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I cannot enable macros. I have enabled in trust centre and the file is unblocked in properties

Graeme Rutherford 25 Reputation points
2026-01-26T06:36:22.3033333+00:00

I have an excel spreadsheet that has macros that I cannot enable. It is from my wifes employer about claiming allowances.

I have changed the setting according to the advise given in two locations. I have allowed all macros to run.

I have selected the file in Properties and tried to change blocked to unblocked, but it was already unblocked.

I have updated my software and re started my laptop.

Moved from: Microsoft System Center | Other

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For business | Other

Answer accepted by question author

Tina L 12,335 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
2026-01-26T08:29:05.37+00:00

Hello @Graeme Rutherford,

Thank you for reaching out to the Q&A forum!

I truly appreciate the effort you’ve already made to troubleshoot this issue on your own.

To help me support you more effectively, could you please provide a bit more information:

1.Could you please provide screenshots of the Macro Settings showing “Allow all macros” is enabled, and the file Properties page confirming the file is not blocked?

Note: I can help you blur or hide any personal information if needed. 

2.When opening the file, do you see a yellow security warning bar or a red security risk bar?

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3.Is the Excel file currently being opened from a local drive, or from a cloud‑synced location such as OneDrive or SharePoint? 

4.You also mentioned that this Excel file is about allowance claim. Could you please confirm whether this claim is specifically related to ODSP?

5.I also noticed that the original tag on your post was set to “Microsoft System Center | Other.” Could you please confirm whether you are using a work or school account (managed by an organization), or a personal Microsoft account (such as Outlook.com or Hotmail)?

In the meantime, you may try opening the file from a Trusted Location by following these steps: 

  • You can open Excel => File => Options => Trust Center => Trust Center Settings => Trusted Locations. 
  • Then you select Add new location and choose a local folder, please check the box for "Subfolders in this location are also trusted".

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  • After that, move the .xlsm file into this folder, close Excel, and reopen the file. 

For reference: Trusted Locations for Office files - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn

Additionally, if possible, you also try opening the same file on another device to see whether the behavior is the same.

I will wait for the screenshot from you so that I can research the issue further and test in my environment.  

Please understand that our initial response may not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to identify the root cause and find a solution.  

Looking forward to hearing from you.

If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

Note: Please follow the steps in our documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.   

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  1. AI answer

    2026-01-26T06:36:33.27+00:00

    It sounds like you have already taken several steps to enable macros in your Excel spreadsheet. Here are a few additional things you can check:

    1. Check the Macro Settings Again: Ensure that you have set the macro settings in the Trust Center to allow all macros. You can do this by going to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings and selecting Enable all macros.
    2. Check for Group Policy Settings: If you are in a corporate environment, there may be group policies in place that restrict the use of macros. You might want to check with your IT department to see if any policies are affecting your ability to enable macros.
    3. File Origin: Since the file is from your wife's employer, it may still have a Mark of the Web attached to it, even if it appears unblocked. You can verify this by checking the ZoneId value for the file. You can do this by running the command notepad {name of file}:Zone.Identifier in the command prompt. If the ZoneId is 3 (Internet), macros will be blocked by default.
    4. Trusted Locations: If possible, try moving the file to a location that is designated as a Trusted Location. You can set this up in the Trust Center under Trusted Locations.
    5. Re-download the File: If the issue persists, try re-downloading the file from the source to ensure it is not corrupted or improperly flagged.

    If none of these steps resolve the issue, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for further assistance.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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