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Excel Password Removal
Unlock up to 10 files 1 locked, 1 unlocked
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Compatibility

At the moment, this web app only works for xlsx files, that is the default Excel workbook format since 2007. I plan to include xlsm and xls files in the future, but even though it will work, that will cause error message when opening the unlocked file.

Why?

You might ask yourselves why spend time creating a web application just to unlock excel files. Well here are a few of the reasons:

  • Every industry depends way too much on excel, even though it is completely unsecured
  • A colleague asked me if it was possible
  • I wanted to learn Django

In the end, if this helps one person realise how dangerous it is to rely too much on Excel, I would consider it a success

How?

XLSX files are in fact compressed archives just like ZIP files

Extension Change

You can change the extension in one of your file form .xlsx to .zip and have a look yourself. Inside it, you will find the files and folders that make you excel file what is is. You'll also be able to extract and modify the content of the archive.

Workbook Content Worksheet Content
Worksheet Protection Worksheet Protection
  • Workbook protection is defined in xl/workbook.xml
  • Sheet protections are defined in each xl/worksheets/sheet##.xml

Then you can simply remove the protection tag with a text editor, save the modified xml, close or repack the archive, restore the extension to .xlsx and voilà.