How to troubleshoot macros in Excel not working

In this article, we'll explore some potential problems that might prevent you from enabling and using macros in Excel, and provide you with fixes to resolve the issue.

Understanding problems with macros in Excel

The "Microsoft has blocked macros from runningv" error is a security feature developed to prevent malicious code (potentially harmful macros) from running on a user's computer. This error occurs when the user tries to run a macro in a file and immediately blocks the file from running.

However, sometimes a false warning can prevent you from running perfectly legitimate files. Fortunately, you can fix the problem by adjusting the relevant Microsoft Office security settings or enabling specific macros that you trust.

It is important to note that you should not apply these fixes to documents that come from an untrusted source, as doing so may harm the system. Below, TipsMake has listed some different fixes that you can try to solve the problem and use the macro without any problems.

How to troubleshoot macros in Excel not working

1. Add files to a trusted location

An easy way to open the file is to add it to the Trusted Locations section of Excel. When you add a file or folder to Trusted Locations , that file or folder is considered safe to use and the macro or any other active content in the file can run without any warning.

Here's how you can add targeted files to Trusted Locations:

1. Click File in the top right corner of the window.

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2. Navigate to Options > Trust Center .

3. Click the Trust Center Settings button in the right pane.

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4. Select Trusted Locations > Add new location and click the Browse button.

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5. Now, navigate to the location where your files are downloaded and click OK. This location will be added to the Trust Center, which means that the files here will not be scanned and will be allowed to run without any warning.

6. You can also check the Subfolders of this location are also trusted box in the same dialog box.

7. Click OK to save the changes.

Now you can run the targeted file with the macro without any problems. Alternatively, you can enable the Enable VBA macros option in Excel to make the same changes.

2. Edit file properties

You can also unblock the file by accessing the properties to run the file without any problems. The article presented the steps to do this on Windows operating system. These steps may be slightly different for you, depending on the type of operating system you are using. Here's how to proceed:

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to the location to save the file.

2. Right click on it and select Properties from the context menu.

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3. In the Properties dialog box , go to the General tab and navigate to the Security section.

4. Tick the Unblock box and click Apply > OK to save the changes.

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Now you can try accessing the file. Hope you will not encounter the above error again. In case you are afraid that the macros can be harmful, you can disable them to access the file.

Macros allow you to record sequences of actions and use them in your spreadsheets with a single click. For example, you can format entire tables of data, create charts and tables, perform complex calculations, and generate reports with ease.

If you're having trouble enabling macros, this can limit your ability to get the most out of them, which can be frustrating. Hopefully the above fixes will help you to resolve any issues that you may have when enabling macros in Excel.

David Pac

Update 28 February 2023