How to Fix Adobe Macro Security Errors in Word and Excel 2016
Question details
Users receive a high security warning requesting trusted macros when attempting to use Adobe PDF tools in Office 2016.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Excel 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to create PDFs or run Adobe PDF utility add-ins in Word or Excel after upgrading to Microsoft Office 2016 from an older version.
- Observed behavior
- The Adobe PDF utility triggers a high security macro warning or fails to function, blocking the user from successfully exporting or printing documents to PDF.
Verify the exact installation path of your Adobe software, as you will need this folder location to modify the Office Trust Center settings.
Add the Adobe Utility Folder to Trusted Locations
Use this solution to explicitly tell Office 2016 that the macros originating from your Adobe add-in are safe to run.
Microsoft Office 2016 includes stricter security protocols for macros compared to older versions like Office 2010. By adding the Adobe installation folder to the Trust Center, you bypass the security block for that specific application.
Launch Word or Excel 2016. Click on 'File' in the top-left corner, select 'Options', and then click on 'Trust Center' in the left pane. Click the 'Trust Center Settings' button.
In the Trust Center window, select 'Trusted Locations' from the left-hand menu.
Click the 'Add new location' button at the bottom of the window. Click 'Browse' and navigate to the folder containing your Adobe utility installation (usually in C:\Program Files or C:\Program Files (x86)).
Check the box that says 'Subfolders of this location are also trusted' if applicable. Click 'OK' on all dialog boxes to save your changes, then restart Word or Excel.
Use a Virtual PDF Printer as a Workaround
If macro security errors prevent the Adobe add-in from working, you can bypass the add-in entirely by using a virtual PDF printer.
Convert Documents to PDF Easily with WPS Office
Skip the complex Adobe macro setups and security warnings entirely. WPS Office features a built-in, native PDF converter that exports your Word and Excel files to PDF seamlessly, without relying on outdated third-party add-ins or triggering macro alerts.
- 1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open the Word (.docx) or Excel (.xlsx) file you wish to convert.
- 2. Access the Export Tool: Click on the 'Menu' button located at the top-left corner of the application.
- 3. Select Export to PDF: Hover over or click 'Export to PDF' from the drop-down menu options.
- 4. Configure and Save: Set your desired export settings, such as page range and output location, then click 'Export' to generate your PDF instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Adobe trigger a macro security warning in Office 2016 but not in Office 2010?
Microsoft Office 2016 introduced stricter default security protocols for executing macros. Older Adobe PDF add-ins utilize VBA macros that Office 2016 flags as potentially unsafe unless they are running from a recognized Trusted Location.
Is it safe to add Adobe to Trusted Locations in Excel or Word?
Yes, as long as the Adobe software was downloaded and installed from the official Adobe website. Adding its specific installation folder to Trusted Locations safely bypasses the macro warning for that legitimate add-in without compromising your system's overall security.
How can I merge multiple Office documents into a single PDF without using Adobe macros?
You can use a third-party virtual PDF printer like PrimoPDF. When you 'print' the second document, select the exact same output filename as the first PDF. The software will prompt you to either 'Replace' or 'Append'; choose 'Append' to merge them. Alternatively, you can use WPS Office's built-in PDF toolkit to natively merge documents.
