How to unprotect Excel sheet if forgot the password

RuthDelbert 

I once actually found myself in a situation similar to yours. I had an Excel file with important work data, and I had completely forgotten Excel sheet password I had set. After trying many methods found online, I finally succeeded with a seemingly "hacky" method, which was to modify the ZIP file to unprotect Excel sheet without password.

First, I changed the file extension from .xlsx to .zip, which basically told the computer that the Excel file was actually a compressed file. Then I opened the ZIP file with 7-Zip, or any software that can handle ZIP files.

Inside the ZIP, I found a directory called \xl\worksheets\, which contained several XML files, one for each worksheet. I opened the XML file for the worksheet I needed to edit, using a text editor. Inside the file, I found a <sheetProtection> tag, which seemed to be clearly about protection settings.

I deleted the tag entirely, saved, and closed the XML file. After that, I put all the modified files back into the ZIP file and changed the file extension from .zip back to .xlsx.

When I opened the Excel file, I nervously clicked it and it opened without asking for a password. I was able to access all the data and edit it freely.

Although this method works, I would still recommend using it with caution because it involves modifying the file structure and can damage the file if not done correctly. Also, for password protection, it is best to remember the password or write it down in a safe place in case you need to use this method in the future. Hope this helps!