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How to Enable Macros in This Workbook

A quick one-time setup so the workbook runs correctly on your computer

This workbook contains macros (small programs that make it work). The macros are digitally signed, which means they are safe and verified. Because the file came from outside your computer — by email, download, or a shared drive — Excel blocks the macros until you give it the go-ahead. This takes about a minute and you only have to do it once.

Step 1 — Unblock the file

When you first open the workbook you may see a red bar across the top that says something like “SECURITY RISK — Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted.” This is normal. Here is how to clear it:

  1. Close the workbook if it is open in Excel.
  2. Find the file in File Explorer (for example, in your Downloads or Documents folder).
  3. Right-click the file and choose Properties.
  4. On the General tab, look at the bottom. If you see a checkbox or button labeled Unblock, tick the box (or click the button).
  5. Click OK, then open the workbook again.
Don’t see an “Unblock” option? Then the file isn’t blocked and you can skip to Step 2. The Unblock box only appears when Windows has tagged the file as coming from the internet.

Step 2 — Allow the macros to run

After unblocking, you may see a yellow bar that says “Security Warning — Macros have been disabled,” with an Enable Content button. This is the normal, safe prompt.

  1. Click Enable Content on the yellow bar.
  2. The macros will now run. For this file, that’s all you need to do.

Because the workbook is digitally signed, Excel may offer to trust the publisher (the person who signed it). If you choose to trust the publisher, this file — and any future signed files from the same person — will open with macros already enabled and no further prompts.

If macros still don’t work

  • Make sure you reopened the file after unblocking it in Step 1 — the change only takes effect on a fresh open.
  • Confirm the file is saved as a macro-enabled workbook (the name ends in .xlsm). If it ends in .xlsx, macros are stripped out and cannot run.
  • If you don’t want to repeat these steps every time, ask whoever sent the file about saving it to an Excel Trusted Location, which lets the workbook run automatically.
  • Still stuck? Send a screenshot of the exact message you see — the wording tells us precisely what to fix.

These steps are standard Windows and Excel security features. Following them does not lower your computer’s protection — it simply tells Excel you trust this particular file.