Password protecting an Excel file achieves two main objectives (1) prevents unauthorized access to the Excel file (2) prevents unauthorized modification of the Excel file.
File-level protection is not the same as worksheet protection or workbook protection. Worksheet protection controls what a user can or cannot do on a worksheet, such as inserting rows or typing into cells. Workbook protection prevents users from adding, deleting, moving, hiding or unhiding worksheets.
File-level protection allows for two passwords: (1) to open the file (2) to modify the file.
Save an Excel file with protection
'Save file with password required to open ThisWorkbook.SaveAs Password:="fileOpenPassword" 'Save file to allow access, but requires password to modify ThisWorkbook.SaveAs writeResPassword:="modifyFilePassword" 'Save file with password required to open and modify the file ThisWorkbook.SaveAs Password:="fileOpenPassword", _ writeResPassword:="modifyFilePassword"
If the file already exists a confirmation message will be displayed. For the VBA code to operate seamlessly, you will want to turn Display Alerts off before executing the code, then turning it back on after the file has been saved.
'Save file and suppress the save as warning message Application.DisplayAlerts = False ThisWorkbook.SaveAs Password:="fileOpenPassword", _ writeResPassword:="modifyFilePassword" Application.DisplayAlerts = True
Opening a password protected Excel file
When opening a password protected Excel file manually, the password prompts are displayed:
File Open Password
File Modify Password
Using VBA it is possible to open these files and provide the password so that the prompt does not appear.
'Open password protected file
Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\Users\marks\Documents\PasswordProtectedFile.xlsm", _
Password:="fileOpenPassword", writeResPassword:="fileModifyPassword"
The Password and writeResPassword statements should be included or excluded depending on the file being opened.
If an incorrect password is provided the following error message will show.
The code below will catch the error and provide a custom message.
'Catch an incorrect password On Error Resume Next Workbooks.Open Filename:="C:\Users\marks\Documents\PasswordProtecedFile.xlsm", _ Password:="fileOpenPassword", writeResPassword:="fileModifyPassword" If Err.Number <> 0 Then MsgBox "The Password Provided is incorrect" Exit Sub End If On Error GoTo 0
Other related VBA code snippets
The following VBA Code Snippets will be useful for applying this post in a wider context.
About the author
Hey, I’m Mark, and I run Excel Off The Grid.
My parents tell me that at the age of 7 I declared I was going to become a qualified accountant. I was either psychic or had no imagination, as that is exactly what happened. However, it wasn't until I was 35 that my journey really began.
In 2015, I started a new job, for which I was regularly working after 10pm. As a result, I rarely saw my children during the week. So, I started searching for the secrets to automating Excel. I discovered that by building a small number of simple tools, I could combine them together in different ways to automate nearly all my regular tasks. This meant I could work less hours (and I got pay raises!). Today, I teach these techniques to other professionals in our training program so they too can spend less time at work (and more time with their children and doing the things they love).
Do you need help adapting this post to your needs?
I'm guessing the examples in this post don't exactly match your situation. We all use Excel differently, so it's impossible to write a post that will meet everybody's needs. By taking the time to understand the techniques and principles in this post (and elsewhere on this site), you should be able to adapt it to your needs.
But, if you're still struggling you should:
- Read other blogs, or watch YouTube videos on the same topic. You will benefit much more by discovering your own solutions.
- Ask the 'Excel Ninja' in your office. It's amazing what things other people know.
- Ask a question in a forum like Mr Excel, or the Microsoft Answers Community. Remember, the people on these forums are generally giving their time for free. So take care to craft your question, make sure it's clear and concise. List all the things you've tried, and provide screenshots, code segments and example workbooks.
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All the codes are helpful and provided description that are easily to understand. but, my concern is can you provide a specific location where should i put the block of codes. for example, this block of codes put it in module then this one for form load, and then this one is for workbook, etc. I’m frustrated to run the system because there are to many errors occurred. Please, I hope my suggestion will be accepted. Thank you more power.!
Thank you for the feedback Francis. I will take this on board and include it as part of the next full site maintenance.
Hi
I am trying to open an write protected Excel file using below code. This is giving me and error as “expected end of Statement ” Line 7 Char 35. Please help
Option Explicit
ExcelMacro
Sub ExcelMacro()
Dim xlApp
Dim xlBook
Set xlApp = CreateObject(“Excel.Application”)
Set xlBook = xlApp.Workbooks.open “X:\Supply_Chain\ASR\Instock Report\Insotck from RMS\Daily In-Stock From RMS.xlsm”,_WriteResPassword:=”Wagwoord”
xlBook.Save
xlBook.Close
xlApp.Quit
Set xlBook = Nothing
Set xlApp = Nothing
End Sub
Hi Raajesh
The syntax of this line is incorrect:
Should be like this line:
This approach works when the password is ‘hard-coded’ in vba, but what if I want to use Windows authentication (login en password on the company network) to grant different levels of access to different groups of users?
Unfortunately, I cannot get this accomplished. I have tried the VBA coding as you have said, but when I save and then close and reopen the excel file, it opens without asking for a password. I don’t want to “protect” the file, I just want to encrypt the file with a password so that when I send the file to a vendor, they will have to enter the password to open the file.
Any ideas?
Try this:
https://exceloffthegrid.com/vba-code-password-protect-excel-file/
Hi,
Thanks – this is a really useful site.
I’m wondering if it’s possible to create a macro code that protects the VBA Project of a workbook?
For context, I’ve written a macro that exports certain tabs from a model into a new “Extract” workbook, then super hides the tabs that I don’t want external stakeholders to see (such as calculations or inputs we’d rather they couldn’t access, but are required to enable the extract to still be dynamic).
However, once the new workbook is created, it is possible for people to go into the VBA find all the tabs and make them visible again.
Is it possible to automate this final level of protection? I’m making this model for people that aren’t very Excel savvy, hence needing to automate everything!
Thanks
Are you sure you need to write a macro to set the VBA Project Password? If the module is already protected the set password will remain.
If you want to give your VBA Project more protection then Unviewable++ is a good tool: https://www.spreadsheet1.com/unviewable-vba-project-app-for-excel.html