How to Open a Password-Protected Excel File

Have you ever encountered a situation where you received a password-protected Excel file, and you couldn’t access it? This can be due to various reasons, such as someone mistakenly setting a password or a security measure to protect sensitive information. Whatever the reason, in this article, we will learn how to open a password-protected Excel file using various methods.

Method 1 – Open Password-Protected Excel File with Known Password

The simplest method to open a password-protected Excel file is when you know the password. In such cases, follow the steps given below:

1. Double-click on the Excel file that is password-protected.
2. Enter the correct password and click on OK.
3. The file will be unlocked, and you can now access it.

If you’ve entered the incorrect password or don’t know the password, try the methods given below.

Method 2 – Remove Password from Excel File

If you don’t know the password, you can try to remove the password from the Excel file to access its contents. The steps to remove the password are as follows:

1. Open the password-protected Excel file.
2. Click on “File” and select “Save As.”
3. Choose the location where you want to save the file.
4. In the “Save As” dialog box, click on the “Tools” dropdown menu and select “General Options.”
5. In the “General Options” dialog box, delete the password from the “Password to open” field.
6. Click on OK and then click on “Save.”

If the above method does not work, try Method 3.

Method 3 – Use an Online Password Recovery Tool

If the above methods don’t work, you can use an online password recovery tool. Online password recovery tools work by removing the protection from the Excel file. Follow the steps given below to use an online password recovery tool:

1. Open your browser and search for an online password recovery tool such as Online Password Recovery (www.onlinepasswordrecovery.net) or Password-Find (www.password-find.com).
2. Upload the password-protected Excel file to the online tool.
3. Wait till the tool completes the password recovery process.
4. Download the unlocked Excel file.

Note – Using online password recovery tools may not be safe as it can compromise your data’s privacy. Hence, use this method only if you are willing to take the risk.

Method 4 – Use Passper for Excel

Passper for Excel is a third-party tool that can help you open password-protected Excel files. It has various features such as password recovery, password removal, and dictionary attack that can help you recover the password or remove the protection from the Excel file. Follow the steps given below to use Passper for Excel.

1. Download and install Passper for Excel on your computer.
2. Launch the tool and click on “Recover Passwords.”
3. Click on “Add” and select the password-protected Excel file that you want to open.
4. Choose the appropriate attack mode, such as dictionary attack, brute force attack or mask attack.
5. Click on “Start” and wait till the tool completes the password recovery process.
6. Once the password is recovered, enter it in the Excel file to unlock the file.

Conclusion

In conclusion, opening password-protected Excel files can be a challenging task, but with the methods mentioned above, you can access the file’s content. It’s recommended to use Passper for Excel as it has a high success rate in recovering passwords or removing protection from Excel files. If you know the password, use Method 1 to open the file, or try Method 2 to remove the password. If neither of the methods works, try Method 3 with caution, and if nothing works, go for Method 4.
Remember, it’s always a good practice to keep your passwords secure and make sure not to forget them. If you have to share password-protected Excel files with others, ensure that the password is shared securely, and the recipient knows the password before sending the file.

We hope that this article was helpful in guiding you on how to open a password-protected Excel file. Try out the different methods mentioned above and choose the one that works best for you. With technology advancing every day, there may be other methods available in the future. However, these methods can be a starting point to help you access password-protected Excel files.