VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Personal Macro Workbook Must Stay Open Error in Excel

Emma Brown Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is encountering a persistent prompt requiring the Personal Macro Workbook to stay open while trying to record an Excel macro.

How to Fix the Personal Macro Workbook Must Stay Open Prompt in Excel

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Recording a new macro and attempting to save it to the global Personal.xlsb file so it can be accessed across all Excel workbooks.
Observed behavior: Excel displays an alert message stating that the Personal Macro Workbook in the startup folder must remain open during the recording process.

Before you start

Determine if your new macro needs to be available globally in all Excel files, or if it is only necessary for the current workbook you are editing.

Solution 1Recommended

Keep the Personal Macro Workbook Open

If you want your macro to be available globally across all Excel files, you must comply with Excel's requirement to keep the Personal Macro Workbook active during the recording phase.

Excel stores global macros in a hidden file called Personal.xlsb located in your startup folder. To record a macro directly into this file, it must be generated or opened by Excel and kept active until the recording finishes.

Acknowledge the prompt

When you start recording a macro and choose 'Personal Macro Workbook', Excel will prompt you to open or create it if it is not currently active in the background. Click 'Yes' or 'OK' to proceed.

Record the macro

Proceed with recording your macro steps as usual. Excel will keep the Personal workbook open automatically while you perform your actions.

Stop recording

Navigate to the Developer tab (or the View tab) and click 'Stop Recording' once your automated task is complete.

Save changes upon exit

When you close the Excel application entirely, a dialog will appear asking if you want to save changes made to the Personal Macro Workbook. You must click 'Save' to ensure the macro is retained for future sessions.

Persistent Access: Once saved successfully, your macro will be accessible via the Developer tab in any new or existing Excel file you open on this computer.

Solution 2

Store the Macro in the Current Workbook Instead

If the macro is only relevant to the specific file you are working on, save it locally to avoid interacting with the Personal Macro Workbook entirely.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office as a Seamless Excel Alternative

If Microsoft Excel's startup folders and Personal Macro Workbook configurations are causing constant workflow interruptions, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible spreadsheet environment where managing VBA and macros is straightforward and intuitive.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and run the quick installation.
2. Open your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and seamlessly open your existing Excel (.xlsx or .xlsm) files.
3. Access Macro Tools: Navigate to the Developer tab to access your macros, run scripts, and open the built-in VBA editor.

High compatibility with Microsoft Excel (.xls, .xlsx, .xlsm) files and VBA macros.No complicated hidden startup workbook errors interrupting your daily tasks.Familiar user interface makes switching from MS Office effortless.All-in-one suite that is free, lightweight, and extremely fast to load.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Personal Macro Workbook located on my computer?

The Personal.xlsb file is typically stored in the XLSTART folder. The exact path is usually C:\Users\[YourUsername]\AppData\Roaming\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART. Any file placed in this folder opens automatically when Excel starts.

Why does Excel hide the Personal Macro Workbook?

Excel hides the Personal Macro Workbook by default so that it opens seamlessly in the background every time you launch the application. This ensures your global macros are always available without cluttering your visible workspace.

Can I delete the Personal Macro Workbook if I no longer need it?

Yes, you can delete it by closing Excel, navigating to your XLSTART folder, and removing the Personal.xlsb file. This clears out your globally saved macros and stops the hidden file from loading on startup.

Why won't Excel let me unhide the Personal Macro Workbook?

If the 'Unhide' button under the View tab is grayed out, it means the Personal Macro Workbook does not currently exist or wasn't loaded. You need to record at least one macro and choose 'Personal Macro Workbook' as the destination to generate the file initially.

Excel & Data Problems