5 Ways to Unlock Excel Protected Sheets on Mac

Excel, as one of the most widely used spreadsheet applications, provides various layers of security to protect sensitive data. Whether you're dealing with financial data, proprietary information, or personal records, locking your Excel sheets is crucial. However, there might be scenarios where you need to unlock a protected sheet on a Mac. This could be due to forgotten passwords, the need to make changes to a sheet where only the creator has access, or for legacy sheets that require modifications. Here are five effective ways to unlock Excel protected sheets on Mac:

1. Using VBA Macro

VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) scripts can be employed to unlock password-protected sheets. Here’s how:

• Open Excel and press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
• Insert a new module by clicking Insert > Module.
• Copy and paste the following code:

Sub PasswordBreaker()
    Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
    Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
    Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
    Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
    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 i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
                For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
                    ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
                        Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
                        Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
                    If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
                        MsgBox “Password is ” & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
                            Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
                            Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
                        Exit Sub
                    End If
                Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
            Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
        Next
    Next
End Sub

• Close the VBA editor and run the macro by pressing Alt + F8, select “PasswordBreaker” and click “Run.”

💡 Note: This method attempts to guess the password through brute force, which can be time-consuming. If the password is complex, this method might not be practical.

2. Using Online Tools

There are various online tools available that claim to unlock Excel sheets. Here’s what you need to know:

• Upload your Excel file to one of these tools.
• The tool will attempt to unlock the sheet, often with a delay or payment required for complex passwords.
• Download the file once the process is complete.

💡 Note: Be cautious with online tools; uploading sensitive data can expose your information to potential security risks.

3. Excel Password Recovery Software

Dedicated software can quickly and efficiently remove Excel sheet protection:

• Install a password recovery tool like PassFab for Excel or iSumsoft Excel Protection Refixer.
• Import your Excel file into the software.
• Run the program to recover or remove the password.

These tools often employ advanced algorithms to unlock sheets:

💡 Note: While these tools are efficient, they come with a cost, both in terms of money and potential data security risks.

4. Hex Editor Method

This method involves editing the file’s binary data:

• Rename your Excel file to have a .zip extension.
• Extract the content of the zip file.
• Locate and open the ‘xl’ folder, then the ‘worksheets’ folder.
• Open the XML file corresponding to the sheet you want to unlock in a hex editor.
• Find and remove the tag that protects the sheet.
• Save your changes, compress the files back into a zip file, and change the extension back to .xlsx.

💡 Note: This technique requires technical knowledge and can corrupt your file if not done correctly.

5. Contacting the Creator

If possible, contact the person who applied the protection:

• Send an email or message explaining why you need access.
• Request them to either provide the password or unlock the sheet for you.
• This is the most straightforward and ethical approach, assuming the creator is accessible.

Summing up, there are several methods to unlock Excel protected sheets on a Mac, ranging from simple VBA scripts to sophisticated software solutions. However, ethical considerations, potential data security risks, and the complexity of the protection should guide your choice of method. Always consider backup and data integrity when attempting to unlock protected documents. Remember, if possible, the safest and most ethical approach is to communicate with the sheet's creator.

Is it legal to unlock someone else’s Excel sheet?

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Unintentionally accessing or tampering with files you’re not authorized to modify can have legal consequences. Always ensure you have permission or a valid reason to do so, particularly if the information is proprietary or confidential.

Can using VBA scripts damage my Excel file?

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Generally, VBA scripts are safe if executed correctly. However, errors in coding or misconfigurations can potentially corrupt your file. Always ensure you have a backup before running any scripts.

What are the risks of using online password recovery tools?

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Online tools can expose your sensitive information to security breaches. Additionally, you might receive compromised or backdoored files back from these services, or they might not return your file at all.