When there are a large number of Excel files in a folder, all set with open passwords, it can be very time-consuming to enter the password, save as, and remove encryption one by one. This article uses HeSoft Doc Batch Tool as an example to explain how to batch remove the open password restrictions from multiple Excel files such as xlsx and xls, given you know the password, making subsequent viewing, archiving, sharing, and data aggregation more efficient. The article will cover the complete process of adding files, entering the file open password, setting the save location, and starting the processing, illustrated with before-and-after effects and the software operation interface. It also reminds users that this feature is not for cracking passwords; the correct password must be provided to remove the protection.
In daily office scenarios such as finance, administration, HR, and project management, Excel files are often set with an open password to protect sensitive data like payroll sheets, quotations, customer lists, and statistical reports. The problem is that when these files need to be uniformly archived, imported into a system, handed over to a colleague for review, or batch aggregated later, entering the password each time you open an xlsx or xls file can be very inefficient. If there are only one or two files, manual handling is acceptable; however, if a folder contains dozens or even hundreds of Excel workbooks, opening each one, entering the password, removing the encryption, and saving the file becomes a typical repetitive task.
This article addresses this type of problem: using the batch processing function within office software to remove the open password restrictions from many Excel files at once, assuming the passwords are already known. The tool used here is HeSoft Doc Batch Tool shown in the screenshot. It is positioned as batch processing software for office documents, and its core value lies in consolidating operations that originally required repeated clicks, typing, and saving, thereby reducing manual steps and improving file organization efficiency.
Applicable Scenarios: Which Excel files are suitable for batch removal of open passwords
Batch removal of Excel open passwords is suitable for the following types of scenarios:
- A batch of files uses the same open password: For example, monthly reports, store data, and project ledgers were all uniformly set with a file open password and now need to be removed uniformly.
- A large number of files with consistent processing rules: Such as a folder containing multiple xlsx files that all need the password prompt removed when opening.
- Subsequent batch aggregation or automated reading: Many data systems, scripts, or analysis tools cannot automatically process Excel files with open passwords. Removing the restriction in advance can reduce errors.
- Lowering the barrier for internal archiving: Files have been moved to a controlled internal directory or document management system and no longer need individual open passwords for each spreadsheet.
- Both open passwords and potential workbook or worksheet restrictions exist: The software interface also shows input fields for workbook restriction passwords and worksheet restriction passwords, suitable for handling related restrictions when the corresponding passwords are known.
It needs to be specifically stated that this article discusses removing the Excel password protection corresponding to a known password, not brute-force cracking or bypassing an unknown password. The software interface in the screenshot also clearly prompts that this is not password cracking; the software does not have a password cracking function. Therefore, if you do not know the original file open password, you cannot directly remove the restriction using this feature.
Preview of Results: Changes Before and After Processing
Before Processing: Multiple Excel files were set with open passwords
From the pre-processing screenshot, you can see there are multiple Excel files in the folder, such as 1.xlsx, 2.xlsx, and 3.xlsx. These files appear to be ordinary spreadsheets, but they might all have an open password set.
When you attempt to open 1.xlsx among them, Excel will pop up a password window, prompting that the file is password protected and requires the correct password to be entered in the password box before opening can continue. This is precisely the pain point for many users: the more files there are, the more times a password must be repeatedly entered.
After Processing: Opening Excel again no longer prompts for the open password window
After using HeSoft Doc Batch Tool to complete the removal of password protection, the target Excel files will be processed into a state where entering an open password is no longer required. In other words, when you subsequently double-click to open these xlsx files, the expected effect is that the file open password input box no longer appears, and the user can directly enter the spreadsheet content for viewing and editing. This saves a lot of time on repetitive password entry during batch report verification, sharing with colleagues, system import, or data aggregation.
Operating Steps: Using Office Software to Batch Remove Excel Open Passwords
Step 1: Enter Excel Tools and select the Remove Excel Password Protection function
After opening HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can see entries for office file processing in the left function category, including Word Tools, Excel Tools, PowerPoint Tools, PDF Tools, etc. Since we need to process Excel files this time, we must first enter the Excel Tools category.
In the list of Excel Tools, select Remove Excel Password Protection. The description on this function card in the screenshot explains that it batch removes open passwords and read-only passwords from Excel files, which aligns with our goal of removing file open password restrictions from Excel files in batch.
The purpose of this step is to enter the process page specifically for handling Excel password protection. For users needing to batch process files, selecting the correct function is critical first, as the software also includes other batch processing capabilities like converting Excel to PDF, Excel to Word, and Excel to JPG images. Different functions lead to different processing results.
Step 2: Add the Excel files that need processing
After entering the Remove Excel Password Protection page, the interface will be in Step 1: Select records to be processed. You can see buttons like Add File, Import Files from Folder, Clear, and More at the top right.
If you only need to process a few files, you can use Add File; if a folder contains many Excel spreadsheets requiring unified processing, it's more suitable to use Import Files from Folder. The screenshot shows that 3 files have been imported: 1.xlsx, 2.xlsx, and 3.xlsx, with paths leading to the corresponding files under D:\test.
In the file list, you can see information such as sequence number, name, path, extension, creation time, and modification time. The extensions are shown as xlsx, indicating these files are Excel workbook formats. The bottom of the list shows the record count as 3, meaning there are 3 Excel files pending processing this time. There is also a delete icon on the right; if a certain file does not need processing, it can be removed from the list before starting.
After confirming the file list is correct, click Next at the bottom of the page to enter the processing options settings. The expected result at this stage is that all Excel files needing batch removal of open passwords have been added to the task queue, and the software knows which files to process next.
Step 3: Fill in processing options such as the file open password
After entering Step 2, the interface title displays Setting Processing Options. At the top of the page, there is a yellow prompt: Please note, this is not password cracking; the software does not have a password cracking function. This point is very important, indicating you must know the correct passwords for these Excel files for the software to delete the corresponding protection based on that password.
In the processing options, you can see multiple input areas, including File Open Password, File Content Read-Only Password, Workbook Restriction Password, and Worksheet Restriction Password. If your requirement is solely to remove the password window that pops up when opening the file, focus on filling in the File Open Password. The example password in the screenshot is 123456, indicating that the open password for this batch of Excel files is 123456.
If the files also have read-only passwords, workbook structure restrictions, or worksheet protection set, and you also know the corresponding passwords, you can fill in the corresponding input boxes based on the actual situation. If there are no such restrictions, or if the current task does not require handling them, do not fill them in arbitrarily. In particular, when different Excel files use different passwords, it is recommended to group and process them by password in batches to avoid files failing to be successfully unprotected due to password mismatches.
After filling in, continue by clicking Next. The expected result of this step is that the software has obtained the known open passwords required to process this batch of Excel files and is ready to proceed to the save location and final processing stage.
Step 4: Set the save location and start batch processing
According to the progress bar at the top of the page, this function includes four steps: Select records to be processed, Set processing options, Set save location, and Start processing. After completing the password entry, continue following the interface prompts to set the save location for the processed files, then enter the Start processing step.
Since batch removal of Excel password protection involves the security of the original files, it is recommended to back up the original files before processing or save the processing results to a new directory. This way, even if a processing result for a certain file does not meet expectations, you can retain the original password-protected version for traceability and reprocessing.
After starting the process, the software will process the Excel workbooks one by one according to the file list. For users, this eliminates the need to open Excel individually, enter the password, and go into the file info or save settings to remove encryption; instead, these repetitive actions are handed over to the batch processing tool to complete uniformly.
Step 5: Check the processing results
After processing is complete, open the Excel files in the output location for verification. It is recommended to spot-check a few files like 1.xlsx, 2.xlsx, and 3.xlsx first, confirming that the password input box no longer pops up when double-clicking to open them. If you can directly access the spreadsheet content, it means the file open password restriction has been removed.
If a file still prompts for a password, common reasons include: that file's password differs from the one entered this time; the file itself is corrupted; the file type or protection method doesn't match the current processing item. In such cases, you can verify the correct password for that specific file separately and then reprocess it.
Common Questions and Precautions
1. Can this function crack a forgotten Excel password?
No. The software interface clearly indicates that this is not password cracking and the software does not have a password cracking function. It is applicable for situations where you know the password but just want to avoid manually canceling the password protection file by file.
2. Can xlsx and xls formats both be batch processed like this?
The example files in the screenshot are in xlsx format. For batch removal of password protection from Excel files, the actual processing should be based on the file types supported by the software and the interface prompts. If your files include xls, xlsm, or other formats, you can test with a small number first before executing in batch.
3. What if multiple Excel files have different passwords?
If different files use different open passwords, it is recommended to group them by password. For example, process all files with password A first, then process all files with password B. Do not mix files with different passwords in the same task, otherwise files with mismatched passwords might not be successfully unprotected.
4. Will the file content change after removing the open password?
The goal of this function is to delete the Excel file password protection, not to modify spreadsheet data. To be safe, it is still recommended to back up the original files before processing and spot-check key worksheets, formulas, and formats afterward to confirm the files can be used normally.
5. Why use a batch processing tool instead of manually canceling in Excel?
Manually canceling a password typically requires opening each file one by one, entering the password, going into related settings, and saving the file. The more files there are, the more obvious the repetitive operation becomes. HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , as batch processing software for office documents, can centralize similar operations, especially suitable for handling dozens or hundreds of Excel files.
Summary: Hand Over Repetitive Password Entry to a Batch Processing Tool
Batch removing Excel file open password restrictions is fundamentally about automating repetitive, mechanical, and time-consuming office operations. For a batch of xlsx or xls files with known passwords, using the Remove Excel Password Protection feature of HeSoft Doc Batch Tool , you can import the files first, then fill in the file open password, set the save location, and process them uniformly. After processing, you will no longer need to repeatedly enter the open password when opening these Excel files again.
If you are organizing a batch of password-protected reports, ledgers, or data files, it is recommended to back up the original files first, then follow the steps in this article for a small batch test. After confirming the results are correct, you can expand the processing scope. This ensures file security while significantly reducing repetitive work, improving the efficiency of Excel file archiving, sharing, and subsequent data processing.