VBA & Macro Problems

Fix Word Macro Cannot Be Found or Is Disabled by Security Settings

Natalie Taylor Oct 10, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is trying to fix an issue where Microsoft Word states that a macro cannot be found or has been disabled, despite macros being fully enabled within the Trust Center.

How to Fix Word Macro Cannot Be Found or Is Disabled by Security Settings

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Running or accessing VBA macros within a Word document or template.
Observed behavior: Word blocks the execution of the macro, displaying an error message that the macro cannot be found or is disabled by security settings.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved your current documents. Check if the document containing the macros was downloaded from the internet, as Word may block macros in files from external sources by default until you unblock the file in its properties.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Trusted Locations for Your Templates

Ensure the template containing your macros is saved in a designated Trusted Location, which bypasses certain macro security restrictions.

Even if macros are enabled globally, Word might block macros in templates stored in unverified directories. Adding the template's folder to Trusted Locations often resolves this issue.

Open Trust Center Settings

Open Microsoft Word and navigate to File > Options. Select Trust Center from the left sidebar and click on the Trust Center Settings button.

Add a Trusted Location

Click on Trusted Locations in the left pane. Click the Add new location button, browse to the folder where your macro-enabled template is stored, and check the box for 'Subfolders of this location are also trusted' if necessary.

Restart and Test

Click OK to save your changes, restart Microsoft Word, and attempt to run the macro again.

Verify Trusted Locations for Your Templates

IT Policies: If you are unable to add a trusted location, your organization's IT policy may be restricting this action. You will need to contact your IT department to adjust the policy.

Solution 2

Rename the Normal.dotm Global Template

Force Word to generate a fresh global template to resolve macro issues caused by template corruption.

Solution 3

Test in Safe Mode and Disable Add-ins

Run Word in Safe Mode to determine if a third-party add-in is conflicting with your macros.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word say my macro is disabled when macros are enabled in the Trust Center?

This commonly happens if the template or document containing the macros is corrupted, stored in a directory that is not recognized as a Trusted Location, or if a strict organizational IT policy overrides local Trust Center settings.

How do I find where my Word macros are stored?

Macros are typically stored in the Normal.dotm global template or within a specific macro-enabled document. You can verify the storage location by opening the Visual Basic Editor (press Alt + F11) and reviewing the modules listed in the Project Explorer pane.

Will renaming Normal.dotm delete my existing macros?

Yes, any macros, custom styles, or shortcuts saved directly in the original Normal.dotm file will be temporarily set aside. However, because you are only renaming the file to OldNormal.dotm, you can still recover or export your custom macros from that renamed file later.

Does WPS Office support Word macros?

Yes, WPS Office Pro offers comprehensive VBA support, allowing you to seamlessly run, edit, and manage macros originally created in Microsoft Office.

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