There are several types of passwords used in Excel including the file open password, file reservation password and hidden worksheet passwords.

The file reservation or worksheet passwords, and file open passwords prior to version 97 are not secure, and can be readily recovered.  However, a password protected 97 or later file can only be opened by either trying every possible password (which could take centuries), or by searching for the correct encryption key and using this to decrypt the file without the password.

In our experience, brute force or dictionary attacks (where you use software to try a large number of possible passwords) have a success rate of less than 20% with Word passwords as most people now use secure passwords.

We therefore recommend key recovery.  The software here will allow you to open your file, but it takes up to 20 days on a fast PC.  If you would rather have a service do this, it will take less than 5 days.

We therefore recommend that you select software or a service that provides key recovery.  Our recommended software, Ultimate Zip Cracker will allow you to open your file, but it may take up to 20 days on a fast PC.  If you would rather have a service do this, it will take less than 3 days.

Recommended software

We use and recommend Ultimate Zip Cracker, as this package offers a number of recovery options, and can open virtually all Word and Excel files, plus also supports WinZip archives.

A number of other packages do not support key recovery, and will therefore not open files, but Ultimate Zip Cracker provides key recovery functionality, as well as being able to quickly recover the less secure password types.

Ultimate Zip Cracker can be used for both Zip and Word / Excel files and is good value for money.  It is a comprehensive package that recovers all Word password types and has a clean and user friendly interface.

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Our recovery service

Password-find.com provides a fast, low cost data recovery service for password protected Word or Excel documents, a free downloadable guide plus independent reviews and trial downloads of Word, Excel and VBA recovery software.