How to Fix Excel VBA Not Working on Apple M1 Mac
Question details
The user is unable to run Excel VBA modules, experiencing application crashes when opening the Visual Basic Editor on an Apple M1 Mac.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS 11.5.2 (Apple M1)
- Scenario
- Attempting to execute VBA macros or access the Visual Basic Editor in a workbook on an Apple Silicon Mac.
- Observed behavior
- VBA modules fail to run or the Visual Basic Editor crashes entirely, despite the exact same workbook functioning properly on an Intel-based Mac.
Before modifying application settings or updating your operating system, save a copy of your Excel workbook to a separate location to prevent any macro code loss during troubleshooting.
Run Microsoft Excel Using Rosetta
Running Excel through the Rosetta translation environment ensures that legacy Intel-based VBA components function correctly on Apple Silicon.
Apple's M1 chips use a different architecture than older Intel processors. Because some Microsoft Office VBA components have not been fully optimized for Apple Silicon natively, they can cause crashes. Forcing Excel to open via Rosetta bridges this compatibility gap.
Ensure Microsoft Excel is fully closed. Right-click the Excel icon in your Dock and select 'Quit'.
Open Finder on your Mac, navigate to the 'Applications' folder, and locate 'Microsoft Excel'.
Right-click (or Control-click) on the Microsoft Excel application icon and select 'Get Info' from the context menu.
In the Get Info window, look for the 'General' section and check the box next to 'Open using Rosetta'.
Close the Get Info window and launch Microsoft Excel again. Test your VBA macros to see if the crashing is resolved.
Update Microsoft Office and macOS
Microsoft routinely releases patches that specifically address VBA and Visual Basic Editor crashes on Mac devices.
Report the Specific Code Crash to Microsoft
If running Rosetta and updating does not work, reporting the specific failing code line helps Microsoft pinpoint and resolve the bug.
Experience Smooth Office Performance on Mac with WPS Office
If Microsoft Excel continues to crash or struggle with compatibility on your Apple M1 Mac, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for viewing, editing, and managing your spreadsheets without the heavy resource demands.
- 1. Download the Mac version: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed specifically for macOS.
- 2. Install and Launch: Follow the simple installation prompts, then open WPS Spreadsheets.
- 3. Open your files: Easily open your existing Excel workbooks and continue your work without format loss or layout issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Excel VBA macro work on an Intel Mac but crash on an M1 Mac?
Apple's M1 chips use ARM architecture, while older Macs use Intel x86 architecture. Some deep elements of Microsoft's Visual Basic Editor were initially compiled for Intel. When Excel tries to execute these natively on an M1 Mac, it fails, causing crashes.
Is it safe to run Microsoft Excel using Rosetta?
Yes. Rosetta 2 is an official Apple translation environment built into macOS specifically to run Intel-based apps on Apple Silicon seamlessly. It is completely safe and operates automatically in the background.
Will Microsoft ever fix VBA issues for Apple Silicon Macs?
Microsoft actively develops and patches Office for Mac. Many VBA and Visual Basic Editor crashes have already been addressed in newer updates, which is why keeping your Office application fully updated is highly recommended.
Are there certain Windows VBA codes that will never work on Mac?
Yes. VBA codes that rely on Windows-specific libraries, such as ActiveX controls (e.g., Scripting.Dictionary or FileSystemObject) or specific Windows OS API calls, will not work on any Mac, regardless of whether it uses an Intel or M1 chip.
