Best Excel Password Recovery Software: Top 3 Tools to Recover Excel Password

Overview: Excel files often contain important data such as financial records, reports, calculations, and business information. Users may protect these files with passwords and later forget or lose the password.

A locked Excel file can become difficult to access when you no longer remember the password. In such cases, Excel password recovery software can help you recover the correct password and regain access to the file.

Several tools are available for this purpose. In this article, we compare the top 3 Excel password recovery tools based on recovery methods, Excel file support, ease of use, and useful features.

Top 3 Excel Password Recovery Software - Table Comparison

1. SysTools Excel Password Recovery - Best for Flexible Password Recovery

SysTools Excel Password Recovery is a dedicated software that helps recover forgotten passwords from Excel files. It supports both XLS and XLSX files and works with Excel files protected using strong encryption.

The software provides two main recovery options: Brute Force and Mask Attack. Brute Force works when you do not remember the password, while Mask Attack helps when you remember some details, such as the beginning or ending characters.

It also lets you define password length and character types. This can reduce unnecessary attempts when you have some information about the lost password.

The software supports AES-256 encrypted Excel files and can recover passwords of up to 15 characters. It also works on both Windows and Mac systems.

Key Features:

• Recover forgotten Excel passwords

• Support XLS and XLSX files

• Use Brute Force Attack

• Use Mask Attack

• Set password length

• Define character types

• Add known password patterns

• Support AES-256 encrypted files

• Recover passwords up to 15 characters

• Show real-time recovery progress

• Work without changing the original file

• Support Windows and Mac

Why Choose SysTools?

The main benefit is that the software gives you different ways to search for the lost password.

For a completely unknown password, you can use the Brute Force option. If you remember part of the password, the Mask option lets you provide details such as the prefix, suffix, length, or character type. This helps narrow down the possible combinations.

Best For:

Users, IT professionals, and organizations that need a dedicated solution to recover forgotten passwords from XLS or XLSX files.

2. Stellar Excel Password Recovery - Best for Excel Password Recovery

Stellar Excel Password Recovery is designed to recover passwords used to open or modify Microsoft Excel documents. It uses brute-force recovery and provides masking options to narrow the password search.

The software also shows the recovery process while it searches for the password. This allows users to monitor the progress instead of waiting without any status information.

Its masking options can help when you know some details about the lost password. You can use these details to reduce the number of possible combinations.

Key Features:

• Recover Excel passwords

• Recover passwords to open files

• Recover passwords to modify files

• Use brute-force recovery

• Apply masking options

• Narrow the password search

• Show recovery progress

• Display process details

• Generate a process summary

Why Choose Stellar Excel Password Recovery?

The software provides different options for users who remember part of the lost password. Its masking features can help reduce the search area and make the recovery process more focused.

Best For:

Users who need to recover Excel passwords and want masking options to narrow the recovery process.

3. Passware Excel Key - Best for Advanced Password Recovery

Passware Excel Key is designed specifically for recovering lost Excel passwords. It supports Excel files from older and newer versions and works with formats such as XLS, XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, XLTX, and XLTM.

The software supports different recovery attacks, including dictionary, brute-force, mask, and known-password methods. It can also recover multilingual passwords using built-in and custom dictionaries.

It saves recovery progress automatically, so users can continue the search after stopping the process.

Key Features:

• Recover lost Excel passwords

• Support XLS and XLSX

• Support XLSM and XLSB

• Support XLTX and XLTM

• Use brute-force recovery

• Use dictionary-based recovery

• Use mask-based recovery

• Use known-password methods

• Support multilingual passwords

• Add custom dictionaries

• Save recovery progress

• Resume a stopped recovery process

• Provide a step-by-step wizard

Why Choose Passware Excel Key?

The software provides several recovery methods and supports many Excel file formats. Its dictionary and custom dictionary options can also help when the password may contain familiar words or patterns.

Best For:

Users who need multiple password recovery methods and support for different Excel file formats.

What Should You Look for in Excel Password Recovery Software?

Before choosing a recovery tool, check the features that match your situation.

1. Excel File Support

Check whether the software supports the Excel format you use, such as XLS or XLSX. Support for older and newer Excel versions can also be useful.

2. Recovery Methods

A good tool should provide more than one way to search for a lost password. Brute Force can help when you remember nothing, while a mask-based method can help when you know part of the password.

3. Password Length

Check the maximum password length supported by the software. This becomes important when the lost password contains many characters.

4. Character Selection

The software should let you select character types such as uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters when the recovery method supports it.

5. Encryption Support

Check whether the tool can handle encrypted Excel files. This is especially important for newer workbooks that use stronger encryption.

6. Recovery Progress

A progress indicator helps you see the current recovery status. Some tools also provide an estimated time or process details.

Which Excel Password Recovery Software Should You Choose?

Different tools can fit different recovery needs.

Choose SysTools Excel Password Recovery if:

• The lost password belongs to an XLS or XLSX file.

• You do not remember the password at all.

• You remember some part of the password.

• You want to define password length or character types.

• The workbook uses AES-256 encryption.

• You need both Brute Force and Mask Attack options.

• You want to monitor the recovery process.

Choose Stellar Excel Password Recovery if:

• The Excel file requires a password to open or modify.

• You want to use brute-force recovery.

• You remember some password details.

• Masking options can help narrow the search.

• You want to monitor the recovery process.

Choose Passware Excel Key if:

• You need support for several Excel file formats.

• You want multiple password recovery methods.

• A dictionary-based approach may help.

• You need support for multilingual passwords.

• You want to save and continue the recovery process.

• You work with XLS, XLSX, XLSM, XLSB, XLTX, or XLTM files.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Excel password recovery software?

Excel password recovery software helps find a forgotten password used to protect an Excel file. The recovery method depends on the type of protection and information available about the password.

2. Why do I need Excel password recovery software?

If you forget the password for an important Excel file, you may not be able to open or modify it. A dedicated recovery tool can help search for the correct password.

3. Can I recover a forgotten Excel password?

Yes. Dedicated Excel password recovery tools can search for forgotten passwords using different recovery methods.

4. Can I recover an XLSX password?

Yes. Some recovery tools support XLSX files and can search for passwords used to protect them. SysTools supports both XLS and XLSX formats.

5. What is a Brute Force Attack in Excel password recovery?

A Brute Force Attack checks different character combinations until it finds the correct password. It can help when you do not remember any part of the password.

6. What is a Mask Attack?

A Mask Attack lets you provide details you remember about the password, such as its starting characters, ending characters, length, or character type. The software then searches combinations that match those details.

7. Can I recover an AES-256 encrypted Excel password?

Some dedicated tools support encrypted Excel files. SysTools provides Brute Force and Mask Attack options for AES-256 encrypted XLSX and XLS files.

8. Can I recover an Excel password without changing the original file?

Yes. SysTools states that its recovery process finds the password without making changes to the original file.

Conclusion

Forgetting an Excel password can make an important file difficult to access. Guessing different combinations manually can also take a lot of time, especially when you do not remember any part of the password.

SysTools Excel Password Recovery is the preferred choice for recovering lost or forgotten Excel passwords. It provides Brute Force and Mask Attack options, supports XLS and XLSX files, and works with AES-256 encrypted files. You can also provide known password details to narrow the search and monitor the recovery progress.

Before starting the recovery process, keep a copy of the original Excel file and use the recovery method that matches the information you remember. This can make the process easier and more focused.