VBA & Macro Problems

How to Fix Excel Co-Authoring Issues with VBA and Macro-Enabled Workbooks

WPS Content Manager Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users experience prompts to reopen, update, or discard changes when multiple people simultaneously edit a shared macro-enabled Excel workbook.

How to Fix Excel Co-Authoring Issues with VBA and Macro-Enabled Workbooks

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Multiple users co-authoring a shared macro-enabled workbook (.xlsm).
Observed behavior: Excel prompts users to reopen, update, or discard changes due to synchronization conflicts, often triggered by VBA modifications or macro execution during simultaneous edits.

Before you start

Ensure all users are running a version of Microsoft Excel that supports co-authoring, and verify that your existing macros do not contain commands that alter workbook structures during active collaboration.

Solution 1Recommended

Avoid Editing VBA Code While Co-Authoring

Editing VBA code while others are actively working on the shared workbook interrupts co-authoring. You should exclusively edit macros when no one else is in the file.

Excel supports running existing macros during co-authoring, but changing the VBA project itself is not supported in a shared environment. This is the primary cause of synchronization conflicts and 'discard changes' prompts.

Check Active Users

Click the 'Share' or 'Active Users' icon in the top right corner of Excel to ensure no one else is currently editing the workbook.

Ask Users to Close the File

Request that all co-authors save and close the macro-enabled workbook temporarily so you have exclusive access.

Edit and Save VBA Code

Open the Developer tab, make your necessary VBA code edits, save the workbook, and then invite users back to resume co-authoring.

Avoid Editing VBA Code While Co-Authoring

Best Practice: Always test your macros on a separate copy of the workbook with dummy data to reproduce and fix issues without affecting live co-authoring sessions.

Solution 2

Separate Shared Data from the Macro Interface

To significantly reduce co-authoring conflicts, split your project into a shared data file and a standalone macro interface file.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Use WPS Office for Seamless Spreadsheet Collaboration

If complex Excel co-authoring conflicts are slowing down your workflow, try WPS Office. It offers a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and collaborating on complex spreadsheets.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free software on your device.
2. Open Your Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and easily open your existing .xlsx or .xlsm files without losing any formatting.
3. Collaborate in Real-Time: Upload your file to WPS Cloud and share the collaboration link with your team for smooth co-authoring.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Excel formats (.xlsx, .xlsm)Smooth real-time collaboration with WPS CloudFamiliar user interface requires no learning curveFree and lightweight alternative to Microsoft Office

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can macros run during Excel co-authoring?

Yes, running macros is generally supported while co-authoring. However, this is only true as long as the macro does not modify the workbook's underlying structure, edit the VBA project itself, or apply unsupported formatting.

Why does Excel ask me to reopen or discard changes when using macros?

This prompt occurs when Excel detects a synchronization conflict. It frequently happens if someone attempts to edit VBA code or if a macro modifies workbook structures while multiple users are actively co-authoring the shared file.

How can I safely share a macro-enabled workbook?

The safest method to avoid interruptions is to separate the data from the macros. Keep the shared data in a standard .xlsx file for co-authoring, and distribute the macro-enabled .xlsm interface file to individual users to run locally.

Excel & Data Problems