Excel work book password

Question

Excel work book password

Jackie Habit 0

I didn't even know I put a passwork on this workbook and need to add more data. How can I find out the passwork I put on the workbook?

John Jefferson Doyon 90,835 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-29T19:28:37.2066667+00:00
Hi, @Jackie Habit

Excel does not show or recover a forgotten workbook password.

To narrow this down:

Can you open the workbook, but cannot edit or add data?

What exact password message appears?

Is the file saved in OneDrive, or do you have an older backup copy?

If the workbook opens, go to the “Review” tab and check whether “Unprotect Sheet” or “Unprotect Workbook” appears. You will still need the password to remove the protection.

Try passwords you commonly used when the file was created. Also check OneDrive version history or an older copy that may not be protected.

1 answer

Your answer

John Jefferson Doyon 90,835 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-29T19:28:37.2066667+00:00

Hi, @Jackie Habit

Excel does not show or recover a forgotten workbook password.

To narrow this down:

Can you open the workbook, but cannot edit or add data?

What exact password message appears?

Is the file saved in OneDrive, or do you have an older backup copy?

If the workbook opens, go to the “Review” tab and check whether “Unprotect Sheet” or “Unprotect Workbook” appears. You will still need the password to remove the protection.

Try passwords you commonly used when the file was created. Also check OneDrive version history or an older copy that may not be protected.

Answer 1

Excel does not have a way to show you a forgotten workbook password, so there is nothing to look up inside the file.

First, work out what the password is protecting. If the workbook opens but you cannot edit or add data, go to the Review tab and see whether Unprotect Sheet or Unprotect Workbook is shown. You will still need the password to remove that protection, so try the passwords you commonly used when the file was created. Also check for an older copy of the file, or an earlier saved version of it, from before the password was added.

For the future, make a password that is long, mixes letters and numbers, and is not a word or date someone could guess. Keep it written down in a safe place that only you can reach, so you are not locked out of your own file again.