Remove Excel Password: Step-by-Step Guide

This guide walks you through removing a password from an Excel spreadsheet, covering both the “password to open” and the “password to modify” cases. You’ll need the current password (or a workaround for forgotten passwords) and a few minutes. The steps work for Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac.

What You’ll Need

• The Excel file itself (stored locally, not just in the cloud).
• The current password if you know it. If you forgot it, see the Troubleshooting section for alternatives.
• A copy of the file (recommended) in case something goes wrong.

Step-by-Step

1. Open the file with the password you want to remove. If it’s a “password to open” prompt, enter it. If it’s a “password to modify” prompt, click “Read Only” (you can still remove the password later).
2. Go to File > Info. In the Info pane, look for the “Protect Workbook” button (Windows) or the “Protect Sheet/Workbook” section (Mac).
3. Click “Protect Workbook” (Windows) or “Protect Sheet” (Mac) to open a dropdown menu. Select “Encrypt with Password” (for the open password) or “Protect Current Sheet” / “Protect Workbook Structure” (for modification passwords).
4. In the password dialog, you’ll see a field with dots representing the current password. Delete all the dots (backspace or select-all and delete) so the field is empty.
5. Click OK. Excel may ask you to confirm by re-entering the password – leave that field empty too and click OK.
6. Save the file (Ctrl+S or Cmd+S). If prompted, choose “Yes” to overwrite the original. Close and reopen the file to confirm the password is gone.

Common Mistakes

• Not clearing both password fields – some dialogs have a “Confirm password” box; if you leave dots there, the password stays.
• Forgetting to save after clearing – the change only takes effect after you save the file.
• Removing the wrong protection – if you want to remove the “open” password, you must use “Encrypt with Password”, not “Protect Sheet”.
• Working on a copy – if you open a synced copy (OneDrive/SharePoint), the password may be stored server-side; download the file first.

Tips

• Always keep a backup of the original file before removing passwords, especially if the file is important.
• Use a strong password if you plan to re-protect the file later; Excel’s encryption is robust, but weak passwords are easily cracked.
• Remove all protections at once – check both “Encrypt with Password” and “Protect Sheet/Workbook” to ensure no hidden locks remain.
• For shared files, coordinate with others before removing passwords to avoid breaking workflows.
• If you only need to edit a file with a “modify” password, you can simply open it as read-only and save a copy without the password (File > Save As > choose a new name).

Troubleshooting

I forgot the password to open the file.
If you don’t know the open password, there is no official way to recover it. You can try:
1. Check if you saved a backup or an earlier version (File > Info > Manage Workbook).
2. Look for the password in a password manager or notes.
3. Use a third-party recovery tool (use at your own risk, as they may be unreliable or unsafe).
4. If the file is from a colleague, ask them for the password.

The “Encrypt with Password” option is grayed out.
This usually means the file is open in “Read-Only Recommended” mode or the workbook is shared. Go to File > Save As, choose a new location, and save a copy. Then try again on the copy.

After clearing the password, the file still asks for it.
Make sure you saved the file after clearing the field. Also, check if there’s a separate “Write Reservation Password” (File > Save As > Tools > General Options) – clear that too.

I can’t find “Protect Workbook” on Mac.
On Excel for Mac, go to the Review tab and look for “Protect Sheet” or “Protect Workbook” in the ribbon. The password removal process is the same – clear the field and save.

The file is in .xls (old format).
Open the file in Excel, then go to File > Save As and choose “Excel Workbook (*.xlsx)” to convert it. Then follow the steps above.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I remove a password without knowing it?
For the “password to open” (encryption), no – you need the password or a third-party recovery tool (not recommended). For the “password to modify” or sheet protection, you can bypass it by opening the file as read-only and saving a copy, but you won’t be able to edit the original without the password.

Does removing a password affect the file’s content?
No, removing a password only changes the file’s security settings. All data, formulas, and formatting remain intact.

Will this work in Excel Online or Google Sheets?
No, password protection is a desktop feature. You need the Excel desktop app (Windows or Mac) to remove passwords.

Can I remove a password from a CSV file?
CSV files don’t support passwords. If you have a password-protected CSV, it’s actually an Excel file with a .csv extension – rename it to .xlsx and open it in Excel.

Is it legal to remove a password from someone else’s file?
Only remove passwords from files you own or have explicit permission to modify. Removing protection from someone else’s file without permission may violate copyright or workplace policies.

What if the file has both a password to open and a password to modify?
You need to remove both separately. First, open the file with the open password, then remove the modify password using the steps above. Save after each removal.

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