How to Set a Password to Workbook

Ensuring that information or data is shared with the correct individual is crucial for maintaining proper authority. With IronXL, you can create password-protected spreadsheets and secure each individual worksheet.

How to Set a Password to Workbook

Download the C# library for password-protecting workbooks
Access the password-protected workbook
Apply password protection to the workbook
Remove password protection from the workbook
Export the encrypted workbook

Access a Password-Protected Workbook

A protected spreadsheet can be opened by providing the password as the second parameter to the Load method. For example: WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx", "IronSoftware").

Please note

It is not possible to open a protected spreadsheet without the correct password

Apply a Password to Workbook

To password-protect a spreadsheet, use the Encrypt method.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/set-password-workbook-protect.cs

WorkBook workBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx");

// Open protected spreadsheet file
WorkBook protectedWorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx", "IronSoftware");

// Set protection for spreadsheet file
workBook.Encrypt("IronSoftware");

workBook.Save();

Dim workBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx")

' Open protected spreadsheet file
Dim protectedWorkBook As WorkBook = WorkBook.Load("sample.xlsx", "IronSoftware")

' Set protection for spreadsheet file
workBook.Encrypt("IronSoftware")

workBook.Save()

VB C#

Open a Password-Protected Workbook

Remove Password from Workbook

To remove the password from a spreadsheet, simply set the Password field to null, as demonstrated in the code below:

Please note

This action can only be performed after accessing the workbook. Therefore, it is necessary to know the original password.

:path=/static-assets/excel/content-code-examples/how-to/set-password-workbook-unprotect.cs

// Remove protection for opened workbook. Original password is required.
workBook.Password = null;

' Remove protection for opened workbook. Original password is required.
workBook.Password = Nothing

VB C#

IronXL provides the ability to protect and unprotect Excel workBooks and workSheets with a single line of C# code.

Chaknith Bin

Software Engineer

Chaknith is the Sherlock Holmes of developers. It first occurred to him he might have a future in software engineering, when he was doing code challenges for fun. His focus is on IronXL and IronBarcode, but he takes pride in helping customers with every product. Chaknith leverages his knowledge from talking directly with customers, to help further improve the products themselves. His anecdotal feedback goes beyond Jira tickets and supports product development, documentation and marketing, to improve customer’s overall experience.When he isn’t in the office, he can be found learning about machine learning, coding and hiking.