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Password protection in Microsoft Excel is one of the most valuable features from a security perspective.
With the increase in cybercrime, staying protected is a must, and one of those defenses is simple to use, i.e. password protection.
But what happens if you secure your files like a vault and have no idea how to gain access?
Here’s the rundown of how to remove password protection from Excel.
Manual Option
Below are the steps on how to remove a password from excel manually.
Step
Open Up The Encrypted File In Excel
Head over to your Microsoft Suite and load up Excel. Next, open up the encrypted file in Excel that you wish to remove the password protection. You’ll know that the file is password protected because a box will appear blocking access, which will ask you to input the password.
Step
Go To File Tab
In the upper left-hand corner, you should see the File tab. Click this and then select the Info tab.
Step
Encrypt With Password
Next, click on Protect Workbook and then Encrypt With Password, which is one of many options for protecting your Excel file, but the option we shall explore in this article is because we’re focusing on password protection.
Under Encrypt With Password, all you need to do is clear the password that has already been input and then click Ok. This method works from the 2010 to 2019 Excel versions.
Review Tab
The other option for removing a password manually is to follow the above steps, but simply select it from the Review tab.
Step
Click Either Protect Sheet Or The Option Protect Workbook
If you then click either Protect Sheet or the option Protect Workbook, you will have the option to Unprotect Workbook. This is the same principle as removing the password manually: it will automatically remove any password that has been set to that file so that it is no longer password protected.
Using iSeePassword
There’s an external solution to this problem that you can use. ISeePassword Dr. Excel is a third-party tool, and this method allows the user to recover Excel passwords.
You can also remove any password protection that is already present on a file.
Using this workaround for Excel worksheets means that you can remove the worry of being locked out of files, which we know a lot of our users worry about.
As with any third-party app, make sure to read the terms and conditions before committing, just to ensure you are happy with everything.
Step
Recover Open Password
Open the Dr. Excel app and click on the Recover Open Password From Excel option. This will be easy to spot as it’s on the welcome screen
Step
Import The Excel File
From this new window, import the Excel file using the Add Button.
You then set rules for your passwords that will allow for a couple of parameters and save changes.
Step
Remove Password Protection
To remove a password, choose the Remove Workbook, and then Worksheet Password options from the window.
Find where it has the Add File option, which will be in the upper left-hand corner of the screen.
From here, click the start button which will then remove any password protection for that file.
This method is just as quick as the manual approach, with the added benefit of allowing for passwords to be unlocked. So choose which method suits your preferences.
Final Thoughts
The two methods above are our favorite ways to remove password protection from Excel, however, we know that there are other methods to completing this. Just make sure that you are confident in your approach, and tailor the system to your preferences.
If you rarely use Excel, and on the odd occasion you need a password unlocked then we suggest going with the manual method. For those that live in Excel then choosing a third-party route makes more sense logically.
