This post is attributed to: http://www.theofficeexperts.com/VBASamples/Excel02.htm and to the original submitter by brettdj of www.experts-exchange.com
VBA Samples
Microsoft Excel
Crack Sheet Protection Password
This routine provides a password to unprotect your worksheet. However, it may not give you the original password that was used.
Open the workbook that have the protected sheet in it that you want to access.
Hit Alt+F11 to view the Visual Basic Editor.
Hit Insert>Module and past this code (below) into the right hand code window:
Sub PasswordBreaker()
‘Author unknown but submitted by brettdj of www.experts-exchange.com
Dim i As Integer, j As Integer, k As Integer
Dim l As Integer, m As Integer, n As Integer
Dim i1 As Integer, i2 As Integer, i3 As Integer
Dim i4 As Integer, i5 As Integer, i6 As Integer
On Error Resume Next
For i = 65 To 66: For j = 65 To 66: For k = 65 To 66
For l = 65 To 66: For m = 65 To 66: For i1 = 65 To 66
For i2 = 65 To 66: For i3 = 65 To 66: For i4 = 65 To 66
For i5 = 65 To 66: For i6 = 65 To 66: For n = 32 To 126
ActiveSheet.Unprotect Chr(i) & Chr(j) & Chr(k) & _
Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & Chr(i3) & _
Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
If ActiveSheet.ProtectContents = False Then
MsgBox “One usable password is ” & Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
ActiveWorkbook.Sheets(1).Select
Range(“a1”).FormulaR1C1 = Chr(i) & Chr(j) & _
Chr(k) & Chr(l) & Chr(m) & Chr(i1) & Chr(i2) & _
Chr(i3) & Chr(i4) & Chr(i5) & Chr(i6) & Chr(n)
Exit Sub
End If
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
Next: Next: Next: Next: Next: Next
End Sub
Close the VB Editor window
Navigate to the worksheet you want to unprotect
Go to Tools>Macro>Macros and double-click PasswordBreaker in the list
Viola, you’ll be in. Now make sure to reset that password to something you’ll remember please!!