Excel Error Codes

How to Fix VBA Runtime Error 75 in Excel for Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to resolve a VBA Runtime Error 75 that occurs when attempting to run a macro in Excel for Mac, typically caused by file or path access issues.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Running a VBA macro that involves reading, writing, or accessing files and folders on a Mac system.
Observed behavior: The macro execution halts, displaying a 'Runtime Error 75' message, usually because the script utilizes incompatible Windows-style paths instead of valid macOS paths.

Before you start

Before modifying your VBA code, verify that the files or folders your macro is trying to access actually exist on your Mac and that you have the necessary read/write permissions for those directories.

Solution 1Recommended

Update Windows-Style Paths to Valid macOS Paths

This is the most common fix, as macOS uses forward slashes and a different volume structure compared to Windows.

VBA macros created on a Windows PC often use drive letters and backslashes (e.g., C:\Users\Name\File.txt). Mac operating systems do not recognize this format, resulting in a Path/File access error. You must update these strings to reflect the Mac file system.

Open the VBA Editor

Press Option + F11 on your keyboard, or navigate to the Developer tab and click 'Visual Basic' to open the VBA Editor.

Locate the problematic code

Find the macro that is throwing the error and look for any hardcoded file paths containing backslashes or Windows drive letters.

Change the path format

Update the Windows paths to macOS-compatible paths using forward slashes (e.g., /Users/Name/Documents/File.txt).

Save and test

Save the changes to the module, close the editor, and run the macro again to confirm the error is resolved.

Cross-Platform Macros: If you need the macro to work on both Mac and Windows, consider using conditional compilation (#If Mac Then ... #Else ... #End If) to define the file path based on the active operating system.

Solution 2

Verify File and Folder Access Permissions

Ensure that Excel has the proper system permissions to read or write to the target directory on your Mac.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly does Runtime Error 75 mean in VBA?

Runtime Error 75 stands for 'Path/File access error.' It indicates that the VBA script is attempting to access a file or directory but fails, usually because the path does not exist, is formatted incorrectly, or the application lacks the necessary system permissions.

Why does my macro work for others but give me Error 75?

This commonly happens if the macro contains a hardcoded file path (such as another user's local directory or a specific Windows network drive) that does not exist on your computer. You will need to update the path in the VBA code to match your specific machine's directory structure.

Can I use the exact same VBA code on both Windows and Mac?

Not always. While standard VBA logic is cross-platform, file system paths differ significantly. Windows uses drive letters and backslashes (C:\), while Mac uses forward slashes (/). To make a single macro work on both, you should implement conditional compilation to detect the OS and supply the correct path format.

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