Top 4 Ways to Open a Password-Protected Excel File

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for managing everything from complex financial models to simple personal budgets. Because this data can often be sensitive or confidential, Excel provides a crucial security feature: password protection. This function encrypts the file, ensuring that only users with the correct password can view or modify its contents.

While this is excellent for security, it can present a challenge if you're unsure of the process or have forgotten the password. This post will guide you on how to open a password-protected excel file with simple methods.

Part 1. How to Open a Password-Protected Excel File?

Without further ado, let's explore the following 4 methods to open a password-protected excel file.

Method 1: Opening a File When You Know the Password

This first scenario is the most straightforward. If you have the password, opening the file is just a piece of cake.

Step 1. Double-click the Excel file to open it.

Step 2. A small dialog box will appear prompting you for the password. Carefully type the password into the text field. Note that passwords are case-sensitive.

Step 3. Click OK. If the password is correct, the file will open.

If you are dealing with a "Password to Modify," Excel will give you an option to open the file as "Read-Only." If you just need to view the data, this is your quickest option and requires no password at all.

Method 2: Removing a Forgotten "Password to Modify"

If the file opens as "Read-Only" but asks for a password to modify it, you are in luck. This is the easiest type of password to bypass.

Step 1: Open the password-protected Excel file.

Step 2: When prompted for the "Password to Modify," simply click the Read Only button.

Step 3: Once the file is open, navigate to the File tab in the top-left corner.

Step 4: Select Save As and give the file a new name.

The new file you just saved is an exact copy of the original, but it is no longer protected by the "Password to Modify." You can now edit and save it freely.

Method 3: Unprotecting a Worksheet or Workbook

If you can open the file but cannot edit specific cells (Worksheet Protection) or add/delete sheets (Workbook Protection), you can use one of the following methods to remove the lock.

The Google Sheets Method (Easiest)

This simple method uses Google Sheets to strip the protection from the file.

Step 1: Open your web browser and navigate to Google Drive.

Step 2: Upload the protected Excel file to your Google Drive.

Step 3: Right-click the file in Google Drive and select Open with > Google Sheets.

Step 4: Google Sheets will open the file and, in the process, will automatically remove any worksheet or workbook protection.

Step 5: To save the file back to your computer, go to File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).

The new file you download will be a copy of your original spreadsheet, but without the editing restrictions.

The XML Editing Method (Technical)

This method is more advanced but works directly with the file on your computer. It involves changing the file's extension to .zip to access its internal XML code.

Step 1: Locate your file (e.g., MySheet.xlsx). Right-click it and select Rename.

Step 2: Change the file extension from .xlsx to .zip (e.g., MySheet.zip). Press Enter and confirm the change if Windows warns you.

Step 3: Open the .zip file using your computer's built-in file explorer or a tool like 7-Zip.

Step 4: Navigate into the xl folder.

Step 5: If you are removing Worksheet Protection, open the worksheets folder. You will see files like sheet1.xml, sheet2.xml, etc. Open the file corresponding to the locked sheet in a text editor like Notepad.

Step 6: If you are removing Workbook Protection, stay in the xl folder and open the file named workbook.xml in a text editor.

Step 7: Inside the text file, press Ctrl+F and search for the word protection.

For a worksheet, you will find a tag that starts with <sheetProtection ... />. Select this entire tag—from the opening < to the closing />—and delete it.

For a workbook, you will find a tag like <workbookProtection ... />. Select this entire tag and delete it.

Step 8: Save the .xml file and close the text editor. Update the file inside the .zip archive when prompted.

Step 9: Rename the file's extension from .zip back to .xlsx.

When you open the Excel file, the worksheet or workbook protection will be gone.

Method 4: Dealing with a Forgotten "Password to Open"

This is the most difficult scenario. If the file asks for a password before it even opens, it is encrypted. It's the most secure and difficult type of password to bypass. Unlike worksheet or workbook protection, this password cannot be removed with simple file tricks.

But there is a workaround. You can use TunesKit File Password Recovery to find the password. The software uses three primary methods (or "attack modes") to find your password. Also, it also enables you to disable password in PDF.

• Dictionary Attack: This is the fastest method. It tries to unlock the file using thousands of words and common password combinations from a built-in dictionary. It's very effective if the password is a common word, name, or simple phrase.
• Combination Attack: This mode is best if you remember something about the password. You can set rules, such as "it was 8 characters long," "it started with 'S'," or "it only contained letters and numbers." This greatly narrows down the search.
• Brute-Force Attack: This is the most exhaustive and slowest method. It will try every single possible combination of all characters (letters, numbers, symbols). This is the last resort if you have no idea what the password could be.

Here is the general process for recovering your Excel password with TunesKit File Password Recovery.

Step 1Select File Type

Download and install the TunesKit File Password Recovery software on your computer. Launch the program. On the main interface, you will see options for different file types. Select the Excel/Word/PPT option.

Step 2Select unlock method

On the next screen, you will likely see two features: "Recover Office Password" and "Remove Office Restriction." Since you are dealing with a "Password to Open," you must select Recover Office Password.

Step 3Add Excel File to the Program

Add your locked file. You can typically click a "+" or "Add File" button, or just drag and drop your password-protected Excel file directly into the program window.

Select your attack mode. This is the most important step:

• If you think it's a simple password: Choose Dictionary Attack.
• If you remember parts of the password: Choose Combination Attack and fill in any details you can recall (length, starting characters, etc.).
• If you have no clue: Choose Brute-Force Attack. Be aware this could take a very long time.

Step 4Get recovered password

Click the Start Recover (or similar) button to begin the process. The software will now start testing password combinations. It will show you a log of its progress. Once the password is found, the software will stop and display it in a pop-up window. You can then copy this password and use it to open your Excel file.

Part 2. FAQs about Opening a Password Protected Excel File

Part 3. Conclusion

Simple workarounds like "Save As" or Google Sheets can bypass "Modify" or "Worksheet" protection, but these tricks fail against a forgotten "Password to Open," which fully encrypts the file. When you're completely locked out, your only viable solution is a specialized recovery tool. TunesKit File Password Recovery is a powerful option that uses advanced brute-force and dictionary attacks to find the lost password and regain access to your critical data.