Unprotect Workbook in Excel

Once the report is finalized, we will share the workbook with the concerned team or personnel. Often, we need to read the report without modifying the existing report. So, to prevent readers from tampering with the data, we must allow them to alter anything in the workbook. There are two ways of protecting the workbook in Excel. In our earlier article, “Protect Workbook in ExcelProtect Workbook In ExcelProtecting excel workbooks is a method where we protect the entire workbook rather than a single sheet, it means protecting the whole structure of the workbook, if a workbook is protected with a password no other user can insert a new sheet or delete any sheet neither they can view the hidden sheets or even change the name of the worksheets in the workbook.read more,” we have seen how to protect the workbook in those two ways. Below are the steps to protect and unprotect the workbook in Excel.

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Excel Workbook Protection at File Level

In this method, we are protecting the entire workbook from opening and editing the content of the workbook.

The option of “Protect Workbook” is a built-in tool in Excel. It is available under the “Review” tab in Excel.

Excel Workbook Protection at Workbook Level

In the previous step, we have seen how to protect the workbook at the file level. In this method, we can preserve the workbook at the workbook level, which will prevent a user from opening it when you are not around with your computer.

  • First, we must open the Excel workbook that we need to protect. Then, go to the “Review” tab and click on the “PROTECT WORKBOOK” option. Now, we can see the below option, which asks for a password to be entered to protect. In the below “Protect Structure and Windows” window, enter the password as per the choice. Click on “OK.” In the next window, we need to re-enter the same password we entered in the previous step. Click on “OK.” It will protect the workbook at the file level.

Click on “OK.” It will protect the workbook at the file level.

Using this method, we restrict the user from peeping into the workbook. Follow the below steps to protect the workbook at the workbook level.

Step 1: Go to the “File” option, which is the first in the ribbon.

Once we click on the “File” option, we may see the Protect Workbook option on the right-hand side, as shown in the below image.

Step 2: In the “Protect Workbook” option, click on the drop-down list in excelDrop-down List In ExcelA drop-down list in excel is a pre-defined list of inputs that allows users to select an option.read more to see the option of “Protect Workbook” in the list, and select “Encrypt with Password.”

Step 3: Now, we will see the “Encrypt Document” window. Enter the password and click on the “OK” button.

Step 4: Now, in the next window, we will see the window which asks us to re-enter the password we entered in the previous step.

One thing is we need to remember the password that we have entered.

Once you have re-entered the password, save and close the workbook. All the changes that we made will apply to the workbook.

Next time when we need to open the workbook, it will ask us to enter the password.

Unprotect Excel Workbook

Once the workbook is protected with a password, to unprotect, we need to remember the exact password that we have entered while preserving the workbook. Follow the below steps to unprotect the protected workbook in Excel.

Step 1: Open the desired workbook.

Step 2: While opening, it will ask you to enter the password.

Step 3: Enter the password that you had given while protecting it.

Step 4: Click on “OK.” It will open the workbook.

Step 5: To unprotect, click on the “File” tab. You will see the “Protect Workbook” option.

As we can see just below the “Protect Workbook” option, it says, “A password is required to open this workbook.”

Step 6: Click on the drop-down list, and choose “Encrypt with Password.”

Step 7: Now, we will see the below window.

We can see the password with black dots, so to unprotect the workbook, delete the password and click on “OK.”

The Excel workbook is unprotected and no longer requires the password to open it.

Things to Remember

  • Password is mandatory to open the workbook if it is protected with a password.But for unprotecting, the workbook password is not required. We can delete the password and unprotect the workbook.The “Protect Workbook” and “Protect Worksheet” are different from each other.

This article has been a guide to Unprotect Workbook in Excel. Here, we learn to unprotect the Excel workbook, methods, and downloadable Excel template. You may learn more about Excel from the following articles: –

  • Infographics in ExcelProtect Sheet in ExcelHow to Repair Excel?Excel Extensions Formats