Excel Recovery Guide

Forgot Your Excel Password?

Excel password recovery depends on the file format, encryption parameters, and the password clues you can provide. Use these ranges as a feasibility guide, not a promise.

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Password to open

Encrypted file. Needs real recovery or legacy key recovery.

Password to modify

Soft edit lock. Usually solved without GPU recovery.

Sheet/VBA protection

Often bypassable. Should not be confused with file encryption.

Clear release process

Free Office check. Local release price only if recovery works.

Analysis is free. Recovery is version-aware — different Office versions get different treatment. You see proof before paying. Full password or unlocked file release is one clear payment.

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Excel Versions & Recovery Feasibility

Excel 97 · 2000 · XP · 2003 (.xls)

Finite-key legacy case

Some files from this era use 40-bit RC4 with a known weakness and may be suitable for finite-key analysis. The exact encryption variant and file integrity still need to be checked.

Excel 2007 (.xlsx)

Password-dependent

Uses AES-128 with SHA-1-based key derivation. A bounded dictionary or pattern search may be reasonable when you have strong clues; long random passwords are not realistic targets.

Excel 2010 (.xlsx)

Password-dependent

Uses AES-128 with SHA-512-based key derivation. The same clue-led search strategy applies, with more work per candidate.

Excel 2013 & 2016+ (.xlsx)

Password-dependent

AES-128 is the standard strength for many files, while Agile Encryption parameters vary by file. Feasibility depends on the exact EncryptionInfo and the quality of password clues.

Excel 365 · 2019+ (.xlsx)

Weak passwords only

Modern files can use standard or Agile Encryption parameters. Only weak passwords or strong owner-provided patterns make a bounded search realistic.

Old Excel .xls files need an exact-variant check

If your spreadsheet was saved in Excel 97 through Excel 2003, the file may use a legacy scheme with a finite-key weakness. We verify the variant first and only quote a route and timeline after the free check.

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