Are you tired of having to enter your password every time you open an Excel file? Perhaps you’re worried about forgetting your password and being locked out of your own files. Whatever your reason, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll go over the methods for turning off the password on an Excel file.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Turn Off Password on Excel File
Excel files can be essential for work, school, and personal finances. Password protection is an excellent security measure, but it can also be frustrating to enter the password every time you need to open a file. Turning off password protection can save you time and effort in the long run. Additionally, it may be necessary to turn off password protection in case you forget your password or need to share the file with others.
Method 1: Via Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel allows you to remove password protection directly from the application. Here’s how you do it:
1. Open Excel and click on "File."
2. Click on "Info."
3. Click on "Protect Workbook" and select "Encrypt with Password."
4. Delete the password from the box and click "OK."
5. Save the file.
Pros:
– This method is straightforward to follow.
– No third-party applications are needed.
– You don’t need advanced computer skills to carry out this task.
Cons:
– This only works if you know the original password.
– If you’re forgetful, you may not be able to benefit from this method.
Method 2: Via ZIP Tool
A third-party ZIP tool, such as 7-Zip, can be used to turn off the password on an Excel file. Here’s how:
1. Right-click on the encrypted Excel file and choose "7-Zip" from the context menu.
2. Select "Extract to" and choose a location to extract the file.
3. Go to the folder where the file was extracted and open it with Microsoft Excel.
4. Click on "File" and then "Save As."
5. Save the file as a new Excel file without password protection.
Pros:
– This method is useful when you don’t know the original password.
– No advanced computer skills are required.
Cons:
– You need to install third-party software for this method.
– This method is time-consuming.
Method 3: Via Macro Code Editor
If neither of the previous methods work, you can remove password protection by using a macro code editor. Here’s how:
1. Open the encrypted Excel file and press "Alt+F11" to open the Visual Basic Editor.
2. Double-click on "ThisWorkbook" in the left pane and paste the following code in the editor:
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) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & i1 & i2 & i3 & i4 & i5 & i6 & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
3. Click on "Run" and wait for the password to be found.
4. Once the password has been found, remove the password protection by going to "File" and "Save As."
Pros:
– This method can remove password protection even if the password is unknown.
– No third-party software is required.
Cons:
– This method is complicated for those who are not familiar with macro code editing.
– It may not work if the password is too long or complicated.
What to Do If You Can’t Turn Off Password on Excel File
If none of the methods listed above work for you, there are still some things you can try. Here are some possible fixes:
– Ask the file owner for the password.
– Try different password combinations.
– Use third-party Excel password recovery software.
Bonus Tip
If you’re dealing with sensitive information, it’s always a good idea to use strong passwords to protect your files. Use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols to create a password that’s difficult to crack.
5 FAQs
Q1: Can I remove password protection from multiple Excel files at once?
A: Unfortunately, there is no built-in way to remove password protection from multiple Excel files at once. You’ll need to remove the password for each file individually.
Q2: What should I do if I forget my Excel file password?
A: Try the methods listed above. If none of them work, you may need to use third-party Excel password recovery software to regain access to your files.
Q3: Is it possible to recover an Excel file password?
A: Yes, there are third-party software programs available that can recover passwords for Excel files.
Q4: Can I turn off password protection for a shared Excel file?
A: Yes, you can turn off password protection for a shared Excel file. However, it’s important to remember that removing password protection means anyone with access to the file can open it without a password.
Q5: Is it safe to turn off password protection for Excel files?
A: It depends on the type of information contained in the file. If it contains sensitive or confidential information, it’s best to keep the password protection on.
Final Thoughts
Removing password protection from an Excel file can be a useful trick when you need to access your files quickly or share them with others. While built-in Excel tools can work for password protection, there are also third-party software programs and macro code editors that can help remove these protections. Whatever method you choose, be sure to protect your Excel files with strong passwords to keep your data secure.