How to Enable Excel Macros

As a security precaution, Excel disables macros by default in untrusted spreadsheets. Enable macros either for a single spreadsheet or for any spreadsheet by, respectively, labeling the file as a trusted document or by editing the Trust Center settings.

Enable Macros in a Specific File Permanently

When you open a spreadsheet that contains a macro in Excel, the program automatically displays a warning message stating that macros contained in that file have been disabled.

Clicking the Enable Content button next to the warning message designates the spreadsheet as a trusted document and enables its macros permanently -- even if you close and reopen the file.

Enable Macros in a Specific File Temporarily

To load the spreadsheet's macros on a one-time basis, edit the file's security options:

Step

Open the File tab, click the Enable Content button and select Advanced Options.

credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Step

Select Enable Content for This Session and click OK to finish enabling the macros.

credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Enable Macros for All Files

Prevent Excel from disabling macros in all spreadsheets by editing the program's Trust Center settings.

Step

Open the File tab and select Options.

Step

Select Trust Center from the sidebar and click the Trust Center Settings button.

The Trust Center contains Excel's security and privacy settings.

credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft

Step

Click Macro Settings, select Enable All Macros and click OK to confirm your settings. Alternatively, enable only macros that a developer signed digitally by selecting Disable all macros except digitally signed macros.

credit: Image courtesy of Microsoft