Permission & Access Issues

How to Fix Excel Protected File Not Unprotecting with Correct Password

WPS Content Manager Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user is unable to permanently remove protection from an Excel file, as it remains locked even after unlocking it with the correct password and saving.

How to Fix an Excel File That Won't Unprotect With the Correct Password

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to unprotect an Excel workbook or worksheet using the known correct password so it can be edited and saved normally.
Observed behavior: The Excel file does not drop its protection status after the user selects Unlock, enters the correct password, and saves the document, preventing future edits.

Before you start

Verify that you are using the correct password and ensure that your software is up to date, as saving issues can occasionally stem from application glitches.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy the Protected Worksheet to a New Workbook

Transferring your data to a completely new file is the most reliable workaround for an Excel workbook that is glitching and refusing to save its unprotected status.

Sometimes an Excel file can become corrupted or experience bugs where protection settings are stuck in a loop. By moving the worksheet data into a fresh workbook, you leave the corrupted settings behind while retaining all your data.

Open the affected file

Launch Excel and open the workbook that is experiencing the protection issue.

Unprotect the current sheet

Go to the 'Review' tab, click 'Unprotect Sheet', and enter your correct password to temporarily unlock it.

Move or copy the sheet

Right-click on the worksheet tab at the bottom of the screen and select 'Move or Copy...' from the context menu.

Transfer to a new book

In the 'To book' dropdown menu, select '(new book)'. Check the box that says 'Create a copy' and click 'OK'.

Save the new file

Once the new workbook opens, go to 'File' > 'Save As' and save it to your computer. The new file should now be completely unprotected.

Copy the Protected Worksheet to a New Workbook

Pro Tip: If you want to replace the original file, you can save the new workbook using the exact same file name as the original one to overwrite it.

Solution 2

Verify Workbook vs. Worksheet Protection Settings

Ensure you are targeting the correct level of protection, as Excel separates Worksheet protection from Workbook protection.

Manage Spreadsheet Protection Easily

Use WPS Office to Unprotect and Manage Excel Files

If Microsoft Excel is bugged and refuses to save your unprotected file, you can easily open, unlock, and save your spreadsheet using WPS Office. It provides robust compatibility with .xlsx files and handles document security flawlessly without the glitches.

1. Open the file in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your protected Excel file.
2. Go to the Review tab: Navigate to the 'Review' tab on the top menu ribbon.
3. Remove protection: Click on 'Unprotect Sheet' or 'Unprotect Workbook' depending on your file's restriction.
4. Enter password: Type in your correct password when prompted and click 'OK'.
5. Save the file: Click the Save icon or press 'Ctrl + S' to permanently apply the unprotected status.

Seamlessly open, unprotect, and save Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formatsIntuitive Review tab makes managing document security simpleLightweight architecture reduces the chance of application freezing or saving errorsCompletely free to download and use for everyday spreadsheet tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Protect Sheet and Protect Workbook?

'Protect Sheet' prevents users from editing, deleting, or formatting data within specific cells of a single worksheet. 'Protect Workbook' prevents structural changes to the entire file, such as adding, deleting, hiding, or renaming individual sheets.

Why does Excel keep asking for a password after I removed it?

This usually happens if the file was not properly saved immediately after the password was removed, or if the document has multiple layers of protection applied (e.g., both workbook-level and worksheet-level protections are active).

Can I recover an Excel file if I forgot the protection password?

Excel does not provide a native way to recover lost passwords for security reasons. You will need to rely on a previous unprotected backup of the file or use specialized third-party password recovery software.

Document & File Issues