Forum Discussion
Reeseig
Jul 21, 2026Copper Contributor
Best Excel password remover for Mac as I forgot Excel password
I set a password on an important Excel spreadsheet a while back on my mac and completely forgot what it was. The file has data that's urgently needed and there's no unprotected backup copy saved anyw...
RaymondRamirez
Jul 21, 2026Iron Contributor
By bypassing worksheet protection during file parsing, OpenOffice Calc offers an offline desktop solution that allows you to remove password from excel on mac without uploading your confidential data to the cloud.
How to Remove Password from Excel on Mac
- Visit the official website to download and install the version for macOS.
- Launch the software from the Applications folder on your Mac.
- Click File > Open, then select your password-protected Excel file.
- The software will automatically bypass worksheet protection, making all locked cells editable.
- After making any necessary changes to the spreadsheet, click File > Save As.
- Select Microsoft Excel format as the output format, rename the file, and save the unlocked copy to your local drive.
Drawbacks
- Primarily optimized for older .xls files; complex, newer .xlsx files may lose formatting or formulas
- Cannot bypass workbook open passwords; can only remove worksheet-level edit protection
- The software package takes up a significant amount of disk space and consumes more system resources than lightweight, dedicated unlocking tools
- After resaving, advanced Excel features such as macros and PivotTables are often corrupted
This open-source spreadsheet editor offers a simple offline workflow that requires no scripts or paid software. It is suitable for Mac Office users who simply need to unlock worksheets for editing; however, compared to the older .xls format, its compatibility and performance when handling modern .xlsx files are significantly reduced.
ps
- Be sure to back up your files before proceeding.
- Works only with older .xls spreadsheets; it does not work well with newer .xlsx files.
- Cannot process files that are password-protected with a “Open with Full Workbook” password.
- Before importing the original Excel file into the software, close the file completely to prevent read errors on a Mac.