How to Unprotect Excel Sheet Without Password: 4 Proven Methods

Forgot the password to an old Excel file? Or perhaps you've inherited a spreadsheet from a former colleague, and now you can't edit a single cell? You are not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations in the office world.

The good news is that unprotecting an Excel sheet without a password is entirely possible—and you don't need to be a hacker or buy expensive software to do it.

In this guide, we will walk you through three tested methods to regain control of your data. We will start with the easiest non-technical trick and move on to advanced methods for stubborn files.

Part 1. Important: Read This Before You Start

Before we dive into the solutions, it is crucial to understand what these methods can and cannot do.

Sheet Protection vs. Workbook Encryption

There are two main types of security in Microsoft Excel:

• Workbook Encryption (Open Password): You cannot even open or view the file without a password. The methods below will not work for this.
• Sheet Protection (Modify Password): You can open the file and see the data, but you cannot type, edit, or format cells. This guide works specifically for this scenario.

To safeguard your Excel file, always create a backup copy of your Excel file before trying these methods. Modifying file extensions or running scripts carries a small risk of file corruption.

Part 2. 4 Methods to Unprotect Excel Sheet Without Password

In this phase, we will show you 4 proven ways to unprotect Excel without knowing the correct password. Read it on!

Method 1: All in One Solution: Use TunesKit File Password Recovery

Using a third-party tool is the most recommended solution to unprotect Excel sheet without password, including Open Password and Modify Password. TunesKit File Password Recovery is a powerful and almighty file unlocking tool that allows users to unlock files including Word/Excel/PPT, PDF, and ZIP/RAR. If you can't remember the correct Excel password, TunesKit File Password Recovery can help you unlock the file within simple clicks.

Additionally, TunesKit File Password Recovery provides three different recovery methods to help you unlock files efficiently. The interface is straightforward, allowing users of all skill levels to navigate the program effortlessy.

You can follow the steps below to learn how to unprotect Excel sheet without password by using TunesKit File Password Recovery.

Step 1Launch the Program

After installing and opening TunesKit File Password Recovery, navigate to the Excel/Word/PPT section and select Recover Office Password. You can then import your locked Excel document by clicking the large + button.

Step 2Select Unlock Mode

Crucially, among the three password recovery options TunesKit File Password Recovery offers, you'll need to select Dictionary Attack to successfully retrieve your Excel data.

Step 3Start Recovery

Press Start Recover and let the program handle the rest. Once the decryption is complete, the recovered password will pop up clearly. Simply copy this code and paste it into your Excel file to open it.

Method 2: Unprotect Excel Sheet with Google Sheet

If you have a Google account, this is the first method you should try. It is surprisingly effective because Google Sheets often strips away the local Excel protection attributes during the conversion process. Google Sheets will ask you to enter the password before it can open or convert the file, which means that you cannot use this method to unlock an open-password protected file.

Step 1. Go to your Google Drive and log in.

Step 2. Drag and drop your locked Excel file into the drive.

Step 3. Double-click the uploaded file. It will likely open in Preview mode. Click the button at the top that says Open with Google Sheets.

Step 4. Once the file is open in Google Sheets, try editing a cell. If it works, you are halfway there! Now, go to File > Download > Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).

Step 5. Open the newly downloaded file on your computer. In most cases, the sheet protection will be completely gone, allowing you to edit freely.

Google's conversion engine rebuilds the file structure, often discarding specific Microsoft-proprietary protection tags that don't have a direct equivalent in the cloud version.

Method 3: Unprotect Excel Sheet Without Password via VBA Macro

If you are comfortable using a little bit of code, or if you are using an older version of Excel (2003-2010), a VBA macro can force the sheet to unlock. This method does not supports unlocking the Open Password. You must be able to open the Excel file to access the VBA editor. If you cannot open the file, you cannot run the script.

Step 1. Open your protected Excel file. Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) editor.

Step 2. In the menu, go to Insert, and the select Module.

Step 3. Copy and paste the following code into the window:

Step 4. Press F5 to run the macro. Wait a few moments. If successful, a message box will appear saying "Password removed successfully!"

This code doesn't actually find your complex password. Instead, it exploits a weakness in older Excel hashing algorithms by finding a "collision"—a different sequence of characters that generates the same internal hash as your password, satisfying the unlock requirement.

Method 4: Unlock Excel Sheet Without Password via the ZIP Trick

If the above methods didn't work, this manual method is the gold standard. It involves tweaking the internal structure of the Excel file. If an Excel file is encrypted with an Open Password, the entire ZIP structure is scrambled. You cannot open the ZIP file or view the XML data inside without the password.

Step 1. Right-click your Excel file and choose Rename and change the extension from .xlsx to .zip.

Step 2. Double-click the new ZIP file to open it (or use 7-Zip/WinRAR).

Step 3. Navigate through the folders: xl > worksheets.

Step 4. Copy the sheet1.xml file out of the ZIP folder and paste it onto your Desktop. Right-click the file on your Desktop and choose Open with > Notepad.

Step 5. Press Ctrl + F and search for this specific text: sheetProtection.

Step 6. You will find a tag that looks something like this: sheetProtection algorithmName="SHA-512" hashValue="..." sheet="1" objects="1" scenarios="1". Delete the entire tag, from the opening < to the closing />.

Step 7. Save the file (Ctrl + S) and close Notepad.

Step 8. Drag the modified sheet1.xml from your Desktop back into the ZIP folder (inside xl/worksheets/).

Step 9. Confirm that you want to replace the existing file.

Step 10. Rename the ZIP file back to .xlsx. Open your Excel file. The password protection is now removed successfully!

Part 3. FAQs About How to Unprotect Excel Sheet Without Password

Part 4. Conclusion

Losing access to your own Excel sheet is frustrating, but it doesn't have to be permanent. By understanding how to unprotect an Excel sheet without a password, you can save hours of recreating data. Mastering these simple tricks ensures that a forgotten password never stands between you and your productivity again. And TunesKit File Password Recovery can be one of the best solutions to unlock your Excel file in simple steps.