Comments on: How to protect and unprotect Excel sheet with or without password

The tutorial shows the detailed steps to protect Excel sheet with or without passwords. It also explains how to unlock Excel spreadsheet without password if you forgot or misplaced it. Continue reading →

Comments page 2. Total comments: 95

  1. My excel workfile (2013) is password protected for open.
    No problems with this.
    However in some unknown way my workbook structure has become protected (meaning I can't add a new worksheet etc.) When I try to add a new worksheet by clicking on the + symbol at the end of all the worksheet tabs - the + symbol is greyed out.
    Any solution to this would be appreciated.
    I'm hoping to avoid the slow solution of copying all the worksheets individually to a new workfile.
    I am very hesitant to download any non Microsoft software to unprotect my workfile and MS don't provide any support in this area.

    1. (just replying to my own post).
      I have now given up on this and taken the slow solution by copying all my worksheets to a new workfile.

  2. Does this work for Excel 2013 and 2016? If not, is there tutorial available for these versions?

    1. Hi Mark,

      To unlock Excel 2013 and Excel 2016 worksheets, you can save the file as Excel 97-2003 workbook (*.xls), run the macro to unprotect it, and then save it back as an .xlsx file.

      1. Thank you so much Svetlana Cheusheva...
        it's working..

  3. How do you open a workbook for which you forgot the password?

    1. Hi Don,

      Worksheet-level protection does not prevent you from opening a file, it only prevents you from editing a specific worksheet.

  4. your direction to open VBAProject(*.xls) Password protected sheet didn't work. I have attempted open a Password protected sheet which used excel 2007. After you right click on the VBAProject I was able to see Insert option but Module part is grayed out not available to insert the code mentioned. :(

    When you have a chance please reply.
    Thanks

    1. Double click on the worksheet so that i displays to enter the code. Just copy and paste the code there it works fine.

    2. save your file as 97-2003 version, follow the process as mentioned in: Unlock Excel spreadsheet with VBA code (for Excel 2010 and lower)
      Then the password should be removed.
      simply save the file back to 2007 or higher version.
      done

      1. CANNOT CONVERT THE LOCKED EXCEL TO LOWER VERSIONS

  5. How can you run the code if you cannot open the file?

    1. Hi!

      The code published in this article is intended for unprotecting worksheets, not workbooks. Worksheet level protection does not prevent you from opening a file and running the macro. As for removing the workbook encryption or workbook password protection, sorry we don't know a way to do this with VBA.

      1. Hi

        Can you please support me on this

  6. when try to run this code excel workbook is not responding could you please help

    1. I'm having the same issue. I converted my file to .xls and it hasn't stopped running.

  7. Great article! if you have a version that is newer than 2010 you can try "save as" as a 2003-2007 workbook, then run the macro to unlock and then "save as" back to version you want. Worked for me.

    1. This worked perfectly! I had a 2016 workbook, so saved as "2003-2007 Workbook", ran the macro on all the sheets, then saved as the original version, overwriting it. I then made sure that I noted the password that I used for the sheets, before re-protecting it!

      Thank you very much, Reddcliffe :)

  8. Hi, I am trying to unprotect an excel document without knowing the password. It has been saved in excel 2010 and I have tried copying and pasting your password breaker code but I get an compile error - sub or function not defined.

    Any ideas why this is happening?

    1. what was the answer.... were you able to get past that error? I have the same

    2. i already try, and no need to type the password. after run (password was remove too, but only one sheet. so we need to do same thing many time for all sheet)

  9. I have run the above code for unlocking excel sheet, its work for 1 file but its not working for another file. Please help to unblock the same.

    1. Go back to the open Excel workbook, and switch to the next sheet before running the next code. This worked for me.

  10. Hi,

    In my workbook there are some sheets which are protected and hidden.I forgot the password just want to know how to retrieve those sheets.

    1. View the copy and paste solution in the main article. Then read this:
      Even if "select locked cells" is not allowed , you can still copy and paste the sheet contents by selecting all desired columns and holding down SHIFT while you right click and select COPY from the context menu

  11. This is simply amazing... I am awestruck with the vba code that it unprotected the sheet. I want to master vba but need a perfect training program and how can I write complex codes to make my work more simpler... Please advise. Once again Thank you very much.

    1. Hello, Saurabh,

      Thanks for your feedback!
      I can advise you to check out MrExcel forum, where you can ask (or even find right away) everything you want to know about VBA codes.

      Hope their forum helps!

  12. I have not forgotten my password, but all unprotect sheet access is not highlighted therefore can not click on to enter my password.

    I have also tried entering your VBA code, but when right click a box appears stating "Project is unviewable"

    Please help

    1. I am having the same issue and would love to find resolution. I have several worksheets that are now greyed out from allowing me to highlight and release the protection. Help!

      1. Same thing happened to me... check if the workbook is shared, I think that is the problem, you have to un-share it. Go to the Review tab and under the Changes group, click Share Workbook. Clear the ‘Allow changes by more than one user at the same time’ option. Once you remove that option, it should allow you to enter the password. Hope it works for you ;)

  13. can you save the password as text in the VBA code so if you forget you can easily find without running your scipt above?

    1. yes, write it in the comments :)

      'Password goes here

  14. how to unprotected the work book if password is forget.

      1. how to unprotected the work book which is in a format made by others.

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