Forum Discussion
How to unprotect Excel sheet if forgot the password
ToddSumrall ow much text needs to be deleted? I deleted the <sheetProtection> as well as text within the <__> but it didn't work... I may not be deleting enough text, or maybe too much?
Personally I prefer the mentioned method with editing the text in the XML-file. It has never failed me and the same method works for both protected sheets, protected structure AND protected Word documents.
1: Tag name for a sheet is '<sheetProtection>' in (e.g.) 'Sheet1.xml'...
2: Tag name for protected sheet structure is '<workbookProtection>' in the file 'workbook.xml'...
3: Tag name for a protected Word document is '<w: documentProtection>' in the file 'settings.xml'...
To make the code editing even easier: Open the XML file in both(!) Notepad and a web browser. Then copy the code from the web browser and replace the code in the Notepad window. The tags in the Notepad window will be broken up into entire rows, like in the browser... and selecting/deleting the right text (not more/not less) will get easier. (Word wraps in the XML file when saving it doesn't matter.)
- still does not work on me, it says file corrupted
MrSweck Does this work if the entire file is protected with a password (just to open it) or is it only for situations where individual sheets are protected within the whole excel workbook file? I'm not having luck with most of the recommendations. I can't believe I've done this!
