How to unlock a protected Excel file
- Drop the Excel files (.xlsx or .xlsm).
- Type the opening password if the workbook asks for one; leave it empty to only remove sheet protection.
- Click Unlock and download the editable copies.
A workbook that asks for a password at every opening, a sheet where you cannot edit a single cell, a file that opens as read-only: this tool removes those locks and returns a normal workbook. You must have the right to open the file: an encrypted workbook needs its password. This tool does not guess or crack passwords.
The opening password, which encrypts the whole file, is removed when you type it. Sheet protection (Review › Protect Sheet), workbook structure protection and the “read-only recommended” flag are removed without a password, because they are only markers inside the file, not encryption. Protected ranges with their own passwords are unlocked as well.
Values, formulas, formatting, charts and macros are not changed, so a sheet that was locked simply becomes editable, with its hidden formulas visible again. Typical uses: a template whose author left the company, a report you need to adapt, an export locked by the system that produced it. Up to 50 workbooks per run, 300 MB each; files are deleted after 30 minutes and passwords are never stored.
Frequently asked questions
I forgot the password of my workbook. Can you open it?
No. An opening password encrypts the file and cannot be bypassed; the tool only removes it when you type the right one.
The sheet is protected and I do not have that password. Does this work?
Yes. Sheet and workbook protection are markers, not encryption, so they are removed without any password.
Will formulas be kept?
Yes. Everything in the workbook is the same; only the protection is gone, so hidden formulas become visible and editable.
Does it work on .xlsm files with macros?
Yes, macros are kept.
Is it safe?
Files and passwords stay in memory on the server and are deleted after 30 minutes. No account needed.