Microsoft has blocked macros from running

I am soooooo baffled and confused here! Microsoft, you really screwed up on this one!

I am what you might call a "power user". In other words, on a scale of 1 to 10 of general coding and microsoft OS advanced functions, I would (modestly) consider myself a strong 7. So I am able to follow clear instructions from Microsoft. I am not a newbie! I am a Systems Manager.

But the problem is that almost none of the documentation from Microsoft actually matches what I see on my computer screen (windows 11 AND OFFICE 365 WITH ALL OF THE LATEST UPDATES) when trying to configure Access to use vba code and macros that I have written to support form behavior. (And I have patiently sat and carefully read the Microsoft docs.)

Furthermore, half of the time, the results of these operations vary by machine!

I can only imagine the anguish and frustration that the average small business-person (without my level of expertise) is experiencing right now with this BOTCHED policy rollout!

I finally managed to get Access to run my code, but I have no idea why or how! I have the trust center settings different on each machine.

Also, the Microsoft docs (and experts on the Microsoft Answers forums give different and conflicting opinions/instructions/advice. Even the official Microsoft documentation is contradictory!)

We are (as you can see, if you have been following this thread) having to resort to REGISTRY TWEAKS to DISABLE this NIGHTMARE!

And don't get me started on the Readiness Toolkit for Office. Yes, I was able to follow your arcane and complicated instructions and generate reports. But those reports gave practically no useful information whatsoever!

The WHOLE IDEA of the Office Suite (in the beginning) was to empower small businesses - the "Mom and Pop" offices.

Microsoft, you have succeeded in (probably) putting at least some of those Mom and Pops OUT OF BUSINESS because their code no longer runs - and in THIS economy, for Gawd's sake!!!!!

Upper level IT managers are even baffled and confused ! (READ YOUR OWN FORUMS!)

This was a boneheaded move!

*****To the other IT professionals out there: I'm sorry, I know that this rant is not helpful or productive, but I just had to vent!

Steve, I've found a way to run macros.

Open regedit.msc (Registry Editor)

Navigate to the app's security key:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Security

1. Create a new DWORD Value named BlockContentExecutionFromInternet
2. Set the new BlockContentExecutionFromInternet value to 0
3. Fully close and reopen the app
4. To revert these changes, delete the registry value (BlockContentExecutionFromInternet) that was created
5. Open cmd.exe (Command Prompt)
6. Run the following command:

REG ADD HKCU\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Excel\Security /v BlockContentExecutionFromInternet /t REG_DWORD /d 0

I've been struggling with microsoft answers, tried everything suggested, my IT department were baffled... THIS WORKED!

We've now missed the month end deadline and it's caused no end of issues, but I'm relieved it's working again now.

Thanks so much

I think I've found the reason and solution. I went into the windows explorer to the file

In the properties I marked the radiobox below and that's it. For some reason it blocks any file even youre self generated one when it comes through internet in the machine.

Hi Peter :-)

I feel for you. At least I only had to figure out how the heck to use my own machine again.

I've been through the process a number of times forgetting on each occasion how I resolved the issue (I'm about to turn 70 :-( ). The last time I eventually found that for me the answer was far simpler than it has obviously been for you. I discovered how to add trusted locations through Trust Centre settings. I rely on a system that uses thumb drives to duplicate my daily working files from the computer in case of fire. I simply add those thumb drive letters to Trusted Locations, and haven't had the issue since. Oh, I've certainly had other issues. Producing inexplicable issues is what Microsoft seems to be best at. The latest necessitated reviving an older stocktake file version and copy and pasting about 2,000 lines of data across. The problem had been that every time I tried to enter data into column G the cursor froze, the cell refused the entry and every other excell spreadsheet just showed a white blank screen. When I finally did get the cursor to move, the data would appear in every cell I went to except the one in column G. Its working now of course. Until the next issue.

I understand your dying romance with Microsoft. If there was a practical competitor I would have defected years ago. Just too many very long macros to adjust in both an accounting program and a stock control program.

All the best!