VBA & Macro Problems

How to Fix Excel 365 VBA Blocked After Upgrading from Excel 2015

Aamir Naveed Akram Sep 25, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to run legacy VBA macros in Microsoft Excel 365 after migrating from Excel 2015 due to restricted macro settings.

How to Fix Excel 365 VBA Blocked After Upgrading from Excel 2015

Product: Microsoft Excel 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading to a newer version of Microsoft Office (Excel 365) and attempting to use existing macro-enabled workbooks.
Observed behavior: VBA code that previously worked is now blocked from executing because of newer Microsoft 365 macro security policies, trusted-location settings, or organizational restrictions.

Before you start

Ensure you completely trust the source of the macro-enabled workbook before modifying any security settings, as running unknown VBA code can pose significant security risks to your system.

Solution 1Recommended

Unblock the Macro-Enabled File in Windows Properties

Microsoft 365 automatically blocks macros in files downloaded from the internet or network locations. You can manually unblock individual trusted files directly in Windows.

This is the most common reason legacy files are blocked in modern Excel versions. The 'Mark of the Web' (MOTW) triggers an automatic security block.

Close the Workbook

Ensure the affected macro-enabled Excel file is fully closed before attempting to change its properties.

Open File Properties

Locate the file in Windows File Explorer, right-click on it, and select 'Properties' from the context menu.

Unblock the File

On the 'General' tab, look at the bottom for a 'Security' section. Check the box next to 'Unblock', then click 'Apply' and 'OK'. Reopen the file in Excel.

Unblock the Macro-Enabled File in Windows Properties

Quick Fix: Once unblocked, the file will run its macros normally as long as your standard Trust Center settings allow it.

Solution 2

Add the Document Folder to Trusted Locations

If you have multiple legacy macro files, placing them in a designated Trusted Location bypasses the strict macro blocking mechanism without needing to unblock each file.

Solution 3

Adjust Macro Settings in the Trust Center

Ensure that Excel 365 is configured to prompt you for permission rather than silently disabling all macros.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel 365 block macros that worked fine in Excel 2015?

Microsoft introduced stricter default security policies in newer versions of Office (like Microsoft 365) to protect users from malicious code. Files originating from the internet or network drives are now aggressively blocked by default using a feature called Mark of the Web.

How do I know if a macro is being blocked by Excel 365?

You will typically see a red or yellow security warning ribbon at the top of the spreadsheet stating 'SECURITY RISK Microsoft has blocked macros from running because the source of this file is untrusted.'

Can I enable macros for all files in Excel 365 permanently?

While you can select 'Enable all macros' in the Trust Center settings, it is highly discouraged. Doing so makes your computer extremely vulnerable to malware embedded in malicious Excel files.

What if my VBA code itself has errors in Excel 365?

Some legacy VBA methods or 32-bit API declarations may need updating for 64-bit Excel 365. For specific code troubleshooting, you can post a reproducible example in programming communities like Stack Overflow using the VBA tag.

Excel & Data Problems