How to Enable Macros in Excel 2016?

When you open an excel file that have macro or macros, a warning appears to enable macros in excel file. The macros are used to automate the tasks that the user needs to perform repeatedly. The macros are created by recording a sequence of commands over a cell in a file.

The macro once created, can be run over any cell/cells when you have to perform the desired task. Most of the macros are created by the software developers using VBA (Visual Basic for Applications).

By enabling the macros, you may risk your system. As enabling the macros of the file, from an unreliable source can introduce a virus into your system. So, remember, enable the macros, only if you know that the file is from the reliable source.

We will see four methods to enable macros in excel 2016:

1. Message Bar
2. Security Warning
3. Enable for One Session
4. Trust Centre

Steps to Enable Macros in Excel 2016:

Enable Macros Using Message Bar

Open a file containing macros, a yellow bar will appear at the beginning, with the shield icon. It has the message “SECURITY WARNING Macros have been disabled” along with the Enable Content button.

If you rely on the source of the file, then and want to enable the macros in it, click on the Enable Content button and start using the file.

Enable Macros Using Security Warning

Note: This method allows the macros in the file to be always enabled.

First, click on the File tab of your excel workbook. In the backstage view you will see a yellow Security warning box as you can see in the picture below:

Here, click the Enable Content drop-down box. Two option will list down ‘Enable All Content’ & ‘Advance Option’. Click on Enable All Content. Doing this you will allow the active content of the file to be always enabled.

Enable Macros for One Session

Note: This method of enabling the macros will enable the macros in the file, for the current session only. Once you close the workbook and reopen it again the security warning will reappear.

Step 1: Click on the File tab and at the backstage view in Security Warning yellow box, click the Enable Content dropdown button. Now, among the two options click on Advanced Options. .

Step 2: A dialog box “Microsoft office Security Options” will open. Here, select Enable content for this session. Click OK.

Enable Macros Using Trust Centre

Note: Changing the macro setting in Trust centre will reflect change only in the office program that you are currently using. It will not reflect the changes in all office programs on your computer.

Step 1: Click on the File tab and at the backstage view, click on the Options.

Step 2: Excel Options dialog box will open. Further click on Trust Centre.

Step 3: At the right side under Microsoft Excel Trust Centre, click on Trust Centre Settings… A Trust Centre dialog box will open.

Step 4: In the Trust Centre dialog box, at the left side click on Macro Settings. At the right side, under the Macro Settings section, click on Enable all macros. But doing this will put your system to risk in the context of viruses and malicious code. Click OK.

This is how you can enable macros in excel. Remember before enabling macros, be assured that the file is from the reliable source and it must not have a destructive macro in it.