Forgotten your Excel Password? How to Unprotect Excel Without a Password!

Forgotten your Excel passwords? No problem. With these techniques you can easily remove Excel password protection for sheets, workbooks and Read Only files.
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⏲ TIMESTAMPS
0:00 How to remove Excel Passwords
0:27 Worksheet Protection
1:02 Removing Worksheet Passwords
4:16 Workbook Protection
4:44 Removing Workbook Passwords
6:21 Read Only File Protection
7:18 Removing Read Only Protection
8:21 File Open Protection

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@waynegill2613]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome to hear 😊

[@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 😊

[@chrisjordan1679]

I get as far as renaming the file to a zip instead of xlsx. Once I double click on the new file it says it's invalid. Help!

[@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!

[@ST-di6nl]

It was a life saver. Thank you!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@shiffamohammed5818]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure, Shiffa!

[@deejayandrzej216]

not working when I changed to zip, breaked file now

[@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 🙏

[@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!

[@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 🙏

[@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 🤔

[@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.

[@will5470]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@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!

[@darrylmorgan]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear, Darryl!

[@heinzthedutch]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@ArnoldNewton]

I've tried various solutions on StackOverflow but this was the only one that worked!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So pleased I could help 😊

[@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.

[@_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.

[@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.

[@vijaykumar140292]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@sadeemalolayan1568]

Thank you for your helping

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure!

[@jhoanramiso1168]

Thank you so much!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@HimeshDharmameher]

Excellent stuff Mynda

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you!

[@nadermounir8228]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I'm using Notepad ++, not OneNote.

[@szymongrabarczyk3561]

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

[@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

[@chrism9037]

Super helpful, thanks Mynda!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Cheers, Chris!

[@noahmayorestor8459]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@user-qr8oe2fs5h]

God bless you Madam. A life saver

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@tokinabo]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you like them! 🙏

[@garygarland9366]

Worked a treat - THANK YOU!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Awesome to hear 👍

[@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

[@ekkiwurm7874]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You are so welcome, Ekki!

[@MlguelM]

Wow Mynda! Nice usefull tips! Thanks a lot!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're so welcome!

[@arjungovindan178]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it

[@jawadahmadehssan6251]

Thanks Mynda for the information.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You are so welcome!

[@Liz-u7o]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So pleased I could help!

[@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/

[@user-mu7te7uz8n]

You're genius. It works!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped 😊

[@RT-up6ml]

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

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it helped!

[@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!

[@krisyannuruha5147]

I think its easy because you just need to protect user from making a change on data on file. If we want, we still can copy paste the data to another excel file and do the job. Its different with open file, because its really prefent random person to read the data

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You can only copy and paste the data if the worksheets aren't hidden and workbook protected. i.e. with worksheet protection and assuming they have allowed you to select locked cells.

[@williamlongbottom5494]

Saved me hours. Thankyou

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help!

[@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.

[@mannycorrea5896]

Incredible video. Thank you so much!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it!

[@brandonmays8604]

Pro Tip for Mac users as well (because I couldn't do this) but I found another way! change the file extension to .csv, it will open with Numbers and remove all passwords!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thanks for sharing, Brandon!

[@emmapilex]

Excellent

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful 😊

[@matingholizade647]

incredibly helpful

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear 🙏

[@yuvarajarajasekaran7997]

Thank you very much your guidance. keep it up.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you, I will 😊

[@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/

[@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!

[@byronstutorialspage2134]

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

[@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.

[@bobmoorehead8553]

Excellent as always! Thank you!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thanks so much, Bob!

[@yashkatariya7922]

thank you so much for the help.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@Johnmel1993]

Very helpful. Thank you

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Great to hear!

[@meicromini]

You absolute legend.❤

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help 😊

[@sudds50]

This is brilliant!! Thank you!!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you liked it!

[@aurelieneveu9595]

Big thank you !

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@powerb_i]

Great video and well explained. Thank you.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@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.

[@rhonalkhairul3969]

Very nice info, thank you for sharing.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mariamafshar9210]

It is working, bunch of thanks :)

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Welcome 👍

[@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

[@odel_leal]

Thank you for your video. It’s interesting.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure 👍

[@eslammaher8696]

Thank you very much,really amazing 😍

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

I'm glad you liked it 🙏

[@basitalisyed9445]

Very helpful tutorial... Good.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@wladimirtanasovichi5542]

You have a brilhant brain!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

So glad my video was helpful 😊

[@AhmedElsayed-ur8hv]

Very nice it was help me thank you very muchs

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Most welcome 😊

[@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.

[@aamir6666]

Amazing. thank you.

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@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.

[@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.

[@byronstutorialspage2134]

If anyone is interested I have the VBA code to break sheet protection and VBA Editor protection. ... its much much easier. Just save them both to your Personal Excel file and tey will always be available to you. all you have to do is run the code. Problems solved!

[@hhasanat]

Thank you for you really nice page and useful videos I tried this procedure at excel 365 but it did work... Could you check that for me please?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

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

[@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!

[@evo.gaming255]

superb video

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Thank you so much 😀

[@navychhun4645]

thank you so much!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're welcome!

[@omerabdu9093]

Great Helpful tutorial

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@nunocorreia5570]

Very useful, thanks

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad to hear that!

[@syedshas7105]

Thank you so much

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

You're most welcome 😊

[@EduardKorkia]

Thank you! 🤙

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure, Eduard!

[@KO1967]

One thing you didn't address is when the VBA is password protected. Is there something similar to unlock that?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

It's also editable in the .xml file: www.devhut.net/excel-unlocking-an-excel-vba-project/

[@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.

[@Daithai96]

I've always written macros that apply that protection as soon as the workbooks open. So, you could use these techniques, but unless you could also hack the VBA code, it wouldn't work on the useable file. But, still a very interesting video

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Nice trick, Dave! You can remove VBA protection with a similar technique to editing the zip file.

[@Daithai96]

@@MyOnlineTrainingHub Yeah, you can indeed. I wouldn't try to write a security app using VBA, but the number of people that are able to hack the VBA code is relatively small in my experience.

[@FishFinderHeroes]

very helptull video, thanks a lot mam, take ❤

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Most welcome 😊

[@ashu17981]

Thank you so much for the wonderful information. I am able to crack the password. Protected to Un-Protected

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad I could help 😊

[@daniellazylen5350]

that's awesome! thanks!

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad it was helpful!

[@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.

[@TheSupramentalLevel]

Hi there, When I open the zip folder, it doesn't show all those sheets like you've shown here and simply shows the same workbook protected with password. So I can't see the xml file in the unzipped folder. I've seen so many videos and all have suggested the same process to unlock the password. Can you please tell, if I'm doing something wrong here?

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Sounds like you have the password at the file open stage, in which case your scenario is the last one I cover in the video.

[@filippoxodo3354]

thank you very very much

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

My pleasure!

[@eyalbaruch7874]

amazing how simple it is :-)

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Glad you think so!

[@cristianmicu]

i folowed all steps, but i'm not deleting what i should, when i open it afterwards it gives an error and excel cannot open the file.. i look closely at < and > before deleting the selection, mind you, maybe if you could explain what exactly in the syntax needs to be deleted

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

Perhaps you'll find it easier to follow the written instructions with screenshots here: www.myonlinetraininghub.com/easily-remove-excel-password-protection

[@wah13]

Thank you for the video, able to unprotect the excel sheet. Better than Chatgpt at the moment😂

[@MyOnlineTrainingHub]

😁 glad I could help!

[@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