Unlock Excel
Locked Excel file? Find out which kind of lock you have and download an unlocked copy when the lock is removable - checked entirely in your browser.
Important
This removes editing locks - sheet protection, workbook structure, read-only passwords, and protected ranges - without needing the password. It cannot decrypt a file that demands a password just to open it. Drop your file in either way and it will tell you which kind you have. Only use on files you own or have permission to modify.
Drop your files here or click to upload
Supports .xlsx, .xlsm, .xls · up to 50MB · or paste a file from your clipboard
Which Kind of Locked Excel File Do You Have?
"Locked" means four different things in Excel, and only one of them needs an unlock tool. Match your symptom first:
| Symptom | What it is | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| File opens, but cells or sheets can't be edited | Sheet or workbook protection | This tool removes it instantly - upload above |
| Excel asks for a password before opening the file | File-open encryption | Cannot be removed without the password - see password recovery for real options |
| "Locked for editing by another user" | A collaboration file lock | No tool needed - close the other session or wait for the lock to clear |
| Banner says Read-Only or Protected View | A safety mode for downloaded files | Click Enable Editing, or clear the file's read-only attribute |
What the Unlock Check Does
Upload a .xlsx or .xlsm file and it is inspected in your browser - nothing is sent to a server. The tool reports which sheets are protected and whether the workbook structure is locked, then gives you an unlocked copy on the spot when the lock is removable. For the full explanation of why this works without the password, see the Excel password remover page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually one of four reasons: a sheet or workbook is protected, the file is encrypted with an open password, another person or app has the file open ('locked for editing by another user'), or Windows opened it in read-only/Protected View. The table on this page tells them apart and points to the right fix - only the first is something this tool removes.
No. That file is encrypted, and its contents cannot be read without the correct password. No online tool can honestly unlock it; see our Excel password recovery page for the realistic options.
No tool is needed for that lock. It means the file is open elsewhere - another computer, another app, or a cloud sync client. Close the other session (or wait for the lock to expire) and the file opens normally.
Your file is analyzed in your browser - it is never uploaded. The tool reads the workbook structure, reports which sheets are protected, and where protection is removable it gives you the unlocked copy immediately.
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