This article explains how to delete the security password with which you can protect access to any Excel sheet and how to try to find the password with which the data in an Excel file was encrypted. It should be noted that deleting the protection password of an Excel child is a fairly simple and straightforward process, while performing the same operation with the password with which an Excel file was encrypted is impossible. In the latter case, you can try using one of the many paid programs that will attempt to find the password with a brute force algorithm, a process that can take weeks to complete.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Delete the Password Protection of an Excel Sheet
Step 1. Understand the cases in which this method can be performed
If only the sheets that make up the Excel file have been protected with a password, i.e. if by opening the file it is possible to view its contents but not modify it, then you can use the procedure described below to remove this type of protection. In this case, you can use both the Windows and Mac versions of Excel.
If the entire Excel file has been encrypted with a login password, this method cannot be used
Step 2. Check if the Excel file in question is encrypted
The easiest way to do this is to double-click the document icon. If the file opens as usual, it means that the worksheet is protected against changes, but the file is not encrypted.
- In this case, a pop-up window with a warning message should appear when you attempt to edit the sheet content.
- If by double clicking on the Excel file icon you are immediately prompted to provide the login password, it means that the whole document has been encrypted, so this method is completely ineffective in eliminating this type of protection. Try following these instructions.
Step 3. Make a copy of the Excel file that contains the protected worksheet
Click on the corresponding icon, press the key combination Ctrl + C (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (on Mac), then press the key combination Ctrl + V (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (on Mac) to create a copy.
This step is necessary to have a backup copy in case you have to corrupt the original file during the password removal process
Step 4. Turn on the display of file extensions
If you are using a Mac, you can skip this step. If you are using a Windows system, you need to make sure you can view and change file extensions by following these instructions:
-
Open a window File Explorerby clicking on the icon
File_Explorer_Icon (or by pressing the key combination ⊞ Win + E).
- Click on the tab View;
- Select the "Filename extensions" checkbox.
Step 5. Change the extension of the Excel file in question to turn it into a ZIP archive
Follow these instructions:
- Windows - click on the Excel file icon with the right mouse button, click on the item Rename, delete the current "xlsx" extension, placed at the end of the file name, and type the new zip extension. Make sure you don't delete the period that separates the "zip" extension from the file name. Press the Enter key, then click the button Yup when required.
- Mac - click on the Excel file icon, click on the menu File, click on the option Get information, delete the current "xlsx" extension, placed at the end of the file name, and type the new zip extension. Make sure you don't delete the period that separates the "zip" extension from the file name. Press the Enter key, then click the button Use.zip when required.
Step 6. Unzip the ZIP file you just created
The procedure to follow varies according to the operating system in use:
- 'Windows - click on the ZIP file icon with the right mouse button, click on the option Extract everything … from the context menu that appeared, then click on the button Extract when required. The window for the folder that was extracted from the ZIP file should open.
- Mac - double-click the ZIP file icon, then wait for the process of extracting data from the compressed archive to be complete.
Step 7. Go to the "xl" folder
Double-click the folder icon indicated in the window that appeared after unzipping the ZIP file.
If for any reason the window showing the contents of the ZIP file after unzipping the data did not open automatically, you will need to double-click the folder icon that was created by the ZIP file extraction process before you can access the folder. indicated. It is normally stored in the same directory where the original ZIP file is located
Step 8. Go to the "worksheets" folder
It should be visible at the top of the window showing the contents of the "xl" folder.
Step 9. Open the Excel sheet in question using a text editor
Depending on the operating system installed on your computer, you will need to follow these instructions:
- Windows - click on the file icon corresponding to the sheet you want to remove the access password (for example "Sheet1"), select the option Open with from the context menu that appeared, then click on the app Block notes.
- Mac - click on the file icon corresponding to the sheet you want to remove the access password (for example "Sheet1"), click on the menu File, select the option Open with, then click on the app TextEdit.
Step 10. Remove the password protection code
Locate the section of code called "sheetProtection" inserted inside two angle brackets "", then delete it completely starting with the opening tag "").
Step 11. Save your changes and close the text editor
Press the key combination Ctrl + S (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + S (on Mac), then click the button in the shape of X (or with a red circle on a Mac) to close the program window.
Step 12. Copy the "worksheets" folder
Click on the "Back" button to go up one level to the "xl" folder, then click on the "worksheets" directory icon and press the key combination Ctrl + C (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + C (on Mac).
Step 13. Open the ZIP file you created earlier by double clicking on the corresponding icon
Step 14. Replace the "worksheets" folder of the original ZIP file with the one you just copied
Access the ZIP file folder that contains the one indicated by double clicking on the "xl" icon, delete the "worksheets" directory, click on an empty spot in the current window and press the key combination Ctrl + V (on Windows) or ⌘ Command + V (on Mac). This way the "worksheets" folder you copied will be pasted inside the original ZIP file.
Step 15. Change the extension of the ZIP file to turn it back into an Excel file
Close the window showing the contents of the ZIP archive and follow these instructions:
- Windows - click on the Excel file icon with the right mouse button, click on the item Rename, delete the current "zip" extension, placed at the end of the file name, and type the new extension xlsx. Make sure you don't delete the period that separates the "zip" extension from the file name. Press the Enter key, then click the button Yup when required.
- Mac - click on the Excel file icon, click on the menu File, click on the option Get information, delete the current "zip" extension, placed at the end of the file name, and type the new zip extension. Make sure you don't delete the period that separates the "zip" extension from the file name. Press the Enter key, then click the button Use.xlsx when required.
Step 16. Open the Excel file
Double-click the corresponding icon, then make any changes you want.
If a warning message appears stating that the file is corrupt, it means that you have most likely deleted too much code when you cleared the password protection section. In this case, repeat the steps described in the method, taking care to delete only the "sheetProtection" section and the angle brackets ("") that delimit it
Method 2 of 2: Breaking the Access Password of an Excel File
Step 1. Be aware that it may be impossible to crack the password with which an Excel file was protected
Modern versions of Microsoft Excel, for example Excel 2013 and Excel 2016, use an advanced data encryption technique that makes the brute force-based hack algorithm used by most programs completely useless due to length of the key that needs to be identified (in this case the chosen program would take weeks, months or years to find the correct password based on its length).
It is not possible to attempt to crack the password protection of an Excel file without purchasing a special paid program, as free versions of safe and reliable programs are only compatible with Excel 2010 and earlier versions
Step 2. Verify that the Excel file in question is encrypted
The easiest way to do this is to double-click the document icon. If the file is indeed encrypted, you will immediately be prompted to enter the security password before you can view its contents.
If double clicking on the Excel file icon opens the file as usual, it means that the worksheet is protected against changes, but the file is not encrypted. In this case you can solve the problem by following these instructions
Step 3. Purchase a program that can crack Excel passwords
In this case the password cannot simply be removed from the file, you will need to use a special paid program that can identify it and allow you to type it normally in Excel.
- Passware Excel Key is the only safe and reliable program that can locate the access password of a file created with Excel 2016 or an earlier version.
- Accent Excel Password Recovery and Rixler Excel Password Recovery Master are both great options but can only be used with files created with Excel 2013 or earlier.
Step 4. Install and launch the program you have chosen to use
The procedure to follow varies depending on the software you choose and your computer's operating system. In most cases, you will need to download the installation file, double click on the corresponding icon, follow the instructions that will appear on the screen and start the program at the end of the installation procedure.
Step 5. Select the Excel file to be processed
Use the interface of the program you purchased to locate the Excel file in question, select it with a mouse click and click on the button You open or You choose.
The precise procedure to follow varies according to the program you have chosen to use, for example if you have purchased Passware Excel Key, you will have to click on the button Remove a password before you can select the Excel file to scan.
Step 6. Start the password search process
If necessary, click on the button Start or Run of the program to start the procedure of identifying the access password of the Excel file you have selected.
In some cases, you may be able to choose the type of algorithm to use to find the password (for example "brute force")
Step 7. Wait for the result of the procedure
Unfortunately, brute-force algorithms can take hours or months to find the password you are looking for. Depending on the importance of the content of the Excel file in question, it may not be worth continuing the search after 1-2 days of work without reaching the goal.
If the program you purchased finds the password, it will be displayed in a pop-up window. At that point you can type it in the Excel window and have access to the contents of the file
Warnings
- In most cases you will not be able to crack the password with which the Excel file under consideration was encrypted.
- Microsoft does not offer an Excel security password reset service and does not have any tools that can do that.
