Remove a password from a worksheet or workbook

You can remove a password from a worksheet or workbook in Excel if you know the current password. Here’s how to do both:

✅ 1. Remove a Password from a Protected Worksheet

🔓 This is for sheet-level protection (locking cells, formulas, formatting, etc.).

Steps:

1. Open the workbook and go to the protected worksheet.
2. Go to the Review tab.
3. Click Unprotect Sheet.
4. Enter the password when prompted (if required), then click OK.

✔️ The worksheet is now unprotected — and the password is removed.

✅ 2. Remove a Password from a Protected Workbook (File)

🔐 This is for file-level protection that restricts opening or modifying the file.

If the workbook is password-protected to open:

1. Open the workbook using the password.
2. Go to File → Info.
3. Click Protect Workbook → Encrypt with Password.
4. Delete the password from the field (leave it blank).
5. Click OK, then save the file.

✔️ Now, the file will open without needing a password.

If the workbook is password-protected to modify:

1. Go to File → Save As.
2. In the Save As dialog, click Tools → General Options.
3. Remove the passwords from:
   • Password to open
   • Password to modify
4. Click OK, then save the file.

⚠️ Important:

• You must know the password to remove it.
• If you’ve forgotten the password and need to recover access, Excel doesn’t offer built-in tools to recover lost passwords due to security concerns.