VBA Code to Unlock a Locked Excel Sheet

Intro: VBA Code to Unlock a Locked Excel Sheet

If you have ever forgotten a password for one of your excel worksheets you know how frustrating that can be.

The code used in this instruction is one of the simplest I've found. It will generate a usable code that will unlock your protected sheet.

I can't take credit for the code as I merely found it in a moment of need (and I can not find where the site is anymore)... sooo I wont be much help if it doesn't work for you but I've had success with it and thought I'd share.

STEP 1: Open VBA

Open the worksheet you forget your password to.

Use Alt+F11 to enter the macro editor.
Once in VBA double click the sheet you need to unlock from the menu listing on the left.
This will open the general declarations page for the sheet.

STEP 2: Cut and Paste the Code Breaker

Insert the code below in the general declarations page you have opened.

You should not have to change anything , sheet name etc... Just cut and paste.
_______________________

Sub PasswordBreaker()

'Breaks worksheet password protection.

Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
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 ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox "One usable password is " & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
________________________

STEP 3: Run the Macro

Once the code is added run the Macro by selecting Run from the menu tab bar at the top of the VBA editor screen or simple press F5

STEP 4: Use the Generated Code

The macro will return you to the worksheet you want to unprotect. An alert style box will appear with a usable code.

In the Review menu tab click Unprotect sheet.
Enter the generated code as the password and your done. Your sheet should be unlocked!

You should use this power wisely and responsibly only to unlock your own worksheets.

Comments

[JonnyW11]

If anyone is interested, a few small changes and this can also be used to unlock password protected workbooks (as opposed to individual sheets)

Line 12, replace "ActiveSheet" with "ThisWorkbook"

Line 15, replace "ActiveSheet.ProtectContents" with "ThisWorkbook.ProtectStructure"

[mlunsele]

Life Saver Thank you so much

[Tenae]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!! It worked perfectly!! Awesome!

[AmyE12]

Awesome! Thanks!

[CarlosT21]

Great!!!!! I MADE IT

[kamelm12]

sd

[atzokas]

Thank you! Works great on 2007!

[Zeiba]

Excellent help. I was able to unprotect my worksheet which got protected unknowingly. Thanks a lot!

[peetM]

Thank you so much.!!!

great help

[crevextra]

Awesome!! Its a great tool..actually help me..

[AmyE12]

Thank you!!

[whydotheycometometodie]

Awesome, I was about to write my own and then came along yours - you just saved me several hours of remembering how to write VBA macros!

[BaijuN1]

Thanks a lot !!! It worked for me.

[BoonjiraI]

It's work fine for me, can edit documents now.

Thank you.

[SuL1]

Cool. Thank so much. 2016 Excel also work well. Thank again.

[moocows99]

Cool! worked in 2016 Excel no worries, thanks!

[sandeeps124]

Thank you very much Mac..

[Himalaya02]

Worked for me on an Excel 2016 for Mac. Thanks !

[PatrickW106]

It has been 45 minutes of non-responsive window time for me. I really wish this worked.. I will try again but for the last two tries, it seems to be infintely unresponsive.

[MetaF2]

It Works with Excel 2k16!

Thanks dude!