Excel Password Recovery
Lost the password to your own protected spreadsheet? Recover editing access by removing sheet and workbook protection from .xlsx files right in your browser - free, and nothing is uploaded.
Important
This removes editing restrictions (sheet protection), not encryption. If your file requires a password to open, it's encrypted and cannot be processed here. Only use on files you own or have permission to modify.
Drop your file here or click to upload
Supports .xlsx, .xlsm · up to 50MB
How to Remove a Password from an Excel Sheet Online, Free
- Upload your .xlsx file - Drag and drop or click to browse for your Excel file. It is processed locally, never uploaded.
- Automatic removal - The tool detects every protected sheet and any workbook structure protection, then strips the protection records. You don't need to know the password.
- Download - Get your unprotected file, ready for editing in Excel, Google Sheets, or LibreOffice.
Why This Works Without the Password
An .xlsx workbook is really a ZIP archive full of XML files. When an author protects a sheet, Excel doesn't encrypt anything - it just writes a <sheetProtection> element (containing a hash of the password) into that sheet's XML, and refuses to let you edit locked cells while the element is present. Workbook structure locks work the same way via a <workbookProtection> element.
This Excel password remover opens the file in your browser, deletes those protection elements, and repackages the workbook. Nothing is cracked, guessed, or brute-forced - the lock is simply taken off. That's why it is instant even for large files, and why it works when the password has been long forgotten.
Sheet Protection vs. File Encryption
- Sheet protection (supported) - You can open the file, but cells, formatting, or structure are locked for editing. This is what most "password-protected" spreadsheets use.
- Workbook structure protection (supported) - You can't add, delete, rename, or reorder sheets.
- File-open encryption (not supported) - Excel asks for a password before showing anything. The file contents are genuinely encrypted, and no online tool can honestly remove that without the password.
A quick test: if you can open the workbook and see your data but can't edit it, this tool will unlock it. If Excel demands a password just to open the file, it's encrypted.
How This Compares to Other Excel Password Removers
Most tools that rank for "excel password remover" either upload your spreadsheet to their servers, charge for the result, or both. Here is how the field looks as of mid-2026:
| Tool | File stays on your device | Price | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| ExcelTool.io (this page) | Yes - processed in your browser | Free | None - no size gates, quotas, or signup |
| Aspose Unlock | No - uploaded, kept up to 24 hours | Free tier | Sign-in required over 2 MB, paid over 10 MB |
| GroupDocs Unlock | No - uploaded, kept up to 24 hours | Free | Requires you to already know the password |
| LostMyPass | No - uploaded | ~$29 for strong recovery | Free tier only tries weak passwords (~22% success), paid runs take up to 24 hours |
| Straxx add-in | Yes - desktop Excel add-in | Free / paid Pro | Requires installing a macro add-in; free version fails on files protected in Excel 2013+ |
The paid services above solve a different problem: cracking file-open encryption by brute force. If your file opens fine but won't let you edit - the far more common case - there is nothing to crack, and this free in-browser remover unlocks it instantly.
Have a Protected .xls File?
Modern .xlsx and macro-enabled .xlsm workbooks work directly. Legacy .xls files (Excel 97-2003) use a different internal format, so run those through our XLS to XLSX converter first. Sheet protection never blocks reading, so the converted .xlsx copy comes out editable.
Limitations and Fair Use
- .xlsx and .xlsm only - Convert legacy .xls files to .xlsx first
- Not for encryption - Files requiring a password to open cannot be processed
- Legal use only - Only use on files you own or have permission to modify