Decrypt Excel file Without Using a Password With Ease

You will have to know how to decrypt an Excel file if you have forgotten its encryption password.

For instance, think of a situation if someone has sent you an encrypted Excel file. You cannot contact him anymore, and you don’t know the encrypted password. If not, what if you have simply forgotten an encryption password to decrypt Excel file?

What if the respective document has very important information? Here, we will explain the most effective methods to get it done without any hassle.

Why Do People Encrypt Excel Files?

Well, passwords have become an exceptionally important feature when it comes to assuring the safety of information. This is particularly true if the information on the respective documents has sensitive and crucially important.

In general, it is pretty common for individuals to apply passwords to Excel files. Nevertheless, we tend to forget passwords specifically due to the busy lifestyles we live in.

Once the password is forgotten, we start to get so frustrated thinking that we cannot open that file, ever. Under normal conditions, you cannot necessarily open an encrypted Excel file unless you have the password.

However, there are specific ways to have this issue solved. That means it is possible to decrypt Excel files without passwords. Please follow below methods we explain in this article.

However, you should remember that the methods vary significantly depending on the version of the Excel file. So, in the next sections of our article, we explain those solutions to the benefit of our readers.

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Part 1: Practical Methods to Decrypt Excel Files Without Password

If you have forgotten the password of an encrypted Excel file, you cannot open it. The same issue arises if you don’t know the password of a protected Excel file.

No matter what the reason is, if you don’t have the password, you should bypass it somehow. Well, you can do it only if you have a reliable password-unlocking tool.

When it comes to password decrypting tools, they are available in both online and offline options. We should also tell you that not all those methods are equal. Some methods are more difficult than others, and the success rate of those methods can also differ.

Besides, let’s learn more about how to hack Facebook passwords online.

1.1. Use an Online Method

What if you don’t want to install an app but still want to decrypt an Excel file? If that is the case, please use a good online tool.

In this case, you can consider using a tool like Accessback. This tool has a good reputation as an online solution that can unlock password-protected Excel files. You can use this tool with its 100% guarantee of success.

What you should remember is that this doesn’t recover the password, but it completely removes the password. Then, this online service sends you a copy of the original Excel file, which was protected with a password.

In addition, you will get the respective file without any alteration to the data.

Simple Steps to Decrypt an Encrypted Excel Sheet Using Accessback

Step 1.

As the first step, you should go to the homepage of the official website of Accessback. Thereafter, you can see an option called “Choose” in the form of a button. Just click on this button, and you will be directed to choose the folder to upload the encrypted file.

Now, you should provide a valid email address and hit the “UPLOAD.” Please note that the decrypted file will be sent to the email address you provided. Therefore, providing a valid, working email address is mandatory.

Step 2.

Now, the program will start to decrypt the Excel file. In this case, you will be able to receive the screenshot of the decrypted file’s first page. This is to prove that the respective file has successfully decrypted and access to the data is gained.

Step 3.

After receiving the screenshot, you should choose a payment method to proceed with. Please note that it is mandatory to make the payment before receiving the decrypted file.

Once you have completed the payment, the encrypted file will be sent to your email address. You can see that the entire process is very simple. However, this method has a few disadvantages, as well.

Mentioned below are those disadvantages for your reference.

• Accessback keeps the decrypted Excel file for a period of 7 days on their servers. So, if your Excel file contains very sensitive information, you should think twice before uploading it to their server.
• Accessback decrypts passwords on Excel versions 97-2003 only.
• You will have to pay for each encrypted file, so it can be exceptionally expensive. This is true, particularly if you have plenty of files to decrypt.

1.2. Use Passfab for Excel

Now that you already know the shortcomings of Accessback, you might be wondering about a better alternative. The best alternative you can consider is a desktop program that has reliable performance.

In this case, Passfab for Excel is the best option to consider. This special tool has become a very reliable option among many users across the globe. Even on review platforms such as Trustpilot, this program has received plenty of good reviews.

Main Features of Passfab for Excel

Let’s learn about this tool’s main features to give you a better idea.

• This tool comes with four different recovery methods, which are extremely powerful and effective. These methods can guarantee an excellent decryption rate (over 95%).
• Thanks to its smart and efficient algorithm, Passfab for Excel can decrypt files 10X faster.
• The security of your data is perfectly assured. You don’t have to access the internet to decrypt the files or upload files to a remote server. Instead, you can only get it done through your computer.
• This tool comes with excellent compatibility as well. It can easily decrypt passwords of files that fall in the range of Excel 97 to Excel 2019. In addition to that, it supports pretty much all file types.
• If you purchase its full version, you can decrypt any number of Excel files.

And figure out how to open a password-protected ZIP file and unlock the RAR password with ease.

How to Decrypt Excel Files Without Password Using Passfab for Excel

Please follow up to decrypt the Excel file using Passfab for Excel.

• First, you should download and install Passfab for Excel on your computer to proceed. Then, launch the program and see the Home Screen. After that, please select the “Recover Excel Open Password” option.

• Now, click on the option “Please import Excel file.” That will take you to where you should upload the Excel file, which is password protected. Once you have successfully uploaded the file, you can also choose a recovery method. This can be chosen from the right side of the screen.

• After that, please click on the “Recover” option. This will trigger the decryption process. Now, you should see a screen notification saying the process is successful. You can copy the displayed password or write it somewhere. Then, it would be best if you used it to open the encrypted Excel file.

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Part 2: Using a Password to Decrypt Excel File

Assuming that you still remember the password, let’s learn how to decrypt a file with a password. Please note that the methods vary depending on the excel version.

If It is an Excel 2010 or Newer File:

• First, you should launch the Excel file with the exact password.
• Now, just go to the “File” and choose the option labeled “Info” as well. Under that, you should choose the option called the “Protect Workbook” tab. Then, you should choose the option called “Encrypt with Password,” which is located in the drop-down.
• You can now delete the password of the file and hit the option called “OK” to complete it.

If It is an Excel 2007 File:

• Use the password and open the document.
• Now, click on the “Windows” button and go to “Prepare > Encrypt Document.”
• Now, you should delete the password and hit “OK.”

If It is an Excel 2003 or Older File:

• Use the correct password and open the respective file.
• Choose “Tools” > “Options.”
• Now, choose “Security.”
• Delete the password from the “Password to Open” option. And then hit the “OK” button.

Part 3: Changing the File Extension

Another approach to decrypting an Excel file without a password involves changing the file extension. By manipulating the file extension, we can trick Excel into opening the file without requesting the password. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1: Make a Copy of the Password-Protected Excel File

To ensure the safety of your original file, create a copy of the password-protected Excel file that you want to decrypt. This will allow you to experiment with the copy without affecting the original file.

Step 2: Change the File Extension

Right-click on the copied file and select “Rename.” Change the file extension from “.xlsx” to “.zip”. Confirm the change when prompted.

Step 3: Open the Decrypted Excel File

Now, double-click on the renamed file. This will extract the contents of the Excel file as a compressed folder. Navigate to the extracted files and look for a file named “xl/workbook.xml”. Open this file using a text editor, such as Notepad, and remove the line containing the password hash. Save the modified file.

Next, compress the extracted files back into a zip folder and change the file extension from “.zip” back to “.xlsx”. You can now open the modified file using Excel, and it should no longer require a password.

Part 4: Using VBA Macro Code

If you are comfortable working with Excel’s VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) macros, you can use a simple VBA code to decrypt the Excel file. Here’s how:

Step 1: Enable the Developer Tab in Excel

Go to the Excel options and enable the Developer tab. This tab provides access to Excel’s VBA editor and other advanced features.

Step 2: Open the Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) Editor

Once the Developer tab is enabled, click on the “Developer” tab in the Excel ribbon and select “Visual Basic” to open the VBA editor.

Step 3: Run the VBA Macro Code

In the VBA editor, insert the following code:

vbaCopy codeSub DecryptExcel()
    ActiveSheet.Unprotect Password:=""
End Sub

Close the VBA editor and run the macro by pressing “Alt + F8” and selecting the “DecryptExcel” macro. The password protection on the Excel file will be removed, allowing you to access the data without a password.

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Conclusion

In situations where you need to decrypt an Excel file without using a password, there are several methods and tools available to assist you. Whether it’s using specialized password remover tools, changing the file extension, leveraging VBA macros, or utilizing online password recovery services, you have options to regain access to your password-protected Excel files.

However, it’s important to use these methods responsibly and ethically, ensuring that you have the rightful ownership or permission to access the encrypted Excel file. Always prioritize data security and respect privacy when handling sensitive information.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

1. Is it legal to decrypt someone else’s password-protected Excel file?
   • No, attempting to decrypt someone else’s password-protected Excel file without their permission is illegal and unethical. The methods discussed in this article are intended for situations where you have forgotten the password to your own Excel file or need to access it for legitimate purposes.
2. Are the methods mentioned in this article guaranteed to decrypt any Excel file without a password?
   • The effectiveness of the methods may vary depending on the complexity of the encryption and the strength of the password. While these methods have proven successful in many cases, there is no guarantee that they will work for every scenario.
3. Can I use these methods to decrypt other types of password-protected files?
   • The methods discussed in this article are specifically focused on decrypting password-protected Excel files. They may not be applicable to other types of password-protected files, such as Word documents or PDFs.
4. Are online Excel password recovery services safe to use?
   • Reputable online Excel password recovery services prioritize user privacy and data security. However, it is essential to choose a trusted and reputable service to ensure the confidentiality of your files. Do thorough research and read user reviews before using any online service.
5. How can I prevent unauthorized access to my Excel files?
   • To enhance the security of your Excel files, consider using strong passwords that are difficult to guess. Additionally, you can encrypt the entire workbook or specific sheets within Excel to add an extra layer of protection. Regularly update your passwords and employ other security measures, such as two-factor authentication, to safeguard your data.