In the first instance, protect a spreadsheet in Excel It is an excellent idea to keep the security of all the data stored there. Using this function, all cells are kept locked so that none of them can be edited by users who do not know the password.
However, there is a possibility that the user who protected the document himself has forgotten the password he placed. Therefore, it is very useful know how to remove said block to access the file information again.
If you are interested in knowing the procedure, we will explain you step by step How to unprotect a password protected excel sheet ?. You can carry out this solution both on devices Windows, as macOS.
Should I remove protection from a spreadsheet?
One of the main security measures that is recommended to all users today, is protect your files and accounts with a password if possible. The reason is that in this way you avoid losing information or being exposed to external manipulations they may suffer in your accounts or in your documents. However, since it is a practically essential requirement, it is normal that you have a lots of passwords on your platforms, documents, social networks and much more.
This may cause at any time forget one of them. In the case of Excel, it is highly recommended protect a spreadsheet to prevent other users from making changes to the worksheet.
But when the question of Should I remove protection from a spreadsheet?, the answer depends on each case. For example, if you forgot the password yourself and need modify some aspects really yes it is necessary to remove the protection. But if you want to protect the information stored there, it is best to keep it with a password that only you know or the other person you authorize to make changes to the document.
Learn step by step how to check out an Excel spreadsheet
There are three methods with which you can check out an Excel spreadsheet and the use of each one depends on each case. For example, if you know the password you can easily unprotect the document directly in Excel, in case you are not very sure you can choose to do it with the help of Google Sheets or with a VBA file (in old versions of Excel).
Let's see below:
Unprotect Excel spreadsheet if you remember the password
If you remember the password of the excel sheet or you have it at hand, the procedure is much faster and easier.
In these cases, you should do the following:
- Open the book
- Right click on the protected sheet tab. Protected sheets often have a lock, so right-click the tab to open the context menu.
- Go to the option of Check in the top menu.
- Click on Check out sheet.
- A window will open where you must enter password. Write it and press on To accept.
Check out using Google Sheets
This is a second recommended method and it works especially for you if you don't remember what the password is on the sheet that you need to unlock.
The step by step in this case is:
- Go to Google Drive. Keep in mind that if you have an account in Google Drive, you can use Google Sheets to remove protection.
- Once inside Drive, select the option New in the left menu of the page.
- Choose the option Upload files. This allows the Open panel of your team.
- Select the file of Excel that you are going to edit and tap on Open.
- Once the document has been uploaded to Drive, you have to double-click the file of Excel.
- At the top of the preview, a menu will expand in which you must select To open with.
- Then select in Google Sheets. Now that the file is opened for editing in Google Sheets, any protection of the leaves will have been removed.
- Download the file again on your PC.
An additional fact is that in case you want to continue working on the file from Excel, instead of Google Sheets.
Download this new unprotected version of your book with the following steps:
- Tap on the menu Archive, in the upper left corner of the sheet.
- Then go to Download as.
- Click on the option Microsoft Excel (.xlsx).
- Choose the folder where you want to save the file.
- Tap on save.
Check out using VBA file
This solution it will only work in versions of Excel 2010 or earlier. We recommend opting for this solution if you have already tried to unlock a sheet but were unable to remove the lock due to not having the password at hand.
We explain the procedure below:
- Open the workbook have the sheet protected. They usually have the file extension ".Xls" or ".Xlsx".
- Save the file again in xls format. You should know that if your file has the extension “xlsx” (which usually have those that are made in more recent versions of Excel) you can only use the method if you first convert it to the Excel 97-2003 (.xls). You can do it like this:
- Tap on File / Save As.
- Go to the folder where you go to save the document.
- Select the option of Excel 97-2003 (.xls) inside the menu Save as type or File format.
- Click on save.
- Press the combination Alt + F11 so that the visual basic editor.
- Right-click on the file name of the book, specifically in the panel Project-VBAProject. You'll find it at the top of the left panel. Check that you are right-clicking on the option that has the file name.
- In the menu that will expand, tap Insert.
- Tap on Module. This will open a new module where you must insert a code.
- Copy the following code:
Sub PasswordBreaker ()
Breaks worksheet password protection.
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
End Sub
- Once you have copied it, right click on the new module and paste it. You will be able to observe the new code in that new window.
- Press F5 to run the code. Excel It will take care of executing the code, which may take a few minutes. When the process finishes, a new password will be displayed in a popup window.
- Click on To accept in the popup Password. A new password will be displayed that you don't need to write down. Just enough give To accept and remove automatically the protection of the sheet.