Knowing how to remove a password in Excel. How to remove a password from an Excel file: several simple methods. Archive in excel

If the password for unprotecting the sheet is not known (forgotten or lost for another reason),Unprotect an Excel sheet you can use an add-on (macro), but if the password is known, the protection is removed standard means Excel. Let's take a closer look at ways to remove sheet protection in Excel.

Attention! Before you begin to unprotect an Excel worksheet, make sure that on the Edit tab, in the Allow multiple users to edit a file at the same time checkbox is cleared. If this checkbox is checked, then the buttons “Protect sheet”, “Protect workbook”, “Unprotect sheet”, “Unprotect workbook” will be inactive! In order to check whether this checkbox is checked, you need to go to the menu item Tools/Access to the workbook... (if you are working in Excel 2003) or to the "Review" tab, in the "Changes" group, click the "Access to the workbook" button ( if the work is done in Excel 2007 or Excel 2010).

How to unprotect a worksheet in Excel 2003?

In order to unprotect a sheet in Excel 2003, you must select the menu item Tools/Protection/Unprotect Sheet...

If you used a password to protect the worksheet, when you unprotect the worksheet, the Unprotect Sheet dialog box appears, prompting you to enter a password to unprotect the worksheet. If the password is entered correctly, the sheet protection will be removed.

How to unprotect a worksheet in Excel 2007?

Unprotecting an Excel 2007 sheet is done on the “Review” tab by clicking the “Unprotect Sheet” button.

When you unprotect a worksheet in Excel, a dialog box may appear asking you to enter a password. If you know him, then everything is fine, enter him and the protection is removed.

How to unprotect a worksheet in Excel 2010?

You can unprotect an Excel sheet in this version of the application in the same way as it was done in Excel previous version. Go to the "Review" tab and in the "Changes" group click the "Unprotect sheet" button.

If necessary, enter a password.

How to unprotect an Excel sheet without knowing the password?

Situations may arise when you forgot the previously entered password to protect the sheet from changes by users, and the need to make any changes to the sheet again arises. Password recovery in Excel in such cases it can be reduced to removing password from excel sheet and then setting a new password. You can also quickly do this using an Excel add-in.

The add-in is easily installed, after which it appears in the Excel menu additional button to run the program (macro). After running the macro, a dialog box appears in which the user can select the desired operating mode.

The add-on allows you to:

1. Enter the password in the dialog box and unprotect the active worksheet;

2. Enter the password in the dialog box and unprotect all sheets of the workbook at once;

3. Pick up forgotten password and remove the protection of the active worksheet by selecting the "Reset password" option (selecting a password of any complexity in 2-3 minutes);

4. By selecting passwords, remove the protection of all sheets of the workbook (working time depends on the number of protected sheets in the workbook).

How to unprotect all Excel sheets?

Unprotecting worksheets can be tedious and time-consuming if your workbook has many protected worksheets and you often need to unprotect and then reinstall it. There is no standard option that allows you to remove and install protection on all sheets of a workbook at once in Excel. This feature can be implemented using VBA - built into applications Microsoft Office programming language. If protection is removed and installed quite often, and workbooks contain several sheets, then you can automate the operation using add-ins for Excel, while the program (macro) will go through all the sheets of the workbook and remove the protection from changes.

Quickly removing protection from all sheets at once, or selectively removing protection only from those sheets of the workbook that are specified by the user, in the case where all passwords are known to the user, can be done using an add-on, the dialog box of which is shown below.

Any Microsoft user Excel and other similar programs can easily be installed on important spreadsheet document a password that will prevent information from being viewed by persons for whom the contents of the document are not intended.

Unfortunately, quite often there are situations when a user sets a password, and then he himself cannot access the document for the simple reason that the password was completely forgotten. Fortunately, you have the opportunity to remove protection from the sheet.

Method 1: using standard Windows tools

Actually, this method is suitable if you do not want to ask for help third party programs, allowing you to remove passwords from documents. It should be noted that in in this case Much more action will have to be taken.

Method 2: Using Accent OFFICE Password Recovery

And, of course, remove the password from Excel document it is possible with the help special utilities, which greatly simplify this task. In our example, we will turn to the help of the Accent OFFICE Password Recovery utility.

If you know other ways to remove a password from Microsoft document Excel, please tell us about them in the comments.

19.02.2017

The Excel spreadsheet processor was developed by Microsoft back in 1985, since then its functionality has expanded significantly and its interface has become more convenient. The program is actively used by both financiers, accountants, analysts, and ordinary users. The functionality allows you to create complex tables and make calculations using formulas available in the program or entered by the user yourself, and build graphs and diagrams. The work takes place on so-called sheets, which are included in the book (one Excel document).

Removing password protection from Excel

Microsoft understands that the file may fall into the wrong hands, so it allows the user to set a password to access a specific sheet or the entire document. It is even possible to block individual cells from editing and/or viewing. But what to do if you forgot your password and the file contains important data? You can remove the password yourself using standard programs Windows.

Method 1: Remove the password using an archiver

This method works best with older versions of the program (up to version 2010). IN latest versions There is a risk of data loss due to new security settings. The essence of the method is to access each sheet separately. To do this, you will need any archiver that can work with .zip files and a tool for editing code (even a standard Windows notepad will do).

Work can only be done with .xlsx files, so pay attention to the format in which the document is saved, because Older versions of Excel save documents in .xls format. If the file has the extension .xls, then resave. To do this, open it in Excel and top menu select the file, and from the drop-down menu “Save as”, further in the section “File type” choose “Excel workbook (.xlsx)”.

Next you need to change the extension .xlsx to .zip. To do this, right-click on the file and select rename. At the end of the name, change the extension to .zip. Example: “Table1.xlsx” rename to “Table1.zip”.

If, when you try to rename a file, the extension is not shown, then follow this procedure:

After this procedure, you can easily mark the extension of any file manually.

Next, open the archive and go to the folder "xl", after in "worksheets", where the sheets in .xml format are located. The sheets in this case are called “sheet” and are numbered by creation date (sheet1, sheet2, etc.). You need to open the file using a standard notepad or a special code reactor (for example, NotePad++).

In the file that opens, find the fragment "sheetProtection". Because there will be a lot of code in the file, it is recommended to use quick search by content using keyboard shortcuts Ctrl+F. Find the desired block that has this structure ““sheetProtection variable1=”” variable2=””…”, you can see in more detail in the screenshot below. To reset your password, delete this entire block.

If you perform this procedure with a sheet that was saved in the program version 2010 or higher, you will lose all data. To solve this problem, do not delete the entire block, but only the value of the variable "password". As for the version starting from 2016, there is no variable "password", so it is impossible to remove the password using an archiver in this case.

When finished, save your changes and change the file extension back to .xlsx in the same way as you changed to .zip.

This method allows you to remove the password only from individual sheets, so if you have a completely password-protected big file Excel with several sheets, you will have to remove protection from each sheet manually.

Method 2: Removing the password via Macro

In this case, you only need the Excel table itself and the ability to work with the developer console. By default, the developer panel is not displayed in the file; to enable it, use the following instructions:

In the developer window that opens, find the button "Macro" or use the keyboard shortcut Alt+F8.

Fill in the field with the name of the macro (you can come up with any name, but it should not contain Russian letters or spaces). Click "Create". The system opens a window for entering the code.

Enter the following code:

Sub Password_Cracker()
Dim t!
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Long
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
Dim kennwort As String
t = Timer
On Error GoTo err_
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
kennwort = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5 )&Chr(i6)
For n=32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect kennwort & Chr(n)
MsgBox "Done in " & Format(Timer - t, "0.0 sec")
Exit Sub
nxt_: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Exit Sub
err_: Resume nxt_
End Sub

Close the window, saving the changes. In developer mode, use the Alt+F8 key combination again to see the created macro. Select it and click “Run” in the right corner.

The macro will take approximately 10-60 seconds to complete, depending on the power of your computer and the size of the document.

Conclusion

To independently remove a password from an Excel spreadsheet, you do not need to have the skills of a professional hacker or download additional software. The latter is strictly not recommended, because... you may catch a virus that will cause serious damage to your system.

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14 comments

Valery Rvachev


Thank you very much for the article. It is written clearly, concisely, without the idiotic distorted words that many people on the Internet are guilty of.
But I was not able to use the excellent methods described in the article.
I tried the first option. I have Microsoft Office 2010. But after replacing the .xlsx extension with .zip I received the program response:
"The folder cannot be opened.
The path to the compressed ZIP folder “C:\Users\Comp\Desktop\Login 02/25/2017- copy.zip” contains invalid characters that make extraction impossible: -, "
I tried the second option. But when creating a macro, it can only be used for open Excel workbooks, and it is impossible to open a workbook without a password. If there is a password, then why look for it? So it didn't work out for me. and in an Excel file I stored passwords for many sites and services. And now suddenly it stopped opening with the password I used to open it hundreds of times.

Yanochka


Valery, I agree with you too. As for storing passwords in a file on a PC, that’s a very dubious idea. I personally keep them in written form, by hand, in a separate notebook, which is in a safe place, and only after my death can it be read by someone.

Constituent component office suite - Microsoft Excel For a long time, and quite deservedly, it has become the main tool in business areas. It is most actively used by accountants, estimators, mathematicians and businessmen.

Many, in order to protect their calculations from outsiders, put protection on Excel workbook, or protect a separate sheet. If this is information intended only for the owner, there are no problems. But more often it is intended for the work of company employees. The file is sent by mail, forgetting to remove the protection, or without warning the recipient about the existence of such a sheet in the file.

Working with Excel 2003

The task is to add a list to a page. When you try to enter the next sequence number, you are faced with the message: The cell or chart is protected from changes.

Excel itself tells you the action plan. We follow the path: Tools → Protection → Unprotect the sheet.

Working with Excel 2007, 2010

In this version of Excel, a different menu is used instead of “Tools”: “Review” → “Unprotect sheet” (“Changes” group).

Important! The “Unprotect sheet” option is active if it is protected. In the case of 2007 or 2010 - installed general access to the workbook you want to cancel.

Resetting a protected sheet password

If you sent an Excel file in which the sheet password protected and the owner is unavailable or, simply, forgot the password. The user's only task is to reset the password in order to be able to work with this page.

This is done:

1. Using add-ons.
2. Using an archiver and notepad.

We find and install a macro that performs our task.

Installing the add-on

1. Place the downloaded macro (add-in) in the Addins folder (default macro folder).
2. Go to Tools → add-ons → overview.
3. Select the desired file.
4. We install.

The macro is launched along the path from step 2. macro settings. We remove the protection by resetting the password for the active sheet.

After launching, it seems that the program has frozen, because the process takes about two minutes, after which we receive a message.

Using an archiver and notepad

Important! This method is only possible for files with the xlsx extension. Those. files created in versions later than 2003. Or you can resave the file in a newer version.

Procedure:

1. Open with an existing archiver, for example, WinRar.
2. Among the archive files there will be sheet1.xml. Let's open it with anyone text editor(for example, with a notepad).
3. Find the text sheetProtection password.
4. Remove the password value (the one in quotes).
5. Or we use this value as the sheet protection password.

If the advice in this article did not help you or you have a question about Windows or Microsoft products write to us. Together we will try to find the answer.

Password to remove protection from Excel sheet. Good afternoon, friends. In the article before last, we looked at the method. We also figured out how such protection can be removed. This means removing the password when you remember it. If you don’t remember it, then it’s more difficult to do it. But, anyway, you can remove the protection from Excel. True, we will have to resort to third-party software. But these are minor things.

In addition, I hope that you will apply the acquired knowledge on your computer and with your documents. Don't forget about criminal liability when you commit similar actions with other people's documents.

How to unprotect an Excel sheet?

First of all, we need to open Excel, which is protected. Please note that all the tools in the Excel sheet menu are colored faded gray. That is, they are not active. In such a document, you cannot enter anything into any cell or change anything in it.

If you try to do this, the following window will appear:

So, to remove the password from a document, click on the “File” tab of the main window.

A new window appears, where in the left column we select the “Information” tab. After that, in a new window, select the “Unprotect” command.

At the same time, Excel will ask you to enter a password to remove the protection. But we don't remember him. Therefore, you do not need to enter anything into this window. Click “Cancel”.

You can also enter this window using another tab – “Reviewing”, which is located on the main menu. On this tab we need to select “Unprotect sheet”. A window with a password appears, click “Cancel”.

You can read this book. But you can’t change anything about it. However, in most cases, users install minimal protection. For example, the book I’m looking at now can not only be read, but also copy text from it. This is done by selecting cell fragments, then using the drop-down menu, select “Copy” (or Ctrl + C) and paste the copied fragment into another book or text editor.

Let's add the copied fragment into a new book. File – New – New Book. Press Ctrl + V. As you can see, the data from our document was perfectly copied into new document. At the same time, without hacking the password.

Removing Excel 2003 protection

The option that we discussed with you works on new versions of Excel. In older versions, the protection option is partially different.

To remove the code, perform the following manipulations.

After these steps, a window will appear in which you will be asked to enter a password.

How to remove password in Excel?

So, first you need to check whether your Windows shows extensions at the end of files or not. Many computers do not display extensions. So let's check it out.

Our document has an xlsx extension, but we need to change it to zip. That is, to the archive folder. To do this, select the file and click on the F2 button. Before renaming the extension, a window appears. Click “Yes”.

This document is now Windows system considers it an archive, so she gave him a new label in the form of an archive.

This archive must be opened without unpacking it. That is, open it in the WinRar program itself or in the one you use. Main, this archive cannot be unpacked. To do this, you need to right-click on the archive and select “Open in WinRar” in the context menu.

Then, we need to go to the “xl” folder of the “WinRar” program or another archiver.

After that, go to the “worksheets” folder.

In this folder we see how many sheets the book has. Select the one you need from the sheets and drag it into the “Explorer” with the mouse.

Now, you need to right-click on this file. Select “Edit” from the drop-down menu.

I opened a document with an incomprehensible code entry in WordPad, yours will most likely open in Notepad, but this does not change the essence. We need to enter the WordPad menu search, or via the Ctrl + F keys.

In the search you need to enter the word “sheetProtection”, followed by “Find Next”.

Now starting from the tag sheetProtection remove all content up to the closing tag. I have up to " scenarios="1"" I highlighted this part yellow. In other words, be sure to remove the code starting with the opening parenthesis<, и заканчивайте закрывающей>. If you removed one of these brackets, simply add it from the Latin keyboard. After deleting, click “Save”.

Now, we transfer the converted file again to the archive folder.

We must not just migrate the code, but replace the files. Click OK.

Now the archiver program needs to be closed. Then, we again add the xlsx extension to the archive by selecting it and pressing F2. Our program asks again. Click Yes.

Our document has become Excel again. Now you need to launch it. After these manipulations, we see that all the cells of the document are now easy to edit. That is, we managed to remove the xlsx password without knowing it. Mission accomplished!

Video password remove protection from Excel sheet

Conclusion: The task of how to remove a password from an Excel sheet is completed. As you can see, everything is simple, although a little confusing. Of the third-party programs, we only used WinRar. Although, you can use any archiver. If you have this action it didn’t work, it means you deleted the extra part of the code, or vice versa, left it. Therefore, be extremely careful. Also, write down your passwords in several places so as not to resort to such means. Good luck!