How to unprotect an Excel spreadsheet forgot password?

[Khushi Singh]

If you forgot the password to unprotect your Excel spreadsheet, the solution depends on the type of protection applied to the file.

1. If your Excel file is protected with a strong “Password to Open”:
   In this case, you won’t be able to access or view the file using any manual method. Excel uses advanced encryption, and manual tricks or VBA codes will not work. The only reliable solution is to use a professional tool like SysTools Excel Password Recovery Tool, which can help unlock or remove the password safely without any data loss.
2. If your Excel file is protected with a simple “Password to Edit” or “Password to Modify”:
   You can try manual methods such as using VBA code, changing the file format (e.g., .xlsx to .zip), or manually editing XML files inside the Excel structure. These methods might work for older Excel versions or files with simple protection.

In short, for a password to open, use SysTools Excel Password Recovery Tool to open password protected Excel file without password, and for password to edit, you can try manual methods like VBA or file format modification.