How to Unprotect Excel Workbook Permanently? Easy Tricks

  

Published By Jamie Kaler 

Approved By Rollins Duke

Published On May 19th, 2026

Reading Time 6 Min Read

But I have good news for every user. This blog shares safe & working ways to remove workbook restrictions permanently. All methods are tried & tested and help you to unlock Excel spreadsheet cells without damaging original data. So let’s continue with us.

Why Users Want Unprotected Excel Workbook Permanently?

Securing Excel workbook is essential if any company wants to safeguard sensitive formulas, financial reports, & shared information. Yet, issues arise when this protection complicates process of editing spreadsheet. Here are some of most common reasons shared that help you to know why users remove workbook protection permanently.

• Forgotten Password: Basically, users lock sheet to protect data from unwanted access by others. However, they forgot their password absolutely and therefore cannot further update Excel workbook in future.
• Received Locked Workbook: Sometimes, users get locked Excel workbook from clients & teammates without having password. If you need to edit data, but remain locked out.
• Need to unlock Excel Spreadsheet cells: Many workbook cells are locked because they want to prevent editing formulas or tables. As result, users search ways to unprotect Excel sheet cells to continue their work without facing trouble.
• Shared Workbook Restriction: Often, older Excel shared workbook features can restrict editing permission. In this situation, users often resort to online solutions that help to remove editing limitations & disable workbook structure protection.
• Excel Version Compatibility Issues: Some users also face errors because of older versions of Excel.

Tested Working Methods to Unprotect Excel Workbook

Now let’s come to important part because as users have multiple queries when it comes to convert protected Excel workbook as unprotected one. Here are several trustworthy techniques that users can use to eliminate workbook protection. All examined techniques & prevent file corruption & preserve workbook data.

Method 1: Unprotect Excel Workbook with Password

If users already know the password and want to save protected XLS workbook as unprotected forever, then they can use these steps.

1. Firstly, open Excel workbook.
   
2. Go to “Review tab“.
3. Click “Protect Workbook” or “Unprotect Workbook“.
   
4. Enter your password.
5. Click OK.

This method helps users to unprotect entire Excel workbook instantly. It reveals workbook structure. It also gives users ability to edit their sheets without any complications.

Method 2: Unprotect Excel Workbook without Password

This method required advanced & internal steps. Users need to keep following each step if they are trying to unprotect Excel workbook without having password. If users have older XLS files, then this method can’t work. It only worked with newer XLSX sheets. Follow steps to get unprotected Excel workbook.

User Tip: Always make a copy of the workbook before editing anything.

1. Rename file from .xlsx to .zip.
   
2. After that, right-click & extract ZIP folder.
   
3. Go to xl > worksheets.
   
4. Now open worksheet XML file using Notepad.
   
5. Search for “sheetProtection”
   
6. Delete entire tag.
   
7. Once all steps are done, again compress folder into ZIP format.
8. Rename it again to XLSX format.
9. Open workbook in Excel.
   

This method used by multiple users worldwide. It helps users to unprotect excel workbook without password online alternatives. Users can easily unlock Excel workbook without password.

Method 3: Remove Protection From Shared Excel Workbook

Some workbooks are locked because of sharing mode in enable. Users need to follow some steps to remove protection from shared XLS workbook.

• Firstly, open workbook.
• Go to Review.
• Click on “Share Workbook“.
• Uncheck:
  • “Allow changes by more than one user.”
• Save the workbook.

How to Unlock Excel Spreadsheet Cells?

Many times, users didn’t lock entire workbook. They just lock few cells that prevent editing. If you want to unlock Excel spreadsheet cells, then you just need to follow some steps that are mentioned below.

1. Firstly, select locked cells.
2. Right-click & choose “Format cells” option.
   
3. Now go to protection tab.
4. After that, uncheck locked.
5. Once done, “click OK.”
   

Note: If workbook is protected with password, first you need to unprotect it in “Review Tab”. After that, you can use these steps to unlock XLS spreadsheet.

Are Online Excel Password Removal Software Effective?

In today’s time, Excel updates multiple things that require expert person who knows about Excel workbooks properly. Some users don’t use manual method because they think they will lose data if they miss any step. Users also search “Best online Excel Workbook Password Remover Tool” that helps users regain access to unprotected Excel sheets. Nevertheless, a question raised here is whether they are good to use to remove password from XLS sheet.

Limitations & Risk in Online Tools

• Some websites are unsafe that guarantee to remove protection from Excel Workbook.
• Files can be uploaded publicly.
• Users sensitive data can be exposed.
• File size limitations.
• There is no guarantee of privacy.

Pro Solution to Unprotect Excel Workbook Easily

Final Thoughts,

In this blog, users will find out best + easy techniques to unprotect Excel workbook permanently. A workbook protection helps users to secure data from unwanted changes & deletion. Sometimes, it becomes frustrating when you forgot Excel password. Fortunately, users get effective ways to unprotect Excel workbook permanently without losing data. If users forget password of workbook, then Zip option is safest method to regain access to forgotten Excel sheet password file. Keep a backup copy of Excel sheet before making any changes. By following expert tips, users get full control on unprotect Excel workbook.