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How to remove password protection from a Microsoft Excel worksheet file?

I have a spreadsheet that I created a while back with both an open and modify password but now want to share it with someone without a password blocking access. How do I turn off the password protection in Microsoft Excel for Mac?

Dave's Answer:

I imagine it'd sound flippant if I just said "you remove password protection from an Excel file the same way you set up the password protection in the first place" so I will resist saying that. Okay? :-)

Seriously, it's a bit weird to remove the password because there's no feedback or indication that it's been removed: all you do is delete the previously entered password when you're doing a 'Save As' save.

The best way, however, is to step through the entire Security section on your document, so let me show you how to do that. The very first step is to open up the Excel spreadsheet in question, then go to Preferences:

Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X: Preferences

You may be surprised if you've never poked around in the Excel preferences, there's a lot you can access:

Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X: Preferences Window

You can explore later, however. Right now, let's stay on task! Click on "Security", and ...

Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X: Preferences: Security

Now you can set a password for opening or modifying here by simply typing one in. Since I already have a password protecting this document, you can see that they're shown with • symbols to represent each character in the password.

You can remove the password protection by simply deleting the password or passwords here, then click "OK". (as an experiment, I'm going to remove the password but also check "Read-only recommended".

With that changed, a quick File --> Save As... lets me specify a new name for the non-password-protected (but read-only recommended) file:

Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X: Save As file dialog box

(Tip: a shortcut to set or delete passwords can be found by clicking on the "Options..." button from this file save dialog window too, if you don't want to fiddle with Preferences)

Now when I open up the spreadsheet instead of seeing a password prompt, I see this:

Microsoft Excel for Mac OS X: Open Read Only?

Pretty cool! I hope you can see from my example how to simply remove a password or, for that matter, add password protection to your spreadsheet next time you save it.




Categorized: Computer and Internet Basics , Mac OS X Help   (Article 8627, Written by )
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Comments

i have given a password to one of my excel sheet but i forget it password but in want to open it it is very urgent an you please help it out it is very urgent.

Posted by: preeti at May 8, 2009 1:01 AM

Please Excel Password Remove

Posted by: Muhammad Sultan at February 23, 2010 7:03 AM

A) Open document > Select edit menu > choose select all > then choose copy from edit menu.
Open new document > edit menu> paste.
Select tools menu> choose options> window opens with options. Select form different tabs the edit tab> make sure that al desired boxes are selected.
Select save tab>choose and mark box>ask about properties
accept or Apply options and close.
Save new document different name. When saving it should ask if you want to save properties> choose not save. Maybe it asks if you want to modify properties> choose yes> select box archive amongst read only, hidden or archive.
If this does not work.

B)There are many 3rd party utilities which claim to reset forgotten word password:
The program that I recommend is the Excel Password Recovery 5.0 It recovers/removes the "Password to Open" and "Password to Edit" for you to view and edit the document freely.

http://www.recoverlostpassword.com/products/excelpasswordrecovery.html

Posted by: kevin88 at March 8, 2010 1:45 AM

I am vasanth i forget my 2003xls protected sheet pass word how can remove that password pls give some tips to remove this password sir

Posted by: vasanth kumar.B at October 18, 2010 4:24 AM

thank you for the help. I got solution and satisfied

God bless you.

Posted by: Kabera at December 12, 2010 1:33 PM

I have a MS Excel 2007 file that I just cannot open because I put a password and forgot it. Can you please help me to remove this password?

Posted by: Kim at July 5, 2011 11:02 AM

Dear Sir,

I have excel fiel in version 2007. I have made protection for some sheets and now I have fogot the password to modify the sheets. I have try no. of times but no use. Kindly suggest me to remove the password of protected sheet.

Regards,
Mohammed Saleemuddin
e-mail : saleem_nusrathyahoo.com

Posted by: Saleem at September 14, 2011 6:58 AM

Hi Team,

i want to remove the password protection of excel sheet using shell script.Can you help me with that. I know the password also

Posted by: venkat at October 13, 2011 11:17 PM

I have something to say, now that you mention it, but ...
Starbucks coffee cup I do have a lot to say, and questions of my own for that matter, but first I'd like to say thank you for all your efforts on this Web site by buying you a cup of coffee!

I do have a comment, now that you mention it!











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