Excel loosing trusted locations

Question

Recently a client started having a problem where Excel 2021 is loosing its trusted locations for common things. Such as c:\users\username...

People cant open excel files from their documents folder, downloads, server Z: drive. All of a sudden it causes Excel to crash and give a Open In Safe Mode? option next time its loaded.

Then we need to go add those locations back into the Trusted Locations.

This started Monday and has happened to about half a dozen people so far out of 200 users.

Cant find any known issues or articles about it. Any idea whats going on?

Answer 1

Hi @Bob Karon

If these trusted paths are added back, will they disappear again?

Were there any changes to Office before this problem occurred, such as installing updates, installing third-party add-ins, etc.

• Please go to one Office app > Account > Product Information, check the Office version number.
• Then go to File > Options > Add-ins > Manage COM Add-ins, click Go, clear the check boxes for any enabled COM add-ins, select OK.

As you said Excel crashed, please go Event Viewer > Windows Logs, check whether there is any related record. If yes, please check its error module.

I also suggest you perform an online repair for Office in Control Panel.

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Answer 2

All the basics where done.

Quick repair was done.

The problem has not returned to any of the 6 users we manually added the local locations back in for. but these users contacted IT about it over a 4 day people. not connected to each other or same network in any way.

Unfortunately these are traveling sales people so i cant just remote back in to check versions or logs but all updates are forced to installed regularity so should all be the latest version.

I really feel there has to be an update recently from Microsoft causing the problem for 6 random users to start having the same issue as they are all laptops in the field to which users do not have admin rights.

Answer 3

Now we are getting random users who are having the same problem in Word and Powerpoint. Then we have to do the same thing, add in the trusted locations.

Is there a setting that tells office desktop apps to trust all normal locations such as docs, downloads, desktop, etc. ? because we are having to add those in manually suddenly for ransom users and the problem pops up.