How to Unlock an Excel Workbook

1. Open the Excel workbook you want to unlock.
2. Select 'Tools,' 'Protection' and 'Unlock Workbook' from the toolbar. If you added a password initially (when you locked the file), you will be prompted to type it in. Click on 'OK' in the 'Unprotect Workbook' box. The workbook will be unlocked.
3. Select 'Tools,' 'Protection' and 'Unprotect Shared Workbook' from the toolbar to unlock a shared workbook. Enter the password into the 'Unprotect Sharing' box if you inserted one initially. Then click on 'OK.' Click on 'Yes' to remove the workbook's shared settings if you are prompted to.
4. Select 'File' and 'Save As' from the toolbar to remove the password from a password-protected workbook file. Click on 'Tools' and 'General Options' in the 'Save As' dialog box. Remove the password from the 'Password to open' field (to allow users to open it) and/or 'Password to modify' field (to allow users to modify it) and click 'OK.' Click on 'Save' to save the workbook without a password.