Excel Password Remover

Excel has three distinct protection layers, and it is important to understand which one this tool addresses:

• Sheet protection (what this removes): Set via Review → Protect Sheet. Prevents users from editing locked cells, inserting rows, sorting, or using other features on that sheet. The "password" is stored as a weak hash in the XML and is trivially removable without the original password. This is designed for accidental-edit prevention, not security.
• Workbook structure protection (what this removes): Set via Review → Protect Workbook. Prevents adding, deleting, renaming, or moving sheets. Also stored as a weak hash in the workbook XML.
• File-open password (NOT removable by this tool): Set via File → Info → Protect Workbook → Encrypt with Password. Uses AES-256 encryption. The entire file is encrypted and cannot be read without the correct password. This tool cannot bypass this type of protection.

If your file prompts for a password before it will open, that is a file-open password and this tool will not help. If your file opens normally but prevents editing, sorting, or structural changes, this tool will remove those restrictions.

Use this tool only on files you own, manage, or have permission to edit. Sheet protection is commonly used to prevent accidental changes in templates, reports, and shared workbooks. Removing it is reasonable when the original password is lost, the workbook owner is unavailable, or you need to update a legitimate business file.

After removing protection, review the workbook carefully before making changes. Locked cells often contain formulas, validation rules, or protected layout areas. The protection may have been added to stop accidental overwrites, so immediately editing formerly locked cells can introduce errors if you do not understand the workbook structure.

A good workflow is: remove sheet protection, save a copy, run the Spreadsheet Auditor, and then make edits. This gives you a baseline before changing formulas or hidden sheets. If you only need to inspect formulas, use the Formula Extractor after unprotecting the workbook.

This tool does not crack encryption, bypass file-open passwords, recover forgotten passwords, or access files that Excel itself cannot open. That limitation is intentional and important. Encrypted Excel files are protected at the file level; the workbook content is unreadable without the correct password.

The tool also does not remove document sensitivity labels, enterprise rights management, Microsoft 365 tenant restrictions, or operating-system file permissions. Those controls are managed outside the spreadsheet XML and should be handled by your organization's administrator or document owner.