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Microsoft keeps blocking MY access to MY Excel spreadsheets even after I have resolved the issue (the last time they did this)

Unswayed By Assertions 5 Reputation points
2026-05-13T14:29:52.4566667+00:00

Last night Microsoft graciously and gratuitously installed an update (without letting me know what it contained or helping me decide if I wanted to do this). As part of this unwanted update Microsoft decided that the code I had written for Excel was unsafe, and disabled it. Now, it may not work exactly as I had hoped (but that's one of the fun parts of writing software, right?) but the arrogance of this action defies comprehension.

And then none of the suggested solutions match my situation. (I do expect that advice proffered by the vendor of a software package be accurate - down to the jot and tittle).

Two questions:

  1. How can I undo this travesty and
  2. (Short of switching to Linux or writing my own OS) How can I prevent (or at least impede) Microsoft from doing this again?

Thanks

[Moderator Note: Personal Info Removed] 

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | Other | Other
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  1. Xavier-D 8,585 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-05-14T03:49:28.2233333+00:00

    Please note that our forum is a public platform, and we will modify your question to hide your personal information in the description. Kindly ensure that you hide any personal or organizational information the next time you post an error or other details to protect personal data.  

    Hello Unswayed By Assertions

    Thanks for sharing the details. What usually changes in this situation is that Excel applies stricter security checks to active content after an update, especially if the workbook depends on older add-ins, VBA references, or unsigned macro content.

    Here is what you can try to undo this:

    • Open the workbook and check for a security prompt at the top of Excel. If you see Enable Content, select it to trust that specific workbook.
    • In Excel, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings and set it to Disable VBA macros with notification so you can approve trusted files when needed.
    • If your macro project is signed, try Disable all macros except digitally signed macros and trust the publisher. This can help avoid the same block on future runs.
    • If the workbook uses older add-ins or external VBA libraries, update those components or replace internet/intranet-based references with local ones if possible. Some older components can stop loading after security changes.
    • If the issue started right after an Office update, make sure both Office and any related add-ins are fully updated before testing again.

    For your question about how to prevent (or at least impede) this from happening again:

    For ongoing use, the more reliable long-term options are to use signed macros or trusted publishers, since those are less likely to be interrupted by future security hardening.

    If you’re not sure whether the blocked code is standard VBA, an add-in, or an external reference, that would be the next thing to identify, because the fix depends on which one Excel is blocking.

    I hope this information help, feel free reply back to this post if you need further assistance, I'll be happy to help.

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