Open or Rebuild the Excel Personal Macro Workbook (Personal.xlsb)
Question details
Open the Excel Personal Macro Workbook or recreate Personal.xlsb when it is missing or damaged, then restore existing VBA modules.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel Personal Macro Workbook (Personal.xlsb)
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user needs Excel to load the Personal Macro Workbook so macros can be recorded, viewed, or restored.
- Observed behavior
- Personal.xlsb is unavailable in the Visual Basic Editor or may be corrupted and unable to load normally.
Close every Excel window before replacing or renaming Personal.xlsb, including any Excel processes still running in Task Manager. Locate the existing Personal.xlsb file in Excel's XLSTART folder before creating a replacement.
Open Personal.xlsb in the Visual Basic Editor
Use this method when Personal.xlsb loads with Excel and you only need to view or edit its saved macro modules.
Open Excel and press Alt+F11 to open the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications editor.
In Project Explorer, click the plus sign next to VBAProject (PERSONAL.XLSB) to expand the Personal.xlsb project.
Expand the Modules folder under PERSONAL.XLSB, then double-click a module to view or edit its VBA code.
Rebuild a corrupted Personal.xlsb and import your VBA modules
Use this method when Personal.xlsb does not appear in Project Explorer, fails to load, or prevents Excel from starting normally.
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If Excel's Personal Macro Workbook is damaged or unavailable, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight spreadsheet alternative with a familiar ribbon interface and smooth migration for common workbook tasks. Open and work with Excel files while maintaining familiar spreadsheet workflows.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Personal.xlsb stored in Excel?
Personal.xlsb is typically stored in Excel's XLSTART folder. On many Windows systems, enter %AppData%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART in File Explorer's address bar to check whether the file is present.
Why does Personal.xlsb not appear in the Visual Basic Editor?
It may not have been created, Excel may not be loading it from XLSTART, or the file may be damaged. Restart Excel, press Alt+F11, and check Project Explorer for VBAProject (PERSONAL.XLSB).
How do I create a new Personal Macro Workbook?
In Excel, select View > Macros > Record Macro. In the Store macro in list, select Personal Macro Workbook, record a small macro, then close Excel and save when prompted.
Can I recover VBA code from a damaged Personal.xlsb file?
If the older file still opens, press Alt+F11, select its modules in Project Explorer, and use File > Export File to save them. In the new PERSONAL.XLSB project, use File > Import File to restore the exported modules.
Do I need to unhide Personal.xlsb to use its macros?
No. Personal.xlsb is designed to stay hidden. As long as it opens with Excel, you can run its macros from View > Macros > View Macros or through assigned buttons and shortcuts.
