How to Unlock Protected Excel Sheet without Password?

Published By Aunraag Singh

Approved By Nimisha Ramesh

Published On January 30th, 2026

Reading Time 6 Minutes Reading

Overview: Have you locked your Excel worksheet with password, and now you want to unlock it? If it sounds similar to your issue, then you are on the right page. This write-up will suggest manual techniques to unlock protected Excel sheet without a password using changing the file extension, using Google Sheets, using VBA code, and an automatic solution for AES encryption.

MS Excel is a widely used application that allows users to manage data in cells and columns. And also provides a built-in feature to lock the data file with a password. But the actual problem comes when you forgot Excel sheet password and can’t remember it.

If you are also one of them, then you have the right blog. Here we will explain all the information one by one to unlock protected Excel sheet without password. However, before choosing any technique, let’s understand the types of protection and other details.

Is It Possible to Unlock Excel Sheet without Password?

Yes, it is possible; if your file is locked with only read and preview protection, then manual techniques work. But if your sheet is protected with AES encryption, then no way available to recover data accept a professional software.

Understanding the Different Types of Protection

Before choosing any technique to find the correct password, we have to understand how your sheet is protected:

Sheet Protection: It’s the most common protection, which is used to prevent unintended changes, not to secure your confidential data.
Workbook Structure Protection: It is similar to sheet protection; you can open and preview data, but can’t add new sheets, delete action, rename, reordering, or hide or unhide data.
Workbook-Level Password Encryption: This is the strongest encryption (AES) to protect the complete worksheet, which cannot be opened without password. You can’t open and preview data.

How to Unlock Protected Excel Sheet without Password?

If your data files are locked with normal protection, then you can choose the manual techniques. But if your file is locked with AES protection, then select the suggested solution. These are the possible methods to unlock Excel sheet without password:

Change File Extension
Use Google Sheets
Using VBA Codes
Find Correct Password to Open Files

Quick Suggestion for Password-Protected Files with AES Encryption

If your Excel sheets are protected with AES encryption, then there is no technique available to recover or remove the password accept FreeViewer Excel Password Recovery Tool. This software is capable of guessing the correct unknown and partially known passwords. It is a safe and secure solution that doesn’t keep your personal details to unlock protected Excel sheet without password.

Also, it can guess the 12-character password without having any limitations. It gives you two powerful modes and multiple advanced features. Download the free demo edition to check features:

Download Now Purchase Now

How to Unlock Excel Sheet without Password?

Step 1: Download and start the solution.
Step 2: Browse and add your locked file.
Step 3: Choose the “Recovery Mode”.
Step 4: Provide the known information of password.
Step 5: Choose the “Recover” icon.
Step 6: The tool will start the password-guessing process.

Method 1: Change File Extension

This technique might work with Excel 2010 and older versions. Follow the given steps to unlock protected Excel Sheet without password:

Creating a backup of your sheet is the first task.
After that, right-click on your file.
Choose Rename and change the extension from .xlsx to .zip format.
Now unzip the file by right-clicking it.
Next, open the unzipped folder.
After that, find the .xml file and open it.
Search the “SheetProtection” using “Ctrl + F” keys.
If you get this word in the file, then remove it.
Finally, save your final locally to unlock protected Excel sheet without password.

Method 2: Using Google Sheets

If you have an Excel file that is locked with sheet protection, editing restriction / read-only protection, then Google Sheets might unlock Excel sheets:

Upload your locked file to Google Drive.
Open the uploaded file in Google Sheets.
After opening the file, head to the “File” >> “Download” >> “MS Excel” options.

Method 3: Unlock Protected Excel Sheet using VBA Code

If you have technical knowledge about VBA codes, then use the given code in the VBA editor to unlock protected Excel sheet without password:

Important Note: Not for AES Encryption

Launch the Excel application.
Open a new sheet.
Open the VBA editor with “Alt + F11” keys.
Select the “Insert” >> “Module” option.
Now, copy and paste this code:

Sub UnlockExcelWithoutPassword()
Dim ws As Worksheet

‘Unprotect all sheets
For Each ws In ThisWorkbook.Worksheets
On Error Resume Next
ws.Unprotect Password:=””
ws.Unprotect
On Error GoTo 0
Next ws

‘Unprotect workbook structure
On Error Resume Next
ThisWorkbook.Unprotect Password:=””
ThisWorkbook.Unprotect
On Error GoTo 0

MsgBox “Done! Protection removed (if possible).”, vbInformation, “Unlock Excel”
End Sub
Run the code using the “F5” key.
A box will appear with a password.

Method 4: Suggested Solution to Unlock Excel File without Password

As we mentioned, the suggested solution is the best technique to unlock protected Excel sheet without password. You just have to upload your locked file, provide some information, and it will find the correct passcode without saving your crucial data. Follow the working steps and features for better understanding:

Download Now Purchase Now

Download and start the software on your system.
Add your locked Excel file using the “Browse” button.
Now, select the “Recovery Mode” as per the requirement.
Provide known information about password like charsets, starts with, length of your password, prefix, and suffix, etc.
Finally, choose the “Recover” button to unlock protected Excel sheet without password.
Lastly, the tool will show the correct password to access file data.

Also Read: After unlocking your data file, if you find your Excel file is too large to open, then follow this blog to reduce Excel file size easily.

Why Only FreeViewer Automatic Solution?

This software doesn’t break or remove passwords, because it is illegal; it just finds the correct password.
It provides dual powerful modes called Brute and Mask force to guess the known and unknown passwords.
It can unlock Excel sheets in XLSX and XLS formats without any limitations.
Capable of guessing the maximum 12 characters of a password easily.
There is no other offline solution available in the market that provides 101% guaranty of accurate recovery without saving your personal details.

Conclusion

Here we have discussed the most searched query on the internet, how to unlock protected Excel sheet without password, using 3 manual techniques and 1 automatic solution. Manual methods are suitable for normal encryption, but for strong encryption, go for the expert solution. Because this is the only tool that can find a password with guaranty. If you have any queries, you can contact us anytime.