Thursday, 6 December 2012


For Excel 2007/2010 (.xlsm) files do following steps:

1. Create a new .xlsm file.
2. In the VBA part, set a simple password (for instance 'macro').
3. Save the file and exit.
4. Change file extention to '.zip', open it by any archiver program.
5. Find the file: 'vbaProject.bin' (in 'xl' folder).
6. Extract it from archive.
7. Open the file you just extracted with a hex editor (for example HxD).
8. Find and copy the value from parameter DPB (value in quotation mark), example:
        DPB="282A84CBA1CBA1345FCCB154E20721DE77F7D2378D0EAC90427A22021A46E9CE6F17188A".  (This value generated for 'macro' password. You can use this DPB value to skip steps 1-8)

9. Do steps 4-7 for file with unknown password (file you want to unlock).
10. Change DBP value in this file on value that you have copied in step 8.
>>If copied value is shorter than in encrypted file you should populate missing characters with 0 (zero). If value is longer - that is not a problem (paste as it is).

11. Save the 'vbaProject.bin' file and exit from hex editor.
12. Replace existing 'vbaProject.bin' file with modified one.
13. Change extention from '.zip' back to '.xlsm'
14. Now, open the excel file you need to see the VBA code in. The password for the VBA code
will simply be macro (as in the example I'm showing here).

For those who still using old file format (2003 - .xls) method has less steps:

 1. Open .xls file with hex editor (for example HxD).
2. Find parameter DPB, change value for this parameter by our own. If your value is shorter than value in encrypted file, you should populate missing characters with 0 (zero). If value is longer - that is not a problem (paste as it is).

DPB="282A84CBA1CBA1345FCCB154E20721DE77F7D2378D0EAC90427A22021A46E9CE6F17188A".  (This value generated for 'macro' password).
3. Save changes.
Posted by at

36 comments:

  1. Kartik Shashank10 December 2013 at 20:14

    Hi! That worked for me. Brilliant... Thanks..

    Although, I don't think we really need the hex editors here. Just a thought.

    ReplyDelete
  2. The Mad Runner8 January 2014 at 00:23

    A simpler way I read about is to load the file in Notepad, search for "DPB" and change the text to "DPx" leaving everything else the same and save. When you load the file back into Excel it detects an error, fixes it by removing the password and then the VBA is unlocked with no password. But thanks, your write-up pointed in the right direction.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anton8 January 2014 at 03:22

      Resently I made a marco which can do all the steps automatically, it's much simplier. I could not found similar macro in the Internet, which is quite interesting, maybe because the issue with 'password forgeting' is not actual.
      http://lbeliarl.blogspot.cz/2014/01/vba-password-remover.html

      Delete
    2. Jasvinder Kumar6 April 2020 at 10:40

      It removes VBA Module from file.. trick not functional

      Delete
  3. Gunanto24 March 2014 at 09:46

    Amazing, luar biasa. Kok jadinya gak ada password apapun yang ampuh ya?
    Apa ada juga cara untuk membuka file excel/word yang kita lupa passwordnya?

    ReplyDelete
  4. Redheartkid6 June 2014 at 20:18

    It doesn't work. I have tried a several times, but not working. is there an option at least to unhide hidden sheets that are protected

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wahyu Rohmanto7 July 2014 at 14:38

    awesome...thanks great job :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. steve.v211 August 2014 at 00:49

    i've tried with Excel 2013 and no result (file not readable... Excel try to repair it and propose to remove VBAProject). I don't know if working on 2007/2010

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anton11 August 2014 at 00:55

      Maybe you've missed some instructions. If you send me the file I could check.

      Delete
  7. Aurelien2 September 2014 at 19:01

    Hi Anton, Has Excel fixed the glitch? I can't find vbaproject.bin under xl folder.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aurelien3 September 2014 at 05:23

      Some more context : when I replace .xslm by .zip, I do see the 'xl' folder - but I am missing the vbaproject.bin file, I can't see it. Do you think Excel hid it?

      Delete
    2. Anton3 September 2014 at 06:08

      Hi Aurelien. The 'vbaProject.bin' should be inside of 'xl' folder, did you look there?

      Delete
    3. Aurelien3 September 2014 at 06:58

      Hi Anton, I did. I can only see the following under xl :
      folder _rels
      folder macrosheets
      folder theme
      folder worksheets
      styles.xml
      workbook.xml
      and non of the subfolder seems to have vbaproject.bin. I am puzzled...

      Delete
  8. Anton3 September 2014 at 07:07

    Then it means that your file don't have VBA module/form or class, there is no way that this file could be hidden inside of zip archive. Are you able to see any VBAProject('file name') in VBA editor in your file (Alt+F11)?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Aurelien3 September 2014 at 10:45

      So I found an already existing unprotected .xlsm file and it fixed it... rather than creating a .xlsm from scratch. It worked!!

      Delete
  9. Unknown14 October 2014 at 09:33

    ​Thanks, a great article. I wish a similar method existed for the Word docs that are password protected from opening. I had one with a forgotten password, and I did have to use a commercial tool, namely the Password-find.com service that from what I know supports VBA project passwords too. It did the trick, but did cost money. Hope more freeware tools will appear on the web soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Leanna11 March 2015 at 15:08

      Thank you very much!!! i could unprotect my xla file on this service (https://www.password-find.com) for FREE! I didn't expect this.

      Delete
    2. Leanna16 March 2015 at 13:34

      Actually it worked only once for free.. now it is asking for 19$.

      Delete
  10. Helmut Mire14 January 2015 at 08:04

    I had to modify the code a little. Kept getting a "do you want to replace the .bin?" dialog box. The macro would move on and delete the tmp file before it was moved. Added a pause via msgbox "Press OK when compression is complete".

    ReplyDelete
  11. Angel12 April 2015 at 06:33

    Hi Anton
    I've tried with a file in Excel 2007 and It doesn't work. Could you please give me your email?

    ReplyDelete
  12. Kii16 April 2015 at 08:42

    Thanks Anton - superb stuff

    ReplyDelete
  13. Unknown27 August 2015 at 12:46

    love the jogos de vestir as they are very girly to play also
    denverbusinessportraits |

    mindsehealth |

    scopar-health |

    4rce4health |

    mrdihealth |

    jarrowpomhealth |

    myxtrahealth |

    stpetehealth |

    healthetarians |

    healthcontractor |

    ReplyDelete
  14. Unknown28 August 2015 at 10:38

    I am really satisfied with this posting that you have given us. This is really a stupendous work done by you.
    stillandhouse |

    lathamsinterior |

    hunkydory-home |

    treehousepastryshop |

    futurehelphomes |

    natickhouse |

    okhomewindows |

    auditmyhometoday |

    okhomeexteriors |

    yournexthomeexterior |

    ReplyDelete
  15. Unknown28 August 2015 at 12:30

    You’ve got some interesting points in this article. I would have never considered any of these if I didn’t come across this. Thanks!.
    adsprofitreward |

    fullbusiness |

    doralbusiness |

    millerhillbusiness |

    armturkbusiness |

    businessimperial |

    digitalisbusiness |

    burnin4business |

    cannabusinessschool |

    corebusinessbank |

    ReplyDelete
  16. Unknown4 November 2015 at 00:17

    Perfect! Thanks a lot! It worked for me!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Unknown19 December 2015 at 23:57

    Im using 2010xl and when i try to open the changed xlsm file, excel says it repaired it and deletes the vba project from the file entirely. Im using xp btw

    ReplyDelete
  18. Raza abbas13 March 2016 at 03:22

    Nice information, many thanks to the author. I believe that anyone who wants to know something about this topic will like the post.I really loved reading blog
    plak bh

    ReplyDelete
  19. josephine14 July 2016 at 00:00

    You can easily unlock Excel xlsm file password with the use of eSoftTools XLSM file password unlocker software. With this application crack lost or forgotten password from xls, xlsx, xlsm, xltm, xla, xlam and xlsb files.

    Read More
    http://www.excelpasswordcracker.esofttools.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Unknown6 November 2016 at 02:02

    this method works no more

    ReplyDelete
  21. harrysou5 January 2017 at 01:01

    Best and safe Excel password breaker to know how to break Excel password and recover Excel password with all versions Excel file including xlsx, xls, xlsb, xla, xlam, xltm and xlsm
    Click here: http://www.2016.excelfilepasswordrecovery.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. Unknown25 July 2017 at 02:51

    You can download PDS Excel Password Recovery tool smartly recover lost or forgotten MS Excel file password and unlock excel sheet protection password in easy way.

    Click Here: http://www.perfectdatasolutions.com/excel-password-recovery-software.html

    ReplyDelete
  23. Tutors in USA5 December 2017 at 05:25

    Every post containing a lot of information has its own value and everybody love it.
    plak beha

    ReplyDelete
  24. stephen28 January 2018 at 00:48

    All the contents you mentioned in post are too good and can be very useful. I will keep it in mind, thanks for sharing the information keep updating, looking forward for more posts.plak beha kopen

    ReplyDelete
  25. Unknown3 April 2018 at 22:01

    usefull thank you for your post

    ReplyDelete
  26. Rajesh29 April 2019 at 04:21

    Super, thanks a lot. you are really saved my day.

    ReplyDelete
  27. excelunlockertool14 November 2019 at 03:37

    In case any reason you forget excel password and you have to open it, so download eSoftTools Excel Password Recover Software to recover excel file password with Dictionary Attack. Excel Password Unlocker Software ready to break excel password with no damage any excel data, it unlock word and access file password and support all excel version 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, 2002, 2000, 97.

    More Info:- https://www.esofttools.com/excel-password-recovery.html

    ReplyDelete

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)