Enable Excel Macros

In most cases, when you open a workbook that contains macros for the first time, Excel disables them as a security measure and asks if you want to enable macros.

If you are not certain that you can trust the macro author, verify the macros before enabling them.

To enable macros, simply click on the "Enable Content" button:

enable excel macros

But there may be situations where macros are disabled, and Excel does not offer to enable them.

First, if you haven't done so already, save the file on your PC (sometimes, if you open an Excel file directly from a website without saving it, macros are disabled without notification).

Then, click on "File" > "Options":

excel file options enable macros

Next, click on "Trust Center" > "Trust Center Settings":

excel privacy settings enable macros

Finally, click on "Macro Settings":

excel enable macros settings

The default (and recommended) option is to "Disable VBA macros with notification," which prompts you to enable (or disable) macros when opening the file.

Unblocking Macros

Files downloaded from the Internet may be blocked with the message "Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted":

excel block internet macros enable

If that's the case, close the file, right-click on the file > Properties > Check "Unblock," confirm, and then reopen the file.

If it's a downloaded Excel file that you have already opened and the Unblock option is no longer displayed, you can try deleting the file, re-downloading it, and then unblocking the file before opening it for the first time.