HOW TO UNBLOCK A MACROS DOCUMENT?

Question

I have been trying to open a document xlsm. that has macros but it gives me this error message "A potentially dangerous macro has been blocked" and i tried to unblock it following the different info provided by window but even though it doesn't give me access.

Answer 1

Dear Jessica,

Per the description shared, if you are encountering the "A potentially dangerous macro has been blocked" error message while trying to open an Excel file with macros, it is likely because Excel's security settings are preventing the macros from running. To unblock the macro and enable it to run, follow these steps:

1. Open the Excel file with macros.
2. Click on the "File" tab in the ribbon.
3. Click on "Options" at the bottom of the menu.
4. In the Excel Options dialog box, select "Trust Center" from the left-hand menu.
5. Click on the "Trust Center Settings" button.
6. In the Trust Center dialog box, select "Macro Settings" from the left-hand menu.
7. In the Macro Settings section, select "Enable all macros" or "Disable all macros except digitally signed macros" depending on your preferences.

Note: "Disable all macros with notification" option will prompt you each time a macro is trying to rn, so that you can choose to enable or disable it.

1. Click "OK" to save the changes and exit the Trust Center dialog box.
2. Close and reopen the Excel file with macros. You should now be able to use the macros without any issues

If the above steps don't work, you can try enabling the macros through the Visual Basic Editor (VBE) by pressing "Alt + F11" to open the VBE, navigating to "Tools" > "Options" > "Security" and setting the "Macro Security" level to "Low". However, it is recommended to set the security level back to its original setting once you have enabled the macros.

If still the same problem, can you confirm whether the problem is only with a specific file or all files in the location where they are stored?

Sincerely,

Mia | Microsoft Moderator

Answer 2

I'm having the same problem - with spreadsheets I have used for years on a daily basis! This is RIDICULOUS!

Your suggestions didn't help. The first one, didn't work at all. I still get the same stupid message saying "Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is unstrusted". The file is in my OneDrive (and local computer too).

The second option you provided DOESN'T exist! There is no "Security" option on the Visual Basic Editor!!!

Is there anyone competence at Microsoft that can really point us to a solution? What a pathetic company!

Answer 3

Also, here is what Microsoft suggest on their own help: check the "Unblock" option. But this option doesn't show up on my computer!!! So some incompetent software engineer did something that blocked files but didn't update the software in a way that people can unblock it! Have I said already how pathetic this company is? Isn't it great to have a quasi-monopoly in something? Fix this issue!!!

Here is what the stupid video shows:

And here is what I see:

Answer 4

OK - I found a workaround until someone with a brain fixes this issue at Microsoft. BTW, I'm using obviously aggressive language, hopping that this will trigger "something" on Microsoft's controls and mid-level managers address the issue!

The issue was happening with files inside "OneDrive" - somehow, Microsoft's new security "features" are considering OneDrive folders "a hybrid between a web-location and a folder". So it doesn't see the file as protected but also doesn't allow to run it. Adding OneDrive folders to "Trusted Locations" doesn't help either - again, the folder inside OneDrive are not seen as "local", so it's never considered trusted.

However, if you (i) move the file out of OneDrive - to a local folder, and (ii) add such folder to a Trusted Location, then Excel can open and run the macros.

Here is a catch however: the Desktop on Windows 11 is inside OneDrive. So you would have to move the file to let's say the "C:" location. On Windows 10 however, you can use your Desktop, as it is outside OneDrive.

So let's wait for the incompetent people at Microsoft to realize this (or not) and fix the issue...

(*) See here that Microsoft had a piece on the "improvement" in February: https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/how-to-unblock-a-macros-document/cb242e3d-e1d0-4289-8b7c-9a1c06f27061?rtAction=1682083594728

Answer 5

I have a similar problem with MS Word.

Since this morning, every time I start MS Word I receive the message that MS has blocked macros from running. If I select Developer > Macros I see the list of macros, but opening VBE they are gone. Trying to run a macro via Developer > Macros I get a message that they are all disabled.

I have set all the macro settings in the trust centre as described above, set all locations to trusted, without success. All that happened overnight, without any obvious updates, I had my laptop on sleep. My Antivirus, firewall etc are from Norton 360, on the latest version.

Also, in VBE there is no path "Tools" > "Options" > "Security", it stops after Options. The resulting dialog box has only 4 tabs, Security is not one of them. I can't upload screenshot images as this interface is reporting problems.

If I copy the document into a teams folder of a team I am a guest only, using the edge browser, then open the document for editing I don't even have the option to run macros or use add-ins like Endnote or Grammarly. Using the option to edit it with the desktop version gets me a read-only document without macros or add-ins and allows me to edit it only from its "original location". I followed it and found it be uploaded to a sharepoint location that is linked to the Teams space again! There I get the option to edit it right there (again without macros or add-ins) or open it in the desktop app. The document has now received document protection without a password! Stopping the protection allows me to edit. Finally I can use macros but no add-ins! And it is in read-only mode, meaning I can edit but would have to save as a different file.