5 Proven Methods to Unprotect Excel Sheets 2013

Working with Excel sheets can be quite a routine for many professionals and students alike. However, what happens when you encounter a protected Excel sheet that hinders your productivity? Whether you need to make changes to an inherited spreadsheet, recover lost password, or just explore the data deeply, knowing how to unprotect Excel sheets can be a lifesaver. In this guide, we're going to look at 5 Proven Methods to Unprotect Excel Sheets 2013, providing both technical and non-technical solutions to suit all kinds of users.

Method 1: Use Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications (VBA)

Visual Basic for Applications or VBA is a powerful scripting language built into most Microsoft Office applications. Here's how to use it:

• Open your Excel sheet.
• Press ALT + F11 to open the VBA editor.
• In the Project Explorer, right-click on your workbook, choose 'Insert' then 'Module'.
• Type in or paste the following VBA code:

Sub PasswordBreaker()
    Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
    Dim l As Integer
    Dim m As Integer
    Dim n As Integer
    Dim o As Integer
    Dim Pass As String

    On Error Resume Next
    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 n = 65 To 66: For o = 65 To 66: For p = 32 To 126

    Pass = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & _
          Chr(i1) & Chr(n) & Chr(o) & Chr(p)

    If ActiveSheet.Unprotect(Password:=Pass) Then
        MsgBox "Password is: " & Pass
        Exit Sub
    End If
    Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
    Next: Next: Next
End Sub

• Press F5 to run the code.
• A message box will appear with the password if successful.
• Once you have the password, you can unprotect the sheet using 'Review' > 'Unprotect Sheet'.

🚫 Note: Using VBA to unprotect sheets can be against your company's policy or Microsoft's terms of use. Ensure you have legal rights to do so.

Method 2: Hex Editor Technique

Excel files contain meta-information stored in hexadecimal format, which can be manipulated to remove protection:

• Create a backup of your Excel file before attempting this method.
• Open the file in a hex editor like HxD.
• Search for "DPB" in the Hex editor.
• Look for patterns like "DPB=<00, 00, 00, 00, etc.>", which corresponds to the sheet protection bit.
• Replace these bytes with null characters (00).
• Save the file and reopen it in Excel.

🔎 Note: The hex editor method can damage your file if not done correctly. Always back up your Excel sheets before attempting any hex manipulation.

Method 3: Third-Party Software Solutions

Various third-party tools have been developed to help users recover or remove passwords from Excel sheets:

• Download and install a reputable password recovery tool.
• Follow the software's instructions to upload your Excel file.
• The tool will attempt to find or generate the password or remove the protection.
• Be cautious when choosing software to avoid malware and data theft.

Method 4: PassFab for Excel

PassFab for Excel is a specialized tool for Excel password recovery:

• Download and install PassFab for Excel.
• Launch the program and select the file you wish to unlock.
• Choose the appropriate attack mode (e.g., brute force, dictionary, or known part).
• Initiate the recovery process.

🔑 Note: Remember, using these tools can potentially violate copyright or privacy laws. Ensure you're authorized to access the file.

Method 5: Manual Copy and Paste

If the sheet's protection isn't complex, you might bypass it entirely:

• Create a new, unprotected sheet in the same workbook.
• Right-click the original protected sheet's tab, choose 'View Code'.
• In VBA, right-click on the tab in the Project Explorer, select 'Copy Sheet'.
• Paste the copied content into your new sheet.

📋 Note: This method won't unprotect the original sheet but can help you work on an unprotected duplicate.

By now, you should have several techniques at your disposal to unprotect an Excel sheet from 2013. These methods cater to various levels of technical expertise and ethical considerations, ensuring you can choose the one that best suits your needs. Whether you opted for the VBA approach, hex editing, third-party tools, or simple copy-pasting, you can now access or modify those previously protected files.

Is it legal to unprotect an Excel sheet?

+

The legality depends on your authorization to access or modify the file. Ensure you have explicit or implicit permission to unprotect the sheet. Unauthorized access can lead to legal consequences.

Can I lose data by trying to unprotect an Excel sheet?

+

There is a risk of data loss if you perform hex editing incorrectly. Always back up your files before attempting any advanced unprotection methods.

What should I do if these methods don’t work?

+

If the above methods fail, consider reaching out to the person who protected the file or seek professional help from data recovery services or Excel experts.

Is there a way to prevent Excel sheets from being unprotected?

+

While it’s not possible to make a sheet completely unbreakable, you can enhance security by using strong, unique passwords, limiting physical access to files, and employing file encryption outside of Excel.