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Fix Excel Personal.xlsb Not Opening Automatically at Startup
Question details
The user needs to restore the automatic startup of the Personal.xlsb macro workbook in Excel, which fails to load even after reinstalling the application and recreating the macro workbook.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening Microsoft Excel to use previously recorded personal macros pinned to the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Observed behavior
- Personal.xlsb does not load automatically on startup, rendering global macros unusable unless the workbook is manually loaded. Standard troubleshooting like reinstalling Office and verifying trusted locations does not fix it.
Verify that your Personal.xlsb file physically exists in your XLSTART folder, as Excel will not attempt to load it if the file was accidentally deleted or moved.
Re-enable Personal.xlsb from Disabled Items
Use this solution to remove the Personal Macro Workbook from Excel's blocked list, which is the most common reason it stops loading at startup.
When Excel experiences an unexpected crash, freeze, or improper shutdown, it features a built-in safety mechanism that may flag active files like Personal.xlsb as a potential risk. Once flagged, Excel automatically moves the file to the Disabled Items list to prevent future crashes. Simply reinstalling Microsoft 365 or recreating the file does not remove it from this blocklist, which is why manual re-enablement is required.
Launch Microsoft Excel, click on the File tab in the top-left corner, and select Options at the bottom of the left sidebar.
In the Excel Options dialog box, click on Add-ins from the left-hand menu.
Look for the Manage dropdown menu at the very bottom of the window. Change the selection from 'Excel Add-ins' to 'Disabled Items', and click the Go button.
A new window will appear listing all disabled items. If Personal.xlsb is on this list, click on it to select it, then click the Enable button.
Close the Disabled Items window, exit Excel completely, and reopen it. Your personal macros should now load automatically.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Personal.xlsb file located on my computer?
By default, the Personal.xlsb file is saved in the XLSTART directory. On Windows, this is typically located at C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART\.
Why did Excel automatically disable my Personal.xlsb workbook?
Excel disables add-ins or startup files automatically if it detects they were active during an application freeze, crash, or forced closure, as a protective measure to ensure the application can launch successfully the next time.
How do I create a Personal.xlsb file if it doesn't exist?
You can generate this file by recording a new macro. Go to the View tab, select Macros > Record Macro, and select 'Personal Macro Workbook' from the 'Store macro in' dropdown menu before clicking OK.
Will deleting and recreating the Personal.xlsb file fix the startup issue?
Not if the original file name was placed on the Disabled Items list. Even if you recreate a fresh Personal.xlsb, Excel will still recognize the filename and block it until you manually remove it from the Disabled Items menu.
