Unlock Excel Sheets Without Passwords: 2017 Guide

In today's digital age, Microsoft Excel remains an indispensable tool for businesses, academics, and personal use for its powerful data manipulation capabilities. Often, when spreadsheets are shared, they are protected with passwords for security. However, there are legitimate reasons you might need to unlock Excel sheets without passwords—perhaps you've lost the password, you've inherited a file without the password, or you're just looking to enhance your productivity without these barriers. Here's a comprehensive guide to unlock Excel sheets without passwords in 2017.

Why You Might Need to Unlock Excel Sheets Without Passwords

Before we delve into how to unlock an Excel file, it’s worth considering why you might need to do this:

• Lost Passwords: Sometimes, the password might be misplaced or forgotten over time.
• Inherited Files: You might be handed down files from a colleague or client who has left, without knowing the passwords.
• Testing Security: In some cases, IT professionals or security testers might want to check how secure their systems are by trying to bypass Excel’s password protection.
• Unlocking for Modification: To make changes or updates to an existing protected worksheet.

Keep in mind, while these methods can be useful, ethically, you should only use them on files you have legitimate access to.

Methods to Unlock Excel Sheets Without Passwords

Here are various methods to unlock protected Excel sheets without passwords, from built-in Excel features to third-party software:

1. Using Excel’s Built-in Tools

Excel itself offers a way to unprotect sheets without passwords, albeit somewhat limited:

1. Unprotecting without a password: Older versions of Excel (before 2007) had a vulnerability that allowed you to unprotect a worksheet by changing the file extension to “.zip,” then editing a specific XML file within. However, this method isn’t always reliable in newer versions.
2. Google Sheets: A lesser-known trick is to upload the Excel file to Google Drive, open it with Google Sheets, and then download it as an Excel file. Often, this process removes the password protection. (Note: This doesn’t always work with very complex sheets.)

2. Password Cracking Software

If you legitimately own the file and just need to retrieve the password, several tools are available:

• iSumsoft Excel Password Refixer: Known for its efficiency in password recovery for Excel files up to version 2016.
• PassFab for Excel: Offers various attack methods like dictionary attacks, brute-force attacks, and more.
• Elcomsoft Advanced Office Password Recovery: Provides strong recovery capabilities for all versions of Excel.

🔐 Note: While these tools are legitimate, using them without the owner’s consent can be illegal or unethical.

3. VBA Macro

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) can sometimes bypass protection. Here’s how:

Sub PasswordCracker()
    Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
    Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
    Dim iPwdLength As Integer
    Dim iStrPos As Integer
    Dim sStrPassword As String, sStrCurrent As String
    iPwdLength = 17  ‘Can be 6 or 17
    sStrPassword = “”
    For i = 65 To 90 ‘ASCII values for uppercase letters
        For j = 65 To 90
            For k = 65 To 90
                For l = 65 To 90
                    For m = 65 To 90
                        For iStrPos = 1 To iPwdLength
                            sStrCurrent = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m)
                            On Error Resume Next
                            If ActiveSheet.Unprotect(sStrCurrent) Then
                                MsgBox “Password is: ” & sStrCurrent
                                Exit Sub
                            End If
                        Next iStrPos
                    Next m
                Next l
            Next k
        Next j
    Next i
End Sub

This macro will attempt to guess passwords by trying all possible combinations of uppercase letters. You need to enable macros and run this within Excel.

💾 Note: Running macros can potentially harm your computer if they contain malicious code. Ensure you only use trusted sources for macro codes.

4. Contact the Creator

If the file is important, consider asking the original creator or the person who protected the file to share the password or unlock the sheet for you.

Best Practices When Unlocking Excel Sheets

• Backup: Always work on a copy of the file.
• Legal and Ethical Use: Ensure you’re not violating any rights or agreements.
• Consider Alternative Solutions: Sometimes, recreating the data or structure might be more time-efficient than unlocking it.
• Password Management: Use strong, unique passwords and store them securely if you decide to protect sheets in the future.

Final Thoughts

Unlocking Excel sheets without passwords can be necessary for various reasons, but it’s crucial to approach this task ethically and legally. Using software tools, Excel’s own features, or direct communication can often resolve these issues. Remember, productivity should never compromise your integrity or ethical standards.

Is it legal to unlock an Excel sheet without permission?

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Unlocking an Excel sheet without the owner’s consent can be illegal and unethical unless you have legitimate access or a justifiable reason to do so.

What if I can’t remember the password to my Excel sheet?

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Try using password recovery tools or the VBA macro method described. If all fails, recreate the data or contact the original creator.

Can I prevent my Excel sheets from being unlocked?

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Using strong, complex passwords and regularly updating them can deter unauthorized access. Also, consider encrypting the entire file with a strong password in Excel’s options.