Challenge changing security permissions to allow macros

Question

When accessing the properties window of an Excel document, there is no option to within the General tab at all to enable macros. How do I resolve this.

Answer 1

Hello Tracy Drynan,

I understand that you are having issue with Excel. I truly understand how you feel. Let me assist you go through this situation.

based on your description, your macros are not enabled from the file’s Properties > General tab inside Excel. That option no longer exists for Excel workbooks. Macro control is handled by Trust Center security, file blocking, or Windows file security, depending on the situation.

My suggestion for you:

1. Enable macros via Trust Center (recommended)

• Open Excel
• Select File > Options
• Select Trust Center
• Select Trust Center Settings
• Select Macro Settings
• Choose Disable VBA macros with notification
• Select OK and restart Excel

This allows you to enable macros per file using the security warning bar when the workbook opens.

2. Unblock the file in Windows (very common cause)

If the file was downloaded from the internet or email, Windows may block it.

• Close Excel
• Open File Explorer
• Right‑click the Excel file > Properties
• On the General tab, look for Security
• Check Unblock
• Select OK
• Reopen the file in Excel

This immediately allows macros to run if Excel macro notifications are enabled.

3. Use a Trusted Location (best for recurring macro files)
4. Open Excel
5. Select File > Options
6. Select Trust Center
7. Select Trust Center Settings
8. Select Trusted Locations
9. Select Add new location
10. Choose the folder that contains your macro files
11. Select OK

Any workbook opened from this folder will run macros without prompts.

4. Confirm the file type supports macros

Macros only run in:

• .xlsm (Excel Macro‑Enabled Workbook)
• .xlsb
• .xlam

If your file is .xlsx, macros will never run.

Check this by selecting File > Save As and confirming the file type. If Macro Settings are greyed out, the device may be:

• Running Windows in S mode
• Restricted by policy or security software

In this case, macro settings cannot be changed locally.

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

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Answer 2

In Excel, macros are not enabled from the file’s Properties dialog. The “Unblock” checkbox in the General tab only appears for files that have been marked as coming from the internet (Mark of the Web). If that checkbox is not present, use one of these supported methods instead:

1. Make the workbook a trusted document
   1. Open the Excel file.
   2. If a security bar appears under the ribbon with a warning about macros, select Enable Content.
   3. In the Security Warning dialog, select Yes to make the document trusted. Macros will then run for that workbook without further prompts.
2. Remove Mark of the Web (for files from the internet/email)
   1. Save the file to a local drive or OneDrive.
   2. In File Explorer, right‑click the file and choose Properties.
   3. On the General tab, if a Security section with an Unblock checkbox is visible, select Unblock and click OK. This removes Mark of the Web so macros can run (subject to Trust Center and policy settings).
3. Change macro settings in Trust Center (if macros are still blocked)
   1. In Excel, go to File > Options > Trust Center.
   2. Select Trust Center Settings….
   3. Under Macro Settings, choose an appropriate option (for example, do not use Disable all macros without notification if macros need to run).
   4. If needed, enable Trust access to the VBA project object model for automation scenarios.
4. Use a trusted location (to avoid enabling per file) Instead of enabling macros for each workbook, configure a trusted folder:
   1. In Trust Center, go to Trusted Locations.
   2. Add a folder as a trusted location.
   3. Store macro‑enabled workbooks in that folder so they open with macros enabled.

If the file is on a network share and macros are still blocked, the share might be treated as Internet/Restricted; in that case, an admin may need to designate the location as a Trusted site or ensure it’s in the Local intranet zone so macros are not blocked by default.

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References:

• Enable or disable macros in Microsoft 365 files
• Block suspicious macros in Office on Windows 10 S
• Macros from the internet are blocked by default in Office