How to Remove Different Excel Passwords (Quick & Easy)

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

❓Ever lost access to your Excel file? Share your story. Learn Excel with my courses: bit.ly/password22courses

[@pw4721]

After looking at numerous 'How to' videos this is the first one that really work to remove sheet/workbook protection. Very clear and straightforward video.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@christopherpanford7584]

This was super helpful. My accountant left a couple of months ago and when I recruited a new one, we realised that our entire books were protected. We have been struggling to get it unprotected for weeks, and within 10mins your video has done the magic. Thank you.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Wonderful to hear!

[@EliotPowell]

incredibly helpful. I have seen other videos explaining these techniques, but yours is the clearest and simplest to follow. well done!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome, thank you, Eliot!

[@caongoc1204]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Can you help me remove excel password? I forgot pass

[@terrycathie115]

The zip file worked for me and I can’t thank you enough. A great deal of work had gone into the spreadsheet and I was pretty upset with myself. Thanks again 👍😊

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So pleased to hear that!

[@waynegill2613]

Such a simple video to follow but it saved me so much work! Thank you!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome to hear 😊

[@MsChampohsan]

Wonderful tips! Its kinda suffering when I forgot the password that I have set. Thank you! Incredible video ever!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it 🙏

[@soc5830]

Hello Ma'am, thank you for taking the time making this video. I'm getting a prompt when trying to open the zip. "copy.zip is invalid".

[@soc5830]

@ansicin6883 no. This has been resolved. Luckily the user found the pw.

[@SandroLimaj]

To whoever is struggling because the zip file seems broken and can't open it: you're probably working on a xls file. The file needs to be XLSX. Open the file, save as XLSX file. Now you can rename the new xlsx file, changing its extension to ZIP, and open it. Idk why it works, it just worked for me. Cheers

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Wow! You still use .xls files. They went out with Excel 2003 😉 Thanks for sharing your tip.

[@SandroLimaj]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub hahahahah not by choice I swear. I work on what I've been given. Thanks for the video and have a good day!

[@abhishekmor]

How would you open it if its password protected ?

[@SandroLimaj]

@@abhishekmor we're talking about excel files that have single sheets protected by passwords

[@abhishekmor]

@@SandroLimaj OK is there a way to open protected excels workbooks ?

[@bjbrooks]

Fascinating video, thank you. And for the tip on the safest way to protect a workbook. (One observation: a couple of times you refer to opening the xlsx in a "browser", which confused me a little until I realised you were referring to File Explorer)

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

👍

[@nadermounir8228]

Thank u for this video 📹. How did u open the XML in one note ?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I'm using Notepad ++, not OneNote.

[@travis8422]

I am having difficulty with finding an example of the issue I am running into when trying to do this. First off, I saved the file through the excel options (not the F12 scenario at the end). When I change the copy to a zip and open up the zip file, I am not seeing the same folders/files that I am seeing in all of these YT video examples of the XML file. Instead, I see a folder titled [6]DataSpaces and two "files" (they have no extension) named EncryptedPackage and EncryptedInfo none of which seem to be of use.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I'm not aware of how you'd save the file via Excel Options. The other way to save a file is via the File tab > Save as. Try using F12 to open the Save As dialog box as shown in the video to see if this solves the problem you're having.

[@pattiyawn3242]

having the same issue

[@shiffamohammed5818]

Many thanks Mynda, for sharing a video that clearly explains password unprotecting under various situations in excel.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure, Shiffa!

[@HimeshDharmameher]

Excellent stuff Mynda

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you!

[@Vandalfoe]

Good stuff as usual. I agree this isn't super-spy level protection, but in my opinion it does the job of preventing users (who don't Excel) from typing numbers over your formulas because they're not using the spreadsheet properly. 👍

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Yes, exactly that 😊

[@emile8147]

thanks for the tricks ! for the sheet protection level (if you can select all the cells), you can just select all the cells, copy, create a new sheet, paste on A1. the new sheet is not protected there's too some VBA code to unprotect the sheet, probably too to unprotect workbook

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Yes, it they've allowed cell selection, then copying and pasting is an option. It all depends how complex the file is as to how successful that would be. The VBA unprotection code was required for .xls file types, but with .xlsx we can simply unzip the file and locate the settings.

[@will5470]

thank you for this resource! saved me a few hours of recreating a sales document.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@darrylmorgan]

Hi Mynda!Super Helpful And Clear Explanations...Thank You :)

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear, Darryl!

[@_S.H_]

I was hoping for any tips on removing or replacing the password of the older xls format.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Hmm, not that I can point you to, sorry.

[@traciedwards7449]

LIFE SAVER!!!!! Yes I'm using my new skills for the greater good 😀 Thank you so much for the tutorial for this!!!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome to hear!

[@ljlarman3147]

when i hit the delete key it doesnt do anything. it is not deleting the slelected area

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Sounds like you haven't opened it in a text editor like Notepad.

[@richardhui9176]

Thanks a lot, Mynda! I try to rename excel xlsx format to zip, but it shows window cannot open the folder and copy zip is "invalid". Could you advise what I do? Thanks

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Hi Richard, please post your question on our forum where you can share a screenshot showing your file name and we can help you further: www.myonlinetraininghub.com/excel-forum

[@Somayeh27]

I had same problem

[@adammaamoun1]

Thank you, it helped a lot. It is important to save a copy of the xml file we are editing because I messed up multiple times since I was not using Notepad ++ and didn't know when the workbookprotection and sheetprotection statements ended. Yes, your instructions were used for legal process to unprotect an excel file I forgot its password.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@yahyaalramadan4665]

Thank you for the interesting video. Are Excel VBA protected projects as easy to unprotect?

[@matroosoft4589]

Was wondering this, too!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Looks like it is: www.devhut.net/excel-unlocking-an-excel-vba-project/

[@LauraOgbonna-o3i]

God bless you Madam. A life saver

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@garygarland9366]

Worked a treat - THANK YOU!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome to hear 👍

[@marcelolaguna2012]

Thank you very much! I always forget my passwords. I love your channel, your didactics and affection in passing on knowledge are incredible.😀

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So nice of you to say, Marcelo!

[@TechnicalNH786]

Thanks Lady. But I face some technical error. WinRAR Diagnostic message The archive is either is unknow format or damaged.... Do you have any solution? waiting for swift response.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Have you tried using Microsoft explorer to unzip it, rather than a 3rd party app like WinRAR? Or it may simply be that you have the password at the file level, as per the last example.

[@teoxengineer]

Great tips Mynda, thank you! How can we break the VBA password to enter VBA code window? Do you know it? Thank you

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Hi Emre, it's similar and is explained here: www.devhut.net/excel-unlocking-an-excel-vba-project/

[@srinivasmuthukumar4979]

Saved my day. Thank you very much.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome! Glad I could help.

[@Joanne4Res]

thanks, this is a very clear video. So glad you suggested doing it on a copy to work on because didn't fully work for me and wiped the sheet I needed the password removed from? do you know why this would be please?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped! Not sure why it would wipe a sheet 🤔

[@szymongrabarczyk3561]

You actually can unzip protected file, open worksheets and some info is visible but most is encrypted.

[@carolynneccles823]

Is there a similar process for Word documents?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Not that I know of, sorry.

[@russelle.3254]

I have a file that is locked because of a forgotten password, it has the "File Open Protection" which you discuss at 8:23. I know you mention 3rd party app to assist with this, still no way to unlock without 3rd party apps? If not, what apps you reccomend?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

No, you need an app, and unfortunately I haven't used any that I can recommend.

[@pierrickdefossez3157]

use Passfab, Passper or Passwipe, those are clones. If you do not have access to a server, prepare for a long time process involving either a dictionnary (search the internet for "weakpass") or brute force attack

[@IvanCortinas_ES]

Without having to eliminate the entire sheetProtection clause, it is also possible to change the sheet, objects and scenarios sections (within sheetProtection) from 1 to 0 within said clause and continue with the process.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Nice tip, cheers, Ivan!

[@tokinabo]

As always, great tips! Thanks a lot, Mynda 🙂

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you like them! 🙏

[@noahmayorestor8459]

Wow, its really great to find this video that makes me back to my work. Thank you.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Dany-ns6hg]

Good one and very helpful, I remember this trick long back someone shared with me but it helped me to recollect. Do you have any trick to unlock VBA editor password because I lock most of my files for VBA editor so that user should not change code?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thanks, Dany! I haven't got a VBA example, but I'll add it to my To-Do list!

[@tutorials--1234]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub I have VBA Code for breaking the VBA Editor Protection.

[@notesfromleisa-land]

I recently had to use the zip file technique to fix a workbook that would not save as I was getting corrupted and repairs so extensive msgs that make you weep as tons of time in the workbook creation. Removing a bin file using the zip technique saved the day. Here is yet another way to slice and dice. As always great vid content perfectly presented

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thanks so much 🙏

[@jawadahmadehssan6251]

Thanks Mynda for the information.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You are so welcome!

[@paullindod]

Thanks for the great video. Is it possible to check the password in the XML tag?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

No, you can't find the password, the best you can do is remove it.

[@paullindod]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Thanks for the reply.

[@FishFinderHeroes]

very helptull video, thanks a lot mam, take ❤

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Most welcome 😊

[@DenmarkRacuya]

You're genius. It works!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped 😊

[@HugeNaturalBreasts]

Drilldown on what folders. Poof its not working for me after I changed to a zip file

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Sounds like you have a password at the file level as covered in the last example.

[@ericc.3524]

Hello Mynda and thank you for the great video. After I copy and rename the file extension to .zip, it won't extract all and I get a window prompt indicating the compressed file is empty. The file size in properties appears the same as the original worksheet, however. Kindly advise. Many thanks.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Sounds like you have a file that falls into the last scenario I covered. i.e. the password is at the file level.

[@ericc.3524]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Thank you!

[@jondee6496]

I do not have a xl folder there in office 368? Just Data Spaces and Encryptioninfo

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Please post your question and screenshots on our forum where we can help you further: www.myonlinetraininghub.com/excel-forum

[@rassaville]

Thank you for the video. It seems that I have some sort of problem because when I try to rename the file as .zip it does not change the file type to compressed file but keeps it as Excel. I tried the same thing with a blank Excel file and have the same problem. Is this something to do with the version of Office or what?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

It shouldn't matter what version of Office you have. Perhaps you don't have file extensions displaying in File Explorer, so renaming actually changes the file name, but not the extension.

[@romaindelplancq2377]

Thank you for the tutorial

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You’re welcome 😊

[@labonnes]

Just a little bit of precision on the sheet numbers. The XML name may be the same as the one seen in VBA, but not necessarily. From my understanding, it will always be Sheet1, Sheet2... in the XML structure with the number being the tab position (index) on the interface. If you were to move Sheet2 after Sheet3, the VBA would stay the same but "Sheet2" would be "Sheet3" in the XML. So if you have a lot of worksheet, you may need to count the position. I seem to recall that you need to count hidden sheet as well because they have their position once unhidden.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Ah, good to know. Thanks for sharing.

[@vijaykumar140292]

Thank you, it was very helpful and saved me a lot of time.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@williamlongbottom5494]

Saved me hours. Thankyou

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@chaitanyapatwari]

Thanks, Mynda. Is it also possible to view the password using this method so that we can unlock the sheet instead of removing protection?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Not that I'm aware of.

[@MlguelM]

Wow Mynda! Nice usefull tips! Thanks a lot!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're so welcome!

[@ekkiwurm7874]

Super helpful video. Thanks a million for sharing, Mynda.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You are so welcome, Ekki!

[@matingholizade647]

incredibly helpful

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear 🙏

[@learningwithmaliha]

Amazing tips!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@chrism9037]

Super helpful, thanks Mynda!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Cheers, Chris!

[@arjungovindan178]

Superb Mynda, explained very clearly.... Thanks a lot ❤

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it

[@djpatch6754]

I'm not finding worksheetProtection, or workbookProtection when I open up the .xml files?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Please post your question and Excel file on our forum where we can help you further: www.myonlinetraininghub.com/excel-forum

[@ST-di6nl]

It was a life saver. Thank you!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@ComputerspecialistMaastricht]

hi, I have tried and it all worked. Is there also a way to remove the password wich is used in the developertab and then the visual basic. when i go to the visual basic it has a password here. can you help me?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Hmm, I don't have a video on that. Probably best to Google, sorry.

[@ComputerspecialistMaastricht]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Allright, thanks anyway.

[@duurduranto]

Any tip on a MS Word password? I'm having a hard time remembering my credentials document password and I don't want to spend an arm and a leg to buy third party softwares to crack it.. any tip?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Ooh, no sorry. If the password is strong, it's unlikely a third party app will be able to crack it anyway.

[@yuvarajarajasekaran7997]

Thank you very much your guidance. keep it up.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you, I will 😊

[@meicromini]

You absolute legend.❤

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help 😊

[@Kingleer69]

Mynda -- After unzipping my password protected Excel sheet, the worksheet folder instead of having all sheet***.xlm files, as in your video above, has only .bin files listed. Also: The unzipped "workbook" file, has a .bin extension. (As opposed to .xml) in your example above. Any thoughts?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Hmm, not sure about the .bin files. 🤔

[@Kingleer69]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Appreciate your help, Mynda.

[@Azhar_Khan383]

Wonderful technique

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you!

[@samfaulkner720]

Is there something similar for forgetting a OneNote Folder password?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Good question. I don't know, sorry.

[@hsmmadmunir]

Thanks.. I have created a template where I have locked some fields so that my colleagues don't play with them.. but I want add/delete rows but the formulas and format should also be applied to the new row.. is that possible?

[@goldenghostinc]

Not entirely sure about the formulas, but the rest is possible. If you lock a sheet you get a list of options where you can place checkmarks. Those should enable you to add / delete etc with the password protection on.

[@hsmmadmunir]

@@goldenghostinc thanks a lot

[@yashkatariya7922]

thank you so much for the help.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@heinzthedutch]

"luckily" it is that easy... just succesfully removed one - thanks Mynda

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@davidsirois9164]

What a great tip!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@sudds50]

This is brilliant!! Thank you!!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it!

[@deejayandrzej216]

not working when I changed to zip, breaked file now

[@GmanGod]

me too.

[@TheJoshtheboss]

She did say to work with a backup file...

[@aurelieneveu9595]

Big thank you !

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@zoz462]

Should this be done on the same PC where the file was created ? I tried to do it on mine after having the file emailed to myself, using excel 2016, but it didn't work. What is my lost step here please?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

It doesn't matter which PC you use. Remember, the password to open the file requires a different process, as covered at the end of the video.

[@Johnmel1993]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@rajeshchawda9449]

Superb! This is very Helpful. Thanks for sharing. Can we remove the password of an Excel Macro (Dot xlsm) file in the same manner?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Yes, pretty much.

[@bobmoorehead8553]

Excellent as always! Thank you!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thanks so much, Bob!

[@vinicsurveying]

Great explanation as usual! Do you know if there is a similar way to remove the password for opening Visual Basic?

[@tutorials--1234]

there is... using VBA Code... its much easier.

[@vinicsurveying]

@@tutorials--1234 thanks for confirming that. I assume that the VBA code must be run from another spreadsheet in that case? I was hoping that you could make it so that the VBA code is not accessible.

[@jgrant999]

I've used this method several times in the past but now when I open the "zip" file I'm not showing any of the xml files anymore. Is there something that I'm missing with newer versions of excel or windows?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

That’s usually an indication that the password is at the file level, as per the last example in the video.

[@basitalisyed9445]

Very helpful tutorial... Good.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@christoslefkimiotis9889]

Great video and I have used the trick (sheet level) a couple of times. Is there any way to retrieve the actual password?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I don't think so, Christos.

[@christoslefkimiotis9889]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Thank you very much for the reply. There was an addin that could unprotect sheets and you could see the lenght of the password but not the actual password. So more or less there is no safe way tor your data and files.Thanks

[@MS113MS]

Thank you so much, it worked!!!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@sadeemalolayan1568]

Thank you for your helping

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure!

[@tiongah7690]

is the file open protection the same thing as go to File->Info->Protect Workbook->Encrypt with password?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Yes, as far as I can tell.

[@shingalani]

My Excel 97-2003 files have an .xls extension. After following your steps, the text file that is produced results in unreadable strange characters. Any suggestions please?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

.xls files need different techniques that I don't cover in this video, sorry.

[@macblu8637]

I can't open the zip file, file unvalid error. Any suggestion?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I suspect the password is at the File > Open stage of the workbook, in which case it's the last scenario for which it's unlikely you'll be able to remove it.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I suspect the password is at the File > Open stage of the workbook, in which case it's the last scenario I cover in the video for which it is unlikely you'll be able to remove it.

[@RT-up6ml]

Thank you I managed to use it for one of my old file I forgot password. User friendly

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@LizbethOT7]

AMAZING! You saved me a great deal! Thank you, subscribing!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So pleased I could help!

[@KarenGonzalez-cf4jk]

Hi! I'm also having problems by trying this method. Whenever I'm looking for the word "protected" or some variant (the whole workbook is protected) it isn't on the code anymore. Is it possible they've updated the security? I would really appreciate your thoughts on this! I love your videos!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

If the file is protected at the File Open step, then you're dealing with the last example covered in the video, in which case you can't use the zip file technique.

[@omerabdu9093]

Great Helpful tutorial

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@usmanqamar12]

V. first trick worked. Thank you for making life easier.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@rhonalkhairul3969]

Very nice info, thank you for sharing.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@powerb_i]

Great video and well explained. Thank you.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@GD_1786]

I thought I remembered using the method you show to actually obtain the password used, but I cant seem to figure out how to do that any longer. Do you happen to know?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

There's no way to obtain the password AFAIK.

[@EduardKorkia]

Thank you! 🤙

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure, Eduard!

[@daniellazylen5350]

that's awesome! thanks!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mra893]

So, what should we do so that after the delivery of the project, they do not break the lock and do not have access to the formulas؟tanks

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You can't prevent them unlocking the formulas. If they have access to open the file, then they can remove the protection. It wasn't designed to protect your IP or keep data confidential. It was designed as a deterrent to people breaking your file.

[@winks12]

Seems that this doesn't work anymore? The zip folder only contains the excel file and no longer contains the xl folder when you try to 'extract all' from a zipped version, wonder if others also face similar issues? would be nice to see if there's any other workaround?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

It still works, which suggests that you maybe have the password at the file level, which is covered in the last examle.

[@syedshas7105]

Thank you so much

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're most welcome 😊