Changing a Workbook Password

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 21, 2023)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365


Paul has a workbook containing sensitive information. This workbook is password protected. However, the password may have been compromised. Paul wonders if there is a way to change the password associated with a workbook.

Assuming this is actual workbook protection (as opposed to worksheet protection), changing the password is fairly easy. It is important to remember, though, that there are two ways you can password-protect a workbook.

If you can open the workbook and actually see the contents, without needing to enter a password, then follow these steps to change the password:

  1. Display the Review tab of the ribbon.
  2. Click the Protect Workbook tool, in the Protect group. Excel displays a dialog box asking for your password. This is your old password; go ahead and enter it.
  3. Click again on the Protect Workbook tool. Excel displays the Protect Structure and Windows dialog box.
  4. Enter, twice, whatever new password you want used for the workbook.
  5. Click OK. Excel closes the dialog box.
  6. Save your workbook.

At this point your workbook has a new password.

In Paul's situation, though, I suspect it is the second type of password that has been applied to the workbook. This password is required of the user when you first attempt to open the workbook. To change this password, follow these steps:

  1. Open the workbook using the old password.
  2. Display the File tab of the ribbon.
  3. At the left side of the screen, click the Info option.
  4. Click the Protect Workbook option. Excel displays several different protection options.
  5. Click the Encrypt with Password option. Excel displays the Encrypt Document dialog box, and there is already a password in the dialog box, displayed as a series of dots. This is the workbook's existing password.
  6. Delete the existing password, enter a brand-new password, and then click on OK. Excel asks you to confirm the password.
  7. Enter your new password a second time and click OK again.
  8. Save and close your workbook.

That's it; the password for opening the workbook has been updated. There is also another way to make changes to the password, and that is to open the workbook and then use Save As (press F12). In the resulting dialog box, click Tools | General Options. Here you can, once again, set the passwords for the workbook.

Remember that if there are older copies of the workbook in existence, changing the password doesn't affect them—it only affects the workbook you just saved.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (9925) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Skipping Numbering

Got a numbered list, but you want to add other types of non-numbered paragraphs in the middle of the list? It's easy to ...

Discover More

Searching for Footnote and Endnote Marks

Do you want to quickly search for any footnote or endnote marks in your document? Word makes it easy using the standard ...

Discover More

Inserting the Name of the Last Person to Save the Document

Who saved the document the last time? Word keeps track of that information, and you can insert the person?s name into the ...

Discover More

Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!

More ExcelTips (ribbon)

Always Opening a Workbook that is Editable

When you send a workbook to a coworker, it can be bothersome if that person has problems using what you created. There is ...

Discover More

Limiting Who Can Delete Data

Excel allows you to protect your worksheet data in several different ways. Unfortunately, it doesn't allow you to protect ...

Discover More

Locking Worksheet Tab Order

When you develop a workbook for others to use, you may want to make sure that those users cannot change the order in ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)


This Site

Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Newest Tips
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.