This guide presents simple to understand and follow, step-by-step instructions to lead you through all the steps you need to regain full access to Excel spreadsheets.
Method 1: How to remove password protection in Excel manually using info feature
1. Go to your Microsoft Office Suite and launch the Microsoft Excel program.
2. Open the encrypted Excel spreadsheet file you want to remove the password. In case you have set opening password protection in the file, it means the file is locked. You will be required to enter it. Click OK when done.
3. On the upper left corner of your opened worksheet, click the File tab. Click on ‘Info.’
4. Click on ‘Protect Workbook’ to open a drop-down menu. Then, choose the type of password protection you had set to remove.
- For Encrypt with Password option, all you have to do is clear the password written and click OK to remove the password. It works mostly for Excel from 2019 to 2010.
- For ‘Protect Current Sheet’ and ‘Protect Workbook Structure options,’ get an Unprotect Sheet window and enter a password. Click OK to remove the protection. It works for Excel 2007 and older versions.
Note that you can also remove password protection from the Review tab and click either Protect Sheet or Protect Workbook. Clicking on Unprotect Sheet or Protect Workbook will automatically remove the password from the sheet.
Method 2: How to remove a password in Excel using iSeePassword
iSeePassword Dr.Excel is a powerful third-party tool that can be used to recover Excel open passwords and remove protection passwords from Excel Worksheet. You can unlock the worksheet pretty quickly with this password removal software. When you forgot the Excel password and the above tricks didn’t work, Dr.Excel is the best solution out there to help you get away from an awkward situation.
First, please download iSeePassword Dr.Excel from this link:
Recover Open Password from Excel
Open Dr.Excel from your computer and click Recover Open Password from the Excel menu on the welcome screen.
From the new window, please import the password-protected Excel file with Add File button. Next, choose a password attack module. Usually, we will use Brute-force with Mask Attack as it allows you to set a couple of parameters to shorten the password recovery time.
Hit the Settings button on the right side and make proper settings accordingly.
Save the changes and Dr.Excel starts to recover Excel open password based on your settings. Once the password is found, it will be shown on the screen.
After the password was recovered, you can now remove the password using the methods shared previously in this article.
Remove worksheet protection password from Excel
Well, it is much easier to remove the Excel worksheet password with the Dr.Excel app. It is almost done instantly.
First, choose Remove Workbook, Worksheet Password from the main window. Now, locate Add File button at the upper left corner to import the Excel file into the program. Finally, click the Start button to remove the worksheet protection password from Excel. The password will be removed in seconds without waiting even it has a complex password.
The unlocked Excel file is saved in the same folder as the original one sits. If you are trying to open the unlocked file, you will find there is no password attached to it. iSeePassword Dr.Excel is by far the easiest way to remove a password from Excel when you forgot the password.
Method 3: How to remove a password in an Excel sheet using the Home tab
1. Launch the Excel program and open the worksheet. You need to remove the password.
2. On the main ribbon menu, go to the Home tab.
3. Under the Cells group, click Format’s drop-down arrow. From the list, select Unprotect Sheet.
4. Type in the password and then click OK to remove the password.
Method 4: Using Save As to remove password protection in Excel
1. Open the password-protected Excel worksheet. After this, go to the File tab and select Save As.
2. Click the arrow to display a pop-up window. On the window, click Tools, then select General Options from the drop-down menu.
3. In the dialogue box, clear the password to open and modify fields to remove them.
4. Click the OK button to save all changes made. Remember to click the save button to save your modified document.
Conclusion
The article above provides you with some methods you can remove password protection from your Excel files. The procedures mentioned above are some of the ways where you will end up with the same results. Always remember to save your work again after making any changes to it.
