Document Editing Problems

How to Fix an Excel Sheet That Stays Protected After Entering Password

WPS Content Manager Oct 12, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user needs to regain editing access to an Excel worksheet that will not unprotect despite using the correct password.

How to Fix an Excel Sheet That Stays Protected After Entering Password

Product: Microsoft Excel (SharePoint and Desktop)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to unprotect and edit a shared monthly Excel worksheet stored in a SharePoint document library.
Observed behavior: The sheet remains protected and uneditable even after entering the correct password, a problem affecting multiple users and different files within the same SharePoint library.

Before you start

Ensure you are entering the correct case-sensitive password and check if you are logged in with the necessary edit permissions for the SharePoint document library.

Solution 1Recommended

Isolate the SharePoint Document Library Issue

Test if the specific SharePoint document library is causing the protection glitch by copying the file to a different location.

When an issue affects multiple users and several files within a single SharePoint document library, the root cause is often a localized syncing error or corrupted library permission setting rather than the Excel file itself.

Locate the file in SharePoint

Open the SharePoint document library in your web browser where the affected Excel file is currently stored.

Copy the workbook

Select the problematic Excel workbook, click the three vertical dots (Show actions) next to the file name, and choose 'Copy to'.

Paste to a new location

Select a completely different SharePoint document library or your personal OneDrive folder, and complete the copy process.

Test the unprotection

Open the copied workbook in the new location, go to the Review tab, enter the password to unprotect the sheet, and verify if editing is now possible.

Isolate the SharePoint Document Library Issue

Workaround Successful: If the copied file works properly, you can continue working from the new location while the original document library is investigated by your IT department.

Solution 2

Create a Microsoft 365 Support Request

If the issue persists across different libraries, a backend investigation is required to resolve the unprotection failure.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Edit Protected Spreadsheets Seamlessly with WPS Office

Experiencing syncing and protection glitches with Microsoft Excel on SharePoint? Try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, fast, and highly compatible alternative for managing and editing password-protected spreadsheets locally without relying on complex backend syncing.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free on your computer.
2. Download a local copy: Download a local copy of your problematic spreadsheet from SharePoint to your hard drive.
3. Unprotect in WPS Spreadsheet: Open the file in WPS Spreadsheet, go to the 'Review' tab, click 'Unprotect Sheet', and enter your password to edit seamlessly.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xls, .csv).Smoothly handles worksheet and workbook password protection without glitching.Lightweight and fast to load, avoiding heavy browser-based editing errors.Familiar user interface makes transitioning from Microsoft Office effortless.Completely free to use for daily spreadsheet editing tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Excel sheet still say protected after I enter the correct password?

This usually happens due to a syncing issue between the Excel desktop app and SharePoint, corrupted file permissions in the document library, or an active co-authoring session where another user's locked state prevents your unprotection action from registering.

How do I remove protection from an Excel sheet without using SharePoint?

Download a local copy of the Excel file to your computer. Open it in your desktop spreadsheet application, navigate to the 'Review' tab, click 'Unprotect Sheet', and enter your password. Save the file locally before uploading it back to the cloud.

Can a Microsoft 365 admin remove a lost worksheet password?

No, Microsoft cannot recover or remove a lost worksheet password. However, if you know the password but the system won't accept it due to a SharePoint glitch, admins can check backend logs and resolve the syncing error.

Does WPS Office support Excel's password protection feature?

Yes, WPS Spreadsheet fully supports Microsoft Excel's document encryption and sheet-level protection. You can seamlessly unprotect an Excel-created file in WPS by entering the correct password under the Review tab.

Document & File Issues