Unblock macros in excel

Question

I am trying to unblock macros. The unblock under properties is not showing up. I have added the URL to the trusted site. It still will not unblock. What do I have to do next?? VERY FRUSTRATED

Answer 1

Hi @Sheba Evans,

Thank you for posting your question on Microsoft Q&A Community. We're happy to help you with your concern.

Regarding to your question about unblocking macros in Excel, here are a few steps you can try, especially when the usual “Unblock” checkbox isn’t showing and you’ve already added the file’s URL to Trusted Sites:

1/ Check File Location

If the file is stored on a network share, OneDrive, or SharePoint, Excel may treat it as unsafe, even if the URL is trusted. Try moving the file to a local folder (like your Desktop) and then:

• Right-click the file > Properties > Look for the “Unblock” checkbox under the General tab.
• If it appears, check it and click OK.

2/ Add Folder to Trusted Locations

Trusted Sites alone may not be enough. You’ll need to add the folder path to Excel’s Trusted Locations:

• Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations

• Click Add new location and browse to the folder where the file is saved.
• Make sure to check “Subfolders of this location are also trusted”.

This is especially important for co-authoring macro-enabled files stored in cloud locations like SharePoint or OneDrive.

3/ Adjust Macro Settings

• Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings
• Choose “Disable all macros with notification” or “Enable all macros” (not recommended unless you trust the source).

4/ Disable Protected View (Optional)

If macros are still blocked:

• Go to Trust Center Settings > Protected View
• Uncheck all three options under Protected View.

This step reduces security, so only use it temporarily or for trusted files.

5/ Use PowerShell:

If the file is still blocked, you can manually unblock it using PowerShell:

Unblock-File -Path "C:\Path\To\Your\File.xlsm"

This removes the “Mark of the Web” that blocks macros.

I hope this information is helpful. Please follow these steps and let me know if it works for you. If not, we can work together to resolve this. 

Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out. 

I'm looking forward for your reply.

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