The Excel Password Remover by Straxx emerged as a definitive solution for this specific problem. Unlike "password crackers" that rely on brute-force algorithms to guess encryption keys, this utility operates by directly manipulating the file structure to strip protection flags. The existence of "free fixed" versions generally refers to adaptations of the original codebase to ensure compatibility with newer Excel architectures (64-bit systems) and the Ribbon UI introduced in Office 2007+.
If you use an older version of the tool on a file protected in Excel 2013 or later, it may appear to freeze due to stronger encryption. You likely need the PRO 2019/365 version for these files. excel password remover straxx free fixed
If you absolutely want to try it: