VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Excel Macros Blocked After Windows Update KB5044380

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to run macros in an Excel workbook restored from OneDrive, as the file is being blocked and considered untrusted following the installation of Windows 11 update KB5044380.

Fix Excel Macros Blocked After Windows Update KB5044380

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to run VBA macros on an Excel file that was recently restored to an earlier version from Microsoft OneDrive.
Observed behavior: Excel blocks the macros from running because the restored workbook is flagged as an untrusted file originating from the internet, despite being a previously trusted local file.

Before you start

Ensure you have the exact OneDrive or SharePoint URL where your Excel file is stored, and verify that you have administrative privileges on your Windows PC to modify Internet Options.

Solution 1Recommended

Add OneDrive URL to Trusted Sites in Internet Options

By adding your OneDrive web address to the local Trusted Sites list, Windows and Excel will recognize restored cloud files as secure, bypassing the automatic macro block.

The issue is often caused by the file being restored from a cloud location (OneDrive), which flags the file with a 'Mark of the Web' (MotW). This is a security measure rather than a direct bug from update KB5044380.

Open Internet Options

Click the Windows Start button, type 'Internet Options' into the search bar, and press Enter to open the Internet Properties dialog.

Navigate to Trusted Sites

Click on the 'Security' tab at the top of the window, then select the 'Trusted sites' zone icon (a green checkmark).

Add the OneDrive URL

Click the 'Sites' button. In the 'Add this website to the zone' field, type your specific OneDrive URL (for example, https://onedrive.live.com or your organization's SharePoint URL) and click 'Add'.

Apply and Restart

Click 'Close' on the Sites window, then click 'OK' to exit Internet Options. Restart Microsoft Excel and open your workbook to run the macro.

Add OneDrive URL to Trusted Sites in Internet Options

Macro Security Check: Once the domain is trusted, Excel will no longer treat files restored from that specific OneDrive location as dangerous internet downloads.

Solution 2

Manually Unblock the Downloaded Excel File

If the file was restored and downloaded directly to your local drive, you can manually remove the security block from the file's properties.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Windows update KB5044380 block my Excel macros?

The update itself likely did not break the macros. Instead, when you restored a previous version of the file from OneDrive, Windows flagged it as a file originating from the internet (Mark of the Web). Microsoft's default security policy blocks macros in files downloaded from the internet to protect against malware.

Is it safe to add OneDrive to my Trusted Sites list?

Yes, adding your personal or corporate OneDrive URL to the Trusted Sites list is safe, provided you trust the files stored in your cloud account. It simply tells Windows not to treat files from that specific address as potentially dangerous web downloads.

What if adding the URL to Trusted Sites doesn't fix the macro issue?

If macros are still blocked, you can try moving the restored file to a designated 'Trusted Location' configured within Excel's Trust Center settings, or you can right-click the file in File Explorer, select Properties, and manually check the 'Unblock' box.

Excel & Data Problems