Excel passwords come in two very different flavours, and knowing which one you’re facing decides whether this takes ten seconds or becomes a real headache. One locks the whole file so it won’t even open; the other just stops you editing a protected sheet. We at GetMyPassword explain how to remove each, what to do when you still know the password, and the honest truth about a password you’ve genuinely forgotten.
Remove a password when you still know it
If you can open the workbook and simply want to stop being asked for the password, removing it is built right into Excel:
- Open the workbook and enter the current password.
- Go to File → Info → Protect Workbook → Encrypt with Password.
- Delete the existing password so the box is empty, and click OK.
- Save the file — it will now open with no prompt.
Two kinds of Excel protection
| Type | What it does | How hard to remove |
|---|---|---|
| Workbook open password | Encrypts the file; it won’t open at all | Hard — real encryption |
| Sheet / structure protection | Blocks editing, but the file opens | Easy — can be stripped |
Forgot a sheet-protection password
If the file opens but a worksheet is locked for editing, you can remove that protection without the password using the ZIP trick:
- Make a copy of the .xlsx file (always work on a copy).
- Rename the copy’s extension from
.xlsxto.zipand open it. - Inside
xl → worksheets, open the sheet’s XML and delete the<sheetProtection ... />tag. - Save, rename back to
.xlsx, and the sheet is editable again.
Forgot the password that opens the file
Here’s the honest part. A workbook open password on a modern Excel file uses AES-256 encryption — there is no built-in recovery, and the ZIP trick won’t help, because the contents are genuinely scrambled. Your realistic options are a reputable password-recovery service, or asking whoever sent you the file for an unprotected copy. Be wary of “free instant unlock” sites: uploading a sensitive spreadsheet to a stranger’s server is a privacy risk in itself.
The strong encryption that makes a forgotten Excel password so hard to crack is exactly what protects your data from everyone else. That’s a feature, not a bug.
To avoid this trap next time, store the password somewhere you won’t lose it rather than only in your head — our guide to password managers shows how, and you can build a strong file password with our password generator.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove a password from an Excel file I can open?
Open the workbook, go to File → Info → Protect Workbook → Encrypt with Password, delete the password so the field is empty, click OK and save.
Can I recover a forgotten Excel open password?
Not with a built-in tool. Modern Excel files use AES-256 encryption, so a forgotten open password can only be tackled with a recovery service or by getting an unprotected copy from the sender.
Is the ZIP method safe?
Yes, as long as you work on a copy. It only removes sheet-editing protection, not file encryption, and leaves your data intact.