macro file not working in 365

If macros are already enabled and the Validate button still does nothing, check these Excel-specific causes:

1. Confirm the workbook is trusted
   • Reopen the file and look for a security warning.
   • If Excel shows Enable Content, select it.
   • In the Security Warning dialog, select Yes to make the document trusted.
   • A file can still be blocked even when macro settings allow notifications.
2. Use a trusted location
   • In Excel, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings.
   • Select Trusted Locations and add the folder that contains the workbook.
   • Then reopen the file from that folder.
   • This is useful when the file came from email, network storage, OneDrive, or SharePoint and is treated as untrusted.
3. Check whether the file is blocked because it came from the internet
   • In File Explorer, right-click the workbook and select Properties.
   • On the General tab, look for Unblock and select it if available.
   • Apply the change, then reopen the workbook.
4. If the button runs VBA that accesses the VBA project, enable trusted access
   • Go to Developer > Macro Security.
   • Under Developer Macro Settings, select Trust access to the VBA project object model.
   • This is required when the macro uses the VBE object or manipulates VBA code. By default, that access is denied.
5. Check whether Excel 4.0 macro policy is interfering
   • If the workbook depends on older Excel 4.0 (XLM) macro behavior, some functionality can stop working when a security policy prevents Excel from running XLM macros.
   • This is known to affect some add-ins and macro-related functionality.
   • In Excel macro settings, there is also an option for Enable Excel 4.0 macros when VBA macros are enabled.
   • If the device is managed by an organization, a policy can override local settings.
6. Consider a macro error in the workbook code
   • If clicking Validate triggers a macro error, Excel may fail because:
     • the macro references an invalid object,
     • the method is being used in the wrong context,
     • there is an external read/write failure,
     • or security settings block the required VBA method/property.
7. If the PC is managed by work or school, check for policy enforcement
   • Macro settings in Trust Center can be prevented from changing by an administrator.
   • In that case, local changes may not take effect even though the UI shows the setting.

Because the button previously showed Validation Successful and now does nothing, the most likely checks are:

• trust the document with Enable Content,
• move it to a Trusted Location,
• use Unblock in file properties if available,
• and verify no organization policy is blocking VBA or Excel 4.0 macros.

Warning: Avoid leaving Enable all macros turned on permanently. Microsoft marks this setting as not recommended because potentially dangerous code can run.

References:

• Enable or disable macros in Microsoft 365 files
• Macro Error
• Macros from the internet are blocked by default in Office
• Solver in Excel for Windows may not work properly with a certain security policy enabled
• Protect yourself from macro viruses
• how to unblock macro in an excel file - Microsoft Q&A
• Blocked Macros - Microsoft Q&A