as a test.
I would be happy to know if I could help.

Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
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PattyParker1145
 replied to  vedangbapna
Mar 05 2021 04:39 AM
 
If you are using Excel 2010 or older, you
can unlock a sheet with a password with the
following steps:
Open your Excel document and
switch to the password-protected
sheet. You can do it by clicking on
the file icon, it will open a list of
options, select the info tab and
click on the protect workbook.(it
should be active when you run the
1 code).
Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual
2 Basic Editor.
Right-click the workbook name on
the left pane (Project-
VBAProject pane) and
select Insert > Module from the
3 context menu.
In the window that appears, paste
4 in the following code:

You can follow this website to no more: https://unboxstop.com/how-to-unprotect-excel-sheet-without-password/

@vedangbapna 
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NikolinoDE
 replied to  Amarya_Williams
Mar 05 2021 06:21 AM
@Amarya_Williams 
The code is the same that I sent, just in a
different sequence.
The instructions as well as the same.
I don't see any difference, not even in the
approach.
Anyway, twice is maybe better.
 
Thanks for your additional help, hope we
could help the user with it too.
 
Nikolino
I know I don't know anything (Socrates)
 
 
 
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MargaretMP
 replied to  vedangbapna
Mar 05 2021 06:53 AM
@vedangbapna   
Simple Solution for me ~ Forgot password
worksheet (multiple worksheets in
workbook)
Copy sheet into New Tab, Paste so looks
exactly like sheet copied (password protect
did not copy over to new sheet), double
check matches data in prev sheet.  Delete
original sheet and rename copied one same
as original.  Password Protect this new
sheet (if you wish) making sure you 'write it
down' ; - )
Hope works for you!
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DMCxx1
 replied to  NikolinoDE
Mar 10 2021 07:48 AM
I have a file that I would love for you to try
and open for me. It's password protected
worksheet. How can I send it to you to see if
you an open it for me?
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NikolinoDE
 replied to  DMCxx1
Mar 10 2021 09:51 AM
Send me the file and I will inform you about
the possibilities.
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AletJ
 replied to  MargaretMP
Mar 31 2021 12:36 AM
This is a great solution, worked 100%
thanks!
1 Like
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RodolpheAyoub
 replied to  NikolinoDE
Apr 11 2021 08:36 AM

@NikolinoDE I have a file of one sheet that I would like to unlock, could you help me with that please?
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Jimbo2904
 replied to  NikolinoDE
Apr 12 2021 01:55 AM
@NikolinoDE 
 
Hi Nikolino, I can see you have been able to
assist with Excel Spreadsheets with
forgotten unprotect passwords. I have the
same issue as I created a spreadsheet
months ago, have not looked at it since and
I've now forgotten the password. Would you
be able to assist with recovering the
password?
 
Thanks in advance
 
Jim
orderspreadsheettemplate V2.0.xlsm
97 KB
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NikolinoDE
 replied to  Jimbo2904
Apr 12 2021 04:51 AM
@Jimbo2904 
Help for self-help
 
For some worksheets it can take a whole
day, sometimes more.
But in the end, I was able to decipher all
worksheets 99% of the time.
 
If it is a matter of removing (not retrieving) a
Worksheet password, the following code
may be used:
In a common Module we paste the following
code that removes the code from the
activated sheet:
Code:
CAUTION!! Recommended only for
proprietary Excel sheets!
Option Explicit
Sub GetPass()
Const a = 65, b = 66, c = 32, d =
126
Dim i#, j#, k#, l#, m#, n#, o#, p#,
q#, r#, s#, t#
With ActiveSheet
If .ProtectContents Then
On Error Resume Next
For i = a To b
For j = a To b
For k = a To b
For l = a To b
For m = a
To b
For n =
a To b
For
o = a To b

For p = a To b

For q = a To b

For r = a To b

For s = a To b

For t = c To d
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j)
& Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & _
Chr(n) & Chr(o) & Chr(p) &
Chr(q) & Chr(r) & Chr(s) & Chr(t)

Next t

Next s

Next r

Next q

Next p

Next o
Next n
Next m
Next l
Next k
Next j
Next i
 MsgBox "Finished"
End If
End With
End Sub
The time it will take depends to a large
extent on the power of the computer.
 
Nikolino
 
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Patrick2788
 replied to  vedangbapna
Apr 12 2021 01:24 PM
I'm surprised no one has suggested
removing the password via XML. Code isn't
needed.
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MargaretMP
 replied to  Patrick2788
Apr 12 2021 01:27 PM
@Patrick2788    Could you elaborate?
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Norman_Harker
 replied to  vedangbapna
Apr 12 2021 03:02 PM
 
@vedangbapna 
This approach still works although I haven't
tested it recently.
 
Save the workbook under a new name but
use Save as Type "Excel 97-2003"
 
That operation in your new workbook will
have lost all features used by Excel
versions after Excel 2003.
 
You then need access to a computer
running a version of Excel before Excel
2016 and preferably as early as 2007.
 
Open your file on the computer running the
old version of Excel.
 
Open also the file I attach to this post. That
file can run on later versions of Excel but
doesn't work on Excel 365, or Excel 2019,
or 2016. I think it might work with a bit of a
'glitch' on 2013. It does work on 2012 and
before.
 
I wrote an explanatory document on
including the code used this in Word and I
attach that for your assistance.
 
You can also copy the allinternalpasswords
VBA code I wrote in 2002 from:

McGimpsey & Associates : Excel : Remove internal XL passwords

 
That code will find a password that opens
any number of hidden sheets or protected
structure.
 
The disadvantage is that you lose all
features from later versions of Excel but you
will generally, at least, have back access to
all your data and that, indeed, might well be
your lifesaver.
 
Old versions of Excel are still available on
Ebay etc. But they really need installing on
a computer without any later versions of
Excel on it or using a Virtual machine
approach.
 
Hope that helps. Sorry I haven't tested it as
I don't have access to an ancient version of
Excel at present and don't run a Virtual
Machine.
 
Norman Harker
 
AllInternalPasswords.XLS
39 KB
 

AllInternalPasswords Document Explanation and VBA.doc

36 KB
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