How to Break VBA Password in Excel XLSM Files?

Rollins Duke
Published: May 20th, 2026 • 9 Min Read

Are you searching for how to break VBA password in Excel XLSM files? If yes, then read this blog. Password-protected Excel XLSM VBA files particularly help to secure the documents and prevent unauthorized access. However, sometimes it becomes challenging to access these files when we don’t remember the password. Here, we have described multiple simple methods with step-by-step process to remove Excel VBA password.

As we all know, VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) is a substantive part of Microsoft Office Suite programs, i.e., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, etc. Therefore, VBA is Microsoft’s programming language for Office applications and plays an important role in developing automation processes, user-defined functions, Windows API (Application Programming Interfaces), etc. But what is the role of a VBA file in Excel and what if it is encrypted? In the following guide, we have discussed the top methods to break VBA password in Excel.

Know Excel VBA File Extension

Excel describes a type of file with a “.xlsm” extension as containing related objects, which use Visual Basic for Application (VBA) to automate functions or create custom functions via the use of Visual Basic scripting. If your workbook contains any macros, or VBA code, you must save it as an “.xlsm” file, as represented by the “m” in the “.xlsm” extension being the abbreviation for macro.

The “.xlsm” format allows the storage of VBA code within the workbook to enable automation using per-existing VBA scripts or to create your own. The only file form (.xlsm) and type of Excel files that allow the use of VBA code, macros, or modules is “.xlsm.” None of the Excel file types are able to store VBA code, macros, or modules. So if you need to work with VBA code or macros, you can only do this in an “.xlsm” file. If you have a protected VBA file in Excel that has a password, then you may need to determine how to break that Excel VBA protection password.

Recommended: Tips to Remove PowerPoint VBA Password

How to Break VBA Password in Excel XLSM?

There are several methods to remove Excel VBA password. In the following, we have explained the top 4 methods that make this process possible.

1. Unlock VBA Password Excel XLSM via Changing File Extension

Changing the file’s extension from XLSM to ZIP is a common workaround to bypass the VBA project password and regain access to your macros.

Firstly, change the VBA project file extension from *.xlsm to *.zip.
Double-click on the ZIP file to open it with WinZip/ WinRar programs.
Click on the .xl folder to continue.
Extract the vbaProject.bin file and open it using Hex Editor.
After that, search DPB in Hex Editor, replace it with DPx, and save it.
Replace the old vbaProject.bin file with the new vbaProject.bin file under ZIP.
Thereafter, change the file extension from *zip to *.xlsm.
Start Visual Basic in Microsoft Excel, select Tools, and VBAProject Properties.
Choose the Protection tab, enter a new password, and save the *.xlsm file.
Finally, users can open the Excel VBA project file using the new password.

2. Remove Excel VBA Project Password with Hex Editor

If changing the file extension does not work, then you can take the help of Hex Editor to break VBA password in Excel. Following are the steps to use it for unlocking XSLM VBA file:

Generate a new Microsoft Excel XLS/ XLSX file using any Hex Editor program.
Then, you need to set a specific password in the VBA field (Alt + F11).
Save the recently created file at any destination path and exit.
Now open a file that you have recently generated using Hex Editor.
Copy each file starting with CMG=…, DPB=…, and GC=….
Open a file whose VBA password you want to break in Excel with the help of Hex Editor and paste the above-mentioned copied lines from the dummy file.
After that, save Excel files and exit to break a VBA password in Excel.
Open the Excel file in which you want to access the VBA code, and then enter the common password you used in the previous step for the dummy VBA file.

3. Break Excel VBA Password Using Workbook

If a Hex Editor does not resolve the problem or the method seems too technical then you can also try Workbook to break VBA password in Excel.

Open a password-protected Excel Workbook VBA file.
Press Alt + F11 to open a visual basic editor.
Click the Inset Module option and paste the given code into the VBA module.
Press the F5 button and run the code to break VBA password in Excel.
You can now open VBA projects in Excel without asking for a password.

Manual Method Drawbacks

Lack of Batch Mode: Manual techniques allow us to break passwords one by one from each project, so you will need to repeat the same steps again and again if you want to remove Excel VBA passwords in bulk.
Time Consuming: The manual method is a time-consuming process to break Excel VBA module password. These techniques allow you to remove VBA password in Excel XLSM files one by one. Moreover, it takes a lot of time if someone wants to batch unlock Excel VBA password.
Requires Technical Knowledge: If you are a non-technical person, then you can face challenges while breaking VBA project passwords in Excel XLSM manually. As you have seen already, need to follow too many steps including some formulas.
No Guaranteed: There is no guaranteed success rate if you are using a manual method to break VBA password in Excel. We saw that in some cases, users may lose their important data.

4. Download Software to Remove Excel VBA Password

BitRecover VBA Password Remover is recommended to unlock VBA password Excel XLSM files. This tool permits to break VBA passwords in Excel 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, etc. Free download this Excel VBA password remover XLSM to check its working steps and capabilities. After getting complete satisfaction within 30 days, you can upgrade it to bypass VBA project password in Excel without limitations.

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5 Steps to Break VBA Password in Excel

Step 1: Launch the suggested BitRecover Software.
Step 2: Add Excel XLSM macro-enabled VBA files.
Step 3: Select required Excel VBA files and Next.
Step 4: Browse and set specific destination folder.
Step 5: Click Remove to break Excel VBA password.

How to Unlock Password Protected VBA Code in Excel?

Firstly, start the Excel VBA password remover XLSM on your Windows computer. Choose any option from Select Files or Select Folders. Thereafter, browse the Excel VBA project’s micros and modules files for adding them to software GUI.
You can see all VBA projects in the Windows OS Tool. Which provides you with the File Explorer view so users can choose specific files easily. Click the Next button to continue.
After that, the tool automatically chooses the Desktop as the destination path. You can click the Browse button if you want to change a different destination folder. Thereafter, click the Remove button to break VBA password in Excel.

Features of Excel VBA Password Remover XLSM

This is an effective solution for breaking passwords from multiple Excel VBA projects in bulk. In other words, there are no restrictions on the size of the Excel VBA projects database. This tool works with large-sized projects without reporting any error messages.
The above-mentioned manual techniques are defined to break VBA password in Excel. However, this suggested software allows to remove VBA passwords in Word/ PowerPoint/ Access/ AutoCAD/ ArcGIS/ CATIA/ CorelDraw and SolidWorks.
Users can add an entire folder having an unlimited number of Excel VBA projects to break the password. Similarly, after adding Excel VBA files, users can see them in their software panel and choose only specific files to remove the password.
This is a completely risk-free software that allows you to remove Excel VBA password without losing any crucial information. Excel VBA password remover XLSM keeps all VBA project macros and modules intact during the completion of the task.

FAQs – Remove Password from VBA Project in Excel XLSM

Q 1: How do I unprotect a VBA code in Excel XLSM file?

A: Above we have explained 4 different techniques in detail to unlock VBA password in Excel. you can use any of the methods mentioned above to break the password:

WinZip
Hex Editor
Excel Workbook
Moreover, BitRecover tool

Q 2: Can I use your software to unlock 1000+ Excel VBA files at once?

A: Yes, Excel VBA password remover XLSM is a tried and tested solution to unlock 1000+ VBA password Excel XLSM files.

Q 3: Do you provide a service to break VBA password in Excel XLSM files?

A: Yes, we connect remotely to prove service to unlock password-protected VBA code in Excel.

In Conclusion

If you are one of those who forgot or lost their Excel VBA file password, then you can follow any of the above-mentioned techniques. If you go with manual methods, then we advise you to create a copy of Excel VBA projects to avoid data loss possibilities. On the other hand, the automated tool can be considered a 100% safe way to break VBA password in Excel 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, 2007, 2003, etc. Choose as per your requirements which one is better for your issues.