How to Unprotect a Workbook in Excel Without Password

Excel workbooks are commonly used for storing sensitive information, and protecting them with a password adds an extra layer of security. However, forgetting the password can be a common occurrence, leading to the need to unprotect the workbook without the password.

Here are the steps to unprotect a workbook in Excel without a password:

1. Open the locked workbook in Excel.
2. Click on 'File' and then select 'Save As.'
3. Choose a location to save the workbook.
4. From the 'Save as type' dropdown, select 'Web Page (*.htm; *.html)’.
5. Click 'Save'.
6. Close the original Excel workbook.
7. Find the saved HTML file on your computer and right-click on it.
8. Select 'Open with' and choose any web browser to open the HTML file.
9. Once the file is open in the browser, press 'CTRL + S' to save the webpage to your computer.
10. Close the browser and locate the saved HTML webpage. Rename the file extension from .html to .xlsx.
11. Open the renamed file with Excel, and you will have an unprotected version of your workbook.

By following these steps, you can unprotect a workbook in Excel even if you have forgotten the password. Remember to create a backup of your files regularly to prevent data loss and ensure smooth workflow.