Forgot your Excel password: how to recover or delete it?

François

Have you password-protected an Excel document or spreadsheet but forgotten the password ? Don't panic, there are ways to unlock your file without losing your data. In this article, we'll show you solutions for recovering or removing a forgotten Excel password , depending on the type of password protection you used.

What types of password protection are available in Excel?

There are two types of Excel file protection: workbook protection and worksheet protection. Each type can be enabled or disabled independently and requires a different password.

Workbook protection prevents the Excel file from being opened without the password. It protects the entire document from unauthorized modifications.
Sheet protection prevents locked cells in a spreadsheet from being modified without the password. It helps protect sensitive data or formulas from errors or tampering.

To disable workbook or worksheet protection, go to the Review on the Excel ribbon and click Unprotect Workbook or Unprotect Worksheet . Then, enter the corresponding password.

How to recover a forgotten Excel password for a workbook?

If you've forgotten the password for an Excel workbook, you can't open it without it. There's no official way to recover a forgotten Excel workbook password because it's encrypted and stored within the file itself. However, there are alternative solutions to bypass this protection.

Method 1: Use the Find and Replace function

The first method we suggest is the simplest and fastest . It involves using Excel's Find and Replace function to modify the file's source code and remove the password. Here are the steps to follow:

Open the password-protected Excel file with a text editor such as Notepad or WordPad.
Press Ctrl + F to open the Find and Replace dialog box.
In the Search field, type “DPB” (without the quotes).
In the Replace with field, type “DPx” (without the quotes).
Click on Replace all.
Save the file and close the text editor.
Open the Excel file with Excel. The password should have disappeared.

This method works for Excel files in .xls format (Excel 97-2003). For files in .xlsx format (Excel 2007 or higher), you must replace “DPB” with “sheetProtection” and “DPx” with “sheetUnprotection”.

Method 2: Use password recovery software

Method 1: Use an online Excel password recovery tool

The second method we suggest is to use specialized Excel password recovery software. Several are available on the market, such as PassFab for Excel, Passper for Excel , Excel Password Recovery , etc. These programs use advanced algorithms to find the password of an Excel file by testing different possible combinations.

This method is effective for all types of Excel files , but it can be expensive, as most software is paid and requires a license .

These software programs generally operate in three modes:

Brute-force mode tests all possible character combinations until it finds the correct password. This mode is effective, but can take a long time if the password is long or complex.
Brute-force mode optimizes the search by using known information about the password, such as its length, the characters used, the position of a character, etc. This mode is faster than brute-force mode, but requires some clues about the password.
Dictionary Attack mode tests words contained in a predefined or custom dictionary. This mode is very fast if the password is a common or simple word, but ineffective if the password is random or complex.

To use software specifically designed to recover Excel passwords, you must follow these steps:

Download and install the software of your choice on your computer.
Launch the software and click on Add a file to import the password-protected Excel file.
Choose the type of attack to use to find the password. There are generally four types of attack: brute-force attack, brute-force attack with a mask, and dictionary attack. Each type of attack has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the complexity of the password and the information you know about it.
Click Start to begin password recovery . The time required may vary depending on the length and complexity of the password, as well as the processing power of your computer.
Once the password is found, it will be displayed on the screen. You can then copy the password and use it to open your Excel file.

The 3 best software programs to recover a forgotten Excel password

PassFab for Excel : This software is compatible with all versions of Excel and can recover workbook and worksheet passwords. It offers three recovery modes: brute force, brute force with mask, and dictionary attack. It is easy to use and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Passper for Excel : This software is compatible with all versions of Excel and can recover workbook and worksheet passwords. It offers four recovery modes: brute force, brute force with mask, dictionary attack, and smart attack. It is fast and secure and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Excel Password Recovery : This software is compatible with Excel versions from 97 to 2019 and can recover workbook and worksheet passwords. It offers two recovery modes: brute force and brute force with a mask. It is simple and effective and comes with a 90-day money-back guarantee.

Method 3: Use an online service

The third method we recommend is using an online service that unlocks password-protected Excel files. Several websites offer this service, such as Password-Find.com , LostMyPass.com , Password-Online.com , etc. These websites use powerful servers to decrypt an Excel file's password in minutes. Here's how:

Access the website of the online service you have chosen.
Click the Browse or Select a file button to upload the password-protected Excel file to the website.
Click the Unlock or Start button to begin the file unlocking process.
Wait until the website notifies you that the file has been unlocked. You can then download the Excel file without a password or receive a download link by email.

This method is convenient and quick, but it poses risks to the security and confidentiality of your data . You must entrust your Excel file to a third-party website, which could use it for malicious purposes or disclose it to others. Furthermore, some websites may charge you a fee to unlock your file.

Method 4: Using a VBA macro

Method 3: Use an Excel VBA macro to recover a lost password

The second solution involves using a VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) macro to remove the password from the Excel workbook. This code will modify the Excel file and save it without the password. This solution is free and quick, but requires access to another, unprotected Excel file.

To use a VBA macro to remove the password from an Excel workbook, you must follow these steps:

Open an unprotected Excel file on your computer.
Press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
In the Insert , click on Module .
Copy and paste the following code into the module window:

Sub RemovePassword() Dim f As String Dim wb As Workbook Dim i As Integer f = Application.GetOpenFilename("Excel files (*.xls*),*.xls*", , "Select the file to remove the password") If f = "False" Then Exit Sub Set wb = Workbooks.Open(f, , True) For i = 1 To 3 On Error Resume Next wb.Password = "" wb.SaveAs f, , "", "" If Err.Number = 0 Then Exit For Next i wb.Close False MsgBox "Password removed" End Sub

Copy

Press the F5 to run the macro.
Select the Excel file for which you have forgotten the password and click Open .
Wait for the macro to remove the password and save the file without a password.
Open the Excel file without a password.

How to recover a forgotten Excel password for a worksheet?

Method 2: Use specialized software (Excel, lost password) — Photo credit: FileCR

If you've forgotten the password for an Excel sheet, you can still open it, but you can't edit the locked cells without the password. There is an official method to recover a forgotten Excel password for a sheet, which involves using the Reset Password .

To use the Reset Password function to recover a forgotten Excel password for a worksheet, follow these steps:

Open the Excel file containing the password-protected sheet.
Go to the Review of the Excel ribbon, and click on Protect Sheet .
In the dialog box that opens, click Reset Password .
Enter your Microsoft email address and click Send .
Open your email inbox and check the message sent by Microsoft. You will find a link there to reset your password.
Click on the link and follow the instructions to create a new password.
Go back to Excel and enter your new password to unlock the sheet.

Conclusion

You now have all the tools you need to recover or remove a forgotten Excel password from a workbook or worksheet. This allows you to regain access to your data and modify it as needed. Remember to write down your passwords in a safe place, or use a password manager to store them securely.

FAQ

How can I avoid forgetting the Excel password I use to protect my document or worksheet?

There are several tips to avoid forgetting the Excel password you use to protect your document or worksheet, such as:

Use a password that is easy to remember but difficult to guess, by combining letters, numbers, and symbols.
Use a password manager , such as [ LastPass ], [ Dashlane ], or [ 1Password ], which allows you to store and generate secure passwords.
Write down your password on a physical medium , such as a piece of paper or a notebook, and store it in a safe and discreet place.
Share your password with a trusted person , who can remind you if you forget it.
Save your password in the cloud

How can I password-protect my document or Excel spreadsheet without risking data loss?

If you wish to password-protect your document or Excel spreadsheet , it is important to take certain precautions to avoid losing your data in case you forget the password or experience a technical problem, such as:

Make a backup copy of your Excel file before applying password protection, and keep it in a safe place, such as an external hard drive or cloud service.

Verify that password protection is working correctly after applying it, by closing and reopening your Excel file, and entering the password.
Choose a level of protection that suits your needs , avoiding using protection that is too strong or too weak.

How do I change the Excel password I used to protect my document or worksheet?

If you wish to change the Excel password you used to protect your document or worksheet , simply follow these steps:

Open your Excel file with Excel, and enter the current password if necessary.
If you wish to change the document password, go to the File > Save As > Tools > General Options , and enter the new password in the “ Password to open ” box.
If you want to change the password for a sheet, go to the Review > Protect Sheet , and enter the new password in the “ Password ” box.
Save the changes made to your Excel file.

How do I remove the Excel password I used to protect my document or worksheet?

If you wish to remove the Excel password you used to protect your document or worksheet, simply follow these steps:

Open your Excel file with Excel, and enter the current password if necessary.
If you wish to remove the password from the document, go to the File > Save As > Tools > General Options , and clear the password in the “ Password to open ” box.
If you want to remove the password from a sheet, go to the Review menu > Unprotect Sheet, and enter the current password.
Save the changes made to your Excel file.

How can I tell if my document or Excel sheet is password protected?

If you are unsure whether your document or Excel spreadsheet is password-protected, there are several ways to check, such as:

Try opening your Excel file with Excel and see if a window prompts you to enter a password. If so, it means your document is password-protected .
Try editing a cell or range of cells in your Excel file and see if a message appears indicating that the sheet is protected. If so, it means the sheet is password-protected .
Check the file extension of your Excel file. If it ends with “.xlsx” , your document is not password protected. If it ends with “ .xls ”, your document may be password protected. If it ends with “.xlsm ”, your document contains macros and may also be password protected.