Microsoft Blocking Macros

Over the past few months, our team has heard from some of our customers that they are seeing macros that previously worked just fine are now getting blocked by Microsoft Office. Yes, this is TRUE. Microsoft has taken the stance that files from the internet can be dangerous because they could contain malicious macros… so they should be blocked. When a macro is blocked from running, you will see a “Security Risk” banner like this at the of the document:

Microsoft blocking macros in files from the internet is logical because they can be dangerous due to hidden malware or ransomware. Keep reading to understand the problem and possible solutions.

Why are Macros from the Internet Blocked?

Microsoft has decided that since it is fairly common for macros to be exploited and used to deliver payloads of malware or ransomware executables, these files can no longer be trusted.

When you go to Properties > General on a file there should be a checkbox to unblock, but it might not be available any longer. Enabling macros through Trust Center does not work either. From chatter in the online forums, some people have been able to fix the problem by changing the the mapping of the network drive where the file is stored to use the server’s IP address instead of network name. Then add the actual file location to “trusted locations” in Excel specifically. Other users say that this issue is happening due to changes in recent Microsoft Updates, as it happens on some PCs but not on others.

I need Macros! How do I unblock them?

There are a few possible scenarios where you might want to allow macros to run in trusted files. Here’s a list pulled from content in a recent Microsoft article (with much more detail) containing additional links for more information:

Affected Microsoft Office Applications

Blocking of macros will only affect devices running the Microsoft Windows operating system and Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Visio. Macro blocking will be applied in Microsoft Office version 2023 and later. If you’re running Microsoft Office on an Apple Mac, Android or iOS device or using Office on the web, macro blocking will not affect your experience.

Contact Beringer Today!

The team at Beringer has a focus on cybersecurity best practices, including how, and if, to unblock macros for various business needs. Give our team a call today, if you’re facing issues with blocked macros in Microsoft documents and need an enterprise-level solution.

Beringer Technology Group, a leading Microsoft Gold Certified Partner specializing in Microsoft Dynamics 365 and CRM for Distribution also provides expert Managed IT Services, Backup and Disaster Recovery, Cloud Based Computing, Email Security Implementation and Training,  Unified Communication Solutions, and Cybersecurity Risk Assessment.