How to Fix Microsoft Has Blocked Macros from Running Excel? Microsoft Excel is a vital tool that allows users to automate repetitive tasks through macros. However, sometimes users may face an error message stating, “Microsoft Has Blocked Macros from Running Excel. Users reported seeing this message whenever they tried to access an Excel file (.xls or.xlsx) downloaded from the Internet or opened from a network drive.
Don’t worry if you are a user who has encountered the same problem. This article will explore what this error means and provide step-by-step methods to tackle the situation independently.
What Does It Mean “Microsoft has Blocked Macros From Running Excel”?
When you encounter the message “Microsoft Has Blocked Macros from Running Excel,” it indicates that Excel’s security settings have prevented the execution of macros within a particular file. Microsoft has implemented this security feature to protect users from potentially harmful or malicious macros that could harm their systems or compromise data.
Macros can contain code that performs various actions, including accessing external files, making changes to the system, or executing unwanted commands. Hence, when Excel detects a file with macros, it blocks its execution by default to maintain a secure environment.
However, there are scenarios where you may need to run macros from trusted sources or develop your macros. You can follow the solutions outlined below to resolve the error in such cases.
Also read: How to Fix Excel Flash Fill Not Recognizing Pattern
[3] Methods to fix “Microsoft has Blocked Macros From Running Excel”
Method 1: Unblock a File from Properties
- Right-click on the Excel file displaying the error and select “Properties” from the context menu.
- In the General tab, check the “Security” section; if you see an “Unblock” button, click on it.
- Select “Apply” followed by “OK” to save the changes.
Open the file again and check if the error message persists. If not, you should be able to run macros successfully.
Method 2: Add Trusted Locations to Fix Microsoft Has Blocked Macros from Running Excel
- Open Excel and go to “File” in the top left corner of the screen.
- Choose “Options” from the menu, and a new window will appear.
- In the left-hand sidebar of the Excel Options window, select “Trust Center.”
- Click “Trust Center Settings” on the right side of the window.
- Select “Trusted Locations” from the left-hand sidebar in the Trust Centre window.
- Click the “Add new location” button and browse to the folder where your macro-enabled files are stored.
- Tap “OK” to save the changes and close all open Excel windows.
Reopen Excel and try running the macro-enabled file. The error message should no longer appear if the file is located within a trusted location.
Method 3: Uninstall & Reinstall Microsoft Excel
If the above solutions do not resolve the issue, you can consider uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Excel to ensure that any corrupted or misconfigured settings are corrected. Before proceeding, make sure to back up any critical files or settings.
- Open the Control Panel on your computer.
- Navigate to “Programs” or “Programs and Features.”
- Locate Microsoft Excel in the list of installed programs, right-click on it, and choose “Uninstall.”
- Follow the on-screen prompts to uninstall Excel.
- Once uninstalled, restart your computer.
- Visit the official Microsoft website to download the latest version of Excel.
- Install Excel using the downloaded installer file and follow the installation instructions.
After installation, open Excel and check if the error message persists.
Conclusion
Encountering the “Microsoft Has Blocked Macros from Running Excel” error can be frustrating, mainly when you rely on macros for automating tasks. However, with the solutions outlined in this article, you can address the issue and regain the functionality of macros within Excel.
By unblocking files from properties, adding trusted locations, or even reinstalling Excel, you can ensure a secure yet flexible environment for executing macros. Remember to exercise caution when running macros and only enable them from trusted sources to maintain your system’s and data’s security.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I Unblock Macros in a Specific Excel File?
Yes, you can unblock macros in a specific Excel file.
2. Why Should I Activate Excel Macros?
You may use and create new macros in Excel, making it possible to automate various tasks.
3. How can I Prevent Excel Macro Blocking by Microsoft?
If Microsoft prevents your Excel macros, you can get around this by adding a trusted folder location or uninstalling and reinstalling MS Excel.
