Skip to main content

UNPROTECT ANY EXCEL WORKBOOK IN JUST 5 SIMPLE STEPS


The article shows how to unprotect Excel spreadsheet without password if you forgot or misplaced it. 

How to unprotect Excel sheet without password:


If you need to edit a password protected sheet but you cannot remember the password, try to unlock that Excel spreadsheet by using the following method:

Unlock Excel spreadsheet with VBA code (for Excel 2010 and lower)

If you are using Excel 2016 or older version, you can unlock a password-protected sheet with the following macro.
Download the code file from here!

Step 1: Open your Excel document and switch to the password-protected sheet (it should be active when you run the macro).

Step 2: Press Alt + F11 to open the Visual Basic Editor.

Step 3: Right-click the workbook name on the left pane (Project-VBAProject pane) and select Insert > Module from the context menu, or press F7; In the window that appears, paste in the following code:
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public Sub AllInternalPasswords()
'Breaks worksheet and workbook structure passwords.
'Bob McCormick probably originator of base code algorithm
'Modified for coverage of workbook structure / windows
'passwords and for multiple passwords
''Reveals passwords NOT "the" passwords
Const DBLSPACE As String = vbNewLine & vbNewLine
Dim Mess As String, Header As String
Dim Authors As String, Version As String
Dim RepBack As String, AllClear As String
Dim PWord1 As String
Dim ShTag As Boolean, WinTag As Boolean
Dim w1 As Worksheet, w2 As Worksheet
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer, l As Integer
Dim m As Integer, n As Integer, i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer
Dim i3 As Integer, i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
Application.ScreenUpdating = True
Header = "Unprotecting"
Version = "Click OK"
With ActiveWorkbook
WinTag = .ProtectStructure Or .ProtectWindows
End With
ShTag = False
For Each w1 In Worksheets
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents
Next w1
If Not ShTag And Not WinTag Then
Mess = "This Workbook Is Password Free"
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
If Not WinTag Then
Mess = "This Will Take 2 Minutes" & DBLSPACE & _
"Proceeding to unprotect sheets." & DBLSPACE & _
"Please Wait..." & DBLSPACE & Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Else
On Error Resume Next
Do 'dummy do loop
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
With ActiveWorkbook
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If .ProtectStructure = False And _
.ProtectWindows = False Then
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Mess = "You had a Worksheet Structure or " & _
"Windows Password set." & DBLSPACE & _
"The password found was: " & DBLSPACE & _
PWord1 & DBLSPACE & "Note it down for " & _
"potential future use in other " & _
"workbooks by same person who set this " & _
"password." & DBLSPACE & _
"Now to check and clear other passwords." & _
Authors & Version
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts
End If
End With
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Loop Until True
On Error GoTo 0
End If
If WinTag And Not ShTag Then
Mess = "Only structure / windows protected with " & _
"the password that was just found." & _
AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
On Error Resume Next
For Each w1 In Worksheets
'Attempt clearance with PWord1
w1.Unprotect PWord1
Next w1
On Error GoTo 0
ShTag = False
For Each w1 In Worksheets
'Checks for all clear ShTag triggered to 1 if not.
ShTag = ShTag Or w1.ProtectContents
Next w1
If Not ShTag Then
Mess = AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
Exit Sub
End If
For Each w1 In Worksheets
With w1
If .ProtectContents Then
On Error Resume Next
Do 'Dummy do loop
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If Not .ProtectContents Then
PWord1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & Chr(l) & _
Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
'leverage finding Pword by trying on other sheets
For Each w2 In Worksheets
w2.Unprotect PWord1
Next w2
Exit Do 'Bypass all for...nexts
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Loop Until True
On Error GoTo 0
End If
End With
Next w1
Mess = AllClear & Authors & Version & RepBack
MsgBox Mess, vbInformation, Header
End Sub

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Step 4: Press F5 or click the Run button

Step 5: Now, a popup massage will appear on the screen click “OK” 3 times and wait 2 minutes; and Your Excel Sheet is Password Free.
Download the code file from here!

Know about us - https://thetaxsupport.com
You can find more articles on at https://thetaxsupport.com/blog
You can find tutorial videos on at https://www.youtube.com/c/vipinsanger

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Small Businesses should use mobile apps for filing GST - 9 reasons Why..

GST and Taxation for MSMEs: GST accounting applications have helped in the transition of many small businesses and entrepreneurs in an easier and cost-effective manner to a new indirect tax system and also making them organised in terms of their bookkeeping. GST and Taxation for MSMEs: Since the launch of July 2017, Goods & Service Tax (GST) has been the most important factor for government and businesses with many changes being introduced recently. GST for Indian economy has been an evolving process and has brought advantages for small businesses in many ways by reducing complexities of inter-state taxation, digitization of MSMEs and an online portal for registration, filing and compliance purpose to make indirect taxation convenient and simple in India. There are about 13 million GST payers, out of which, 6-7 million are B2B, and 5-6 million are B2C. India’s MSME sector contributes about 8 per cent of India’s GDP, 45 per cent of the manufacturing output, 40 per cent of the ...

Here's All You Need To Know About Indian Digital Tax

The Covid-19 outbreak has compelled businesses to transcend from traditional to digital models of work. With business models evolving on account of mass digitization, the complexities from a regulatory and taxation standpoint have only amplified. The advent and access to technology have enabled businesses to carry on business-as-usual with minimal physical presence. Unsurprisingly, India has the second-largest online users in the world, with over 560 million internet users, and hence, from the viewpoint of its tax revenue base, digital businesses could not be overlooked. However, as is the case in other jurisdictions, Indian tax laws were suited for conventional business models such as brick and mortar stores and thus in dire need of an overhaul. Recent Amendments To ensure that value created digitally is appropriately taxed; two significant amendments were introduced in Indian taxation laws in the recent past – The “Equalization Levy” – a tax aimed at foreign digital...

5 income tax relaxations that you need to know

In order to enhance liquidity in the hands of taxpayers, FM announced a reduction in the rate of tax deducted at source (TDS) for non-salaried specified payments made to residents by 25%. The coronavirus crisis has impacted lives severely. Several employees have been fired and many have witnessed salary reduction. In order to offer some relief to taxpayers amid such situation, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently announced a slew of direct tax measures. FM said in her press conference, "We think this measure will release liquidity of Rs 50,000 crore who otherwise would have paid the tax." 5 Income Tax relaxations that you need to know: 1. TDS rate cut: In order to enhance liquidity in the hands of taxpayers, FM announced a reduction in the rate of tax deducted at source (TDS) for non-salaried specified payments made to residents by 25%.  2. TCS rate cut: In order to provide more funds at the disposal of the taxpayers, the rates of Tax Collection at ...