5 Proven Ways to Unlock Excel Sheets in 2022

Locked Excel sheets can be a hurdle for many users, often locking valuable data away from view or modification. Whether you're trying to access an old financial model or make changes to a shared spreadsheet, understanding how to unlock Excel sheets can significantly enhance your productivity. Here, we explore five proven methods to unlock Excel sheets, which are applicable in 2022, ensuring you have the tools you need to work efficiently with your spreadsheets.

Method 1: Using VBA Code

Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) can be a powerful tool to unlock Excel sheets. Here’s how you can use it:

• Open Excel and press Alt + F11 to open the VBA editor.
• Select Insert > Module to create a new module.
• Paste the following VBA code into the module:

  
  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 "One usable 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
  End Sub
  
  

• Close the VBA editor and run the macro by clicking Run or pressing F5.

🔑 Note: This VBA code attempts all possible combinations for passwords of characters up to 11 characters long. Be aware that this could take some time.

Method 2: Unprotect via External Software

There are various software solutions available for unlocking Excel sheets:

• Download a reputable Excel password recovery tool like iSunshare Excel Password Recovery Wizard, PassFab Excel Password Recovery, or Excel Password Recovery Master.
• Install the software on your computer.
• Follow the software's instructions to recover or unlock the password-protected sheet.

⚠️ Note: Choose software from well-known developers to avoid security risks. Free tools might not always be reliable or safe.

Method 3: The 'Save As' Trick

Here's a simple yet effective method:

• Open the protected workbook in Excel.
• Click File > Save As.
• Save the file with a new name or in a different format like .xls or .xlsx, which sometimes bypasses the protection.

Method 4: Use Google Sheets

Google Sheets can sometimes bypass Excel's protection:

• Open your Excel file in Google Sheets.
• Make your modifications.
• Download the file back to Excel format. Although this might remove some Excel-specific features, the protection will be removed.

Method 5: Edit Excel File via ZIP

This method involves manipulating the Excel file structure:

• Rename the .xlsx or .xlsm file to .zip.
• Extract the zip file to a folder.
• Navigate to the xl folder, then the worksheets folder where you'll find files corresponding to each sheet.
• Open the relevant XML file for the sheet you want to unlock, typically named sheet1.xml, sheet2.xml, etc.
• Locate and remove or modify the sheetProtection tag to remove protection. Here's what it might look like:

• Save the changes, recompress the folder into a new .zip file, and rename it back to .xlsx or .xlsm.

The exploration of these five methods to unlock Excel sheets in 2022 reveals that there's more than one way to gain access to protected data. Each technique has its unique advantages, from the brute force approach of VBA to the innovative workaround of converting files to ZIP format. Whether you're a business professional or a casual user, mastering these methods ensures you have control over your Excel files, making your data management much more effective. Remember, these methods should be used ethically and within the bounds of the law or organizational policies.

Is it legal to unlock an Excel sheet without permission?

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Unlocking Excel sheets without permission can be illegal if it involves accessing data or files you do not own or have explicit rights to. Always ensure you have the right to modify or view the content.

Can these methods cause any data loss?

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While these methods aim to preserve data, manipulating files can always pose some risk. Always backup your files before attempting to unlock them.

Will using these methods alert the sheet’s creator?

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Typically, these methods do not send any notifications or alerts to the sheet’s creator, but remember to use them ethically.

What’s the riskiest method to unlock an Excel sheet?

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The “ZIP file” method involves altering the file’s structure, which could potentially corrupt the file if not done correctly, making it the riskiest among the described methods.

How do I know if I’m using the right software to unlock Excel sheets?

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Research or read reviews from credible sources, ensure the software is from a reputable developer, and if possible, try a demo version before committing to a purchase.