Enable Macros in Excel

Enabling macros in excel is a process where we encounter an error while opening any macro-enabled worksheet because due to security reasons excel itself disables macros from the external sources, in order to enable macros we need to go to trust center in the options tab of files section and click on enable all macros which will enable all the macros in the workbook.

Excel Enable Macros (Table of Contents)

• Enable Macros in Excel
• How to Enable Macros in Excel?

Enabling Macros in Excel (2007, 2010,2013 & 2016)

The developers of Microsoft Excel has introduced a safety feature by which we can actually stop the script from executing which is called as enable macro in excel and this helps us to enable VBA to access content that is on our machine.

Macros in excel add giant power to the Microsoft excel as they can understand the language of the human via the codes. Macros are different from any other function that Is available in excel because we can create scripts and let excel know what we want to get done and in which sequence.

With macros in excel, we can actually design the code and run that code and get the work done. Now suppose if you are working as a data analyst and you receive the file from the other team and you have to always perform similar tasks that you just need a scripted macro that can understand what needs to be done and do what we specify in the VBA code. VBA code that we design is called a script and this script works by line by line. So this means that if there is an error in the first line then the next line will not work.

The power of macros is not limited to one function and they can be used for some not legitimate purposes such as introducing some virus on your computer, stealing your information, sending emails from your system or even drilling your banking information.

So to save us from the negative effects of macros we must not always enable the macros in excel but choose the file that should be allowed to run a macro.

There is no limit to the macros, their functionality is not limited to doing some tasks on the spreadsheet. They can access any software, file or other data that is on your machine. This is why they must be enabled carefully and only trusted codes should be enabled.

How to Enable Macros in Excel (2007, 2010, 2013 & 2016)?

The first step is to check and decide what type of permission that is required to be given to the macros of excel. The decision can be to give partial permission, no permission and even giving completed permission.

After the decision has been made regarding the permission type that should be granted we need to follow the below step.

• Click on the File Tab of excel and go to the excel options.

• From the options go to the Trust Center settings.

• From the Macro settings, we have to choose what type of permission is required to be granted.

If we want to give complete permission as we trust the macros then we can choose the option of “Enable all macros” in excel

If we need to stop the use of macros than we need to select “Disable all macros”.

If we want a notification about the fact that the macros on this file have been disabled than we need to select the option of “Disable all macros with notification” and if we do not need a notification about the disabled macros than we need to select the option of “Disable without notification”.

• After selecting the appropriate type of permission click on “OK” and that setting will be applied on your computer.
• To Enable macros in excel properly we must also enable the ActiveX controls on excel. These ActiveX controls are necessary in case the macros Object require ActiveX controls. From the “Trust center settings” choose the option of Active X and select “enable all controls”.

Examples to Enable Macros in Excel 2007, 2010, 2013 &2016

Following are the examples to enable the macros in excel version 2007, 2010, 2013 & latest versions

Example #1 – Permanently Enable all Macro Files in Excel.

If we generally receive files from a trusted source and it contains some macro or VBA content than we need to enable the macro feature to enable us to use the file. In this case, we can permanently enable the macros in excel and this will hence save our time.

• Click on the File Tab of excel and go to the excel options.

• From the options go to the Trust Center settings > Trust Center settings.

• In Macro Settings, select Enable all macros.

Example #2 – Enabling Macros for a Specific Excel File

If we are not sure about the source of the file we can choose to investigate the source and then choose whether to or not enable the macros of excel. Before our selection, the file will be a protected view and we may not be able to edit the file or run the VBA code. This means the file will be a read-only file.

Example #3 – Saving Excel File in Macro-Enabled Extension

Saving the file in correct extension is very important as the functionality of file depends upon the extension in which the file is saved. If we have recorded some macros or VBA code in excel then we must save that file as “Macro enabled file”. If we save the file in another extension than the macro VBA code will not be saved and will get deleted after the file is saved.

Example #4 – VBA Object Model

Sometimes macro need access to the VBA project model and in this scenario, we must enable the trust setting to run the macro.

• Click on the File Tab of excel and go to the excel options.

• From the options go to the Trust Center settings.

• In Macro Settings, check the Trust access to the VBA project object model.

Example #5 – Active X Controls

The communication between the computer programs is done via Active X controls and this must be enabled to enable the macro to communicate with other applications that are defined in the VBA code. However, this must only be enabled if we trust the source of the file else this can be harmful.

• Click on the File Tab of excel and go to the excel options.

• From the options go to the Trust Center settings.

• In Trust center settings, choose the option of Active X and select Enable all Controls.

Things to Remember

• The file that contains VBA code must be saved as “Macro enabled file”. If the file is saved in another extension than the VBA code will not be saved and macros will not be enabled on the file.
• If we have selected to “Enable all macros” than all macros from a trusted or not trusted source will run without any warning or further consent. This may be dangerous sometimes.
• If we have selected to “Stop macros without any notification” then we might not be able to judge the fact why the macros that are in the file are not running at the first instance. So this is advised that we choose to show notification about the disabled macros.

Recommended Articles

This has been a guide to Enable Macros in Excel 2007, 2010, 2013 & 2016. Here we discuss how to Enable Macros in Excel for different permission types along with examples. You may also look at these useful functions in excel –

• Excel Dynamic Consolidate
• How to Record Macros in Excel
• Excel Formula for Grade
• Use Add-Ins in excel
• How to Consolidate Data in Excel?