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How to Fix Excel for Mac Runtime Error 429 for ActiveX Components

Ayan Masood Sep 28, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve Runtime Error 429 in Excel for Mac caused by VBA scripts attempting to create unsupported ActiveX components.

How to Fix Excel for Mac Runtime Error 429 for ActiveX Components

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Running a VBA macro on a Mac that uses CreateObject to invoke an ActiveX component such as Scripting.Dictionary.
Observed behavior: Excel displays Runtime Error 429 because macOS does not support Windows-native ActiveX technology.

Before you start

Review your VBA macro code and identify any lines using 'CreateObject' to call Windows-specific ActiveX components, such as 'Scripting.Dictionary' or 'Scripting.FileSystemObject'.

Solution 1Recommended

Replace ActiveX Dependencies with Mac-Compatible VBA Collections

Modify your VBA code to use standard, built-in Mac-supported collections instead of Windows-only ActiveX objects.

ActiveX is exclusively a Windows technology. When Excel for Mac encounters a CreateObject call for an ActiveX component (like Scripting.Dictionary), it cannot execute it and throws Runtime Error 429. To fix this, you must rewrite the code to use Mac-friendly alternatives.

Open the VBA Editor

In Excel for Mac, navigate to the Developer tab and click on 'Visual Basic' to open the VBA editor interface.

Locate the CreateObject Call

Use the search function (Cmd+F) to find instances of 'CreateObject("Scripting.Dictionary")' or similar ActiveX calls within your macro script.

Rewrite with VBA Collections

Replace the Dictionary object declaration with a standard VBA Collection object. For example, change your code to use 'Dim myDict As New Collection' which is fully supported natively on macOS.

Adjust Object Methods

Update the associated methods in your code (such as .Add, .Item, or .Count) to match the syntax and limitations of the standard VBA Collection.

Replace ActiveX Dependencies with Mac-Compatible VBA Collections

Custom Dictionary Workaround: If your macro relies heavily on dictionary-specific methods like .Exists or .Keys, you can implement a custom VBA Dictionary class module found in various open-source Mac developer communities to mimic Scripting.Dictionary behavior.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does Runtime Error 429 mean in Excel?

Runtime Error 429 occurs when a VBA macro tries to create a COM or ActiveX object that the operating system or application cannot resolve. On a Mac, this usually means the script is calling a Windows-only component.

Can I install ActiveX on my Mac to fix this?

No, ActiveX is a proprietary framework developed by Microsoft strictly for the Windows operating system. It cannot be installed or run natively on macOS.

Are there other components besides Scripting.Dictionary that cause this?

Yes, any call to CreateObject using Windows-specific libraries, such as Scripting.FileSystemObject, VBScript.RegExp, or ADODB.Connection, will trigger this exact error on a Mac.

How can I make my VBA code work on both Windows and Mac?

To ensure cross-platform compatibility, avoid ActiveX controls entirely. Instead, use built-in VBA functions, standard Collections, and conditional compilation (using #If Mac Then) to handle OS-specific file paths and features.

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