How to Open a Locked / Protected Excel File (+Image)

As we already know, besides Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel is also one of the most widely used software from Microsoft Office to process numbers, one of which is to calculate and record personal or company financial data.

Of course financial data must be confidential and not just anyone is allowed to see it, one way to secure Excel files so that they cannot be opened or edited by others is to take advantage of the password protection feature.

So the question is, how do you open the password-locked excel file? when trying to click on a cell in a protected sheet a warning message appears “The cell or chart you are trying to change is on protected sheet”.

How to Open a Locked Excel File

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet or spreadsheet processing software program distributed and developed by the Microsoft company. Microsoft Excel software can be run on Microsoft Windows and MacOS operating systems.

Microsoft Excel is also available for iOS and Android versions. The development of Microsoft Excel cannot be separated from the history of Microsoft Windows. Here’s how to open a locked or protected Excel file.

1. Open the excel file you want to open and edit.

2. If your excel file is protected, a warning will appear with the words “The cell or chart you are trying to change is on protected sheet”. Then click Ok, see the example in the picture. How to Open a Locked Excel File

3. Then press the button ALT+F11 on the keyboard.

4. Then Microsoft Visual Basic will appear, then you click the menu Insert then select Module. See the example in the picture.

5. Then the form module will appear, in the form module enter the following code.

Sub InternalPasswords()Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As IntegerDim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As IntegerDim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As IntegerDim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As IntegerOn Error Resume NextFor i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126ActiveWorkbook.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) _& Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)If ActiveWorkbook.ProtectStructure = False ThenIf ActiveWorkbook.ProtectWindows = False ThenIf ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False ThenExit SubEnd IfEnd IfEnd IfNext: Next: Next: Next: Next: NextNext: Next: Next: Next: Next: NextEnd Sub

See the example in the picture.

enter the code into the form module

6. Then Select Sheet which will be unprotected, then click Green Triangle Icon then click Run. See the example in the picture. How to Open a Locked/Protected Excel File

Or you can also press the F5 key on the keyboard, and click Run.

7. Then wait for the process to finish so that the code you have entered works properly.

8. Done.

How easy isn’t it? To open a protected sheet on another sheet do the same steps.

If the excel software that you open becomes Not Responding, select the Close button in the upper right corner which is red, if a dialog appears, select Close the program, this usually occurs in the 2021 version of Excel to the most recent version.

Those are the steps to open a locked or password protected excel file. Hopefully this article is useful. Good luck and thank you.