Allowing Macros in Microsoft Office Using Trusted Locations

Overview

If you see the error "The active content in this file is blocked. Review your Trust Center settings or contact your IT administrator" when trying to open a file in Microsoft Office, you can follow the steps in this article to resolve this warning.

This article explains how to enable macros in Microsoft Office applications (such as Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint) by adding a network or local file path to the Trusted Locations section of the Trust Center.

This targeted approach is preferred because it allows specific, known-safe files to run macros without exposing the entire Office environment to potentially harmful code. Allowing all macros globally is strongly discouraged, as macros can contain malicious code that may compromise system or network security. Using Trusted Locations ensures that only files in approved folders can run active content like macros.

Guide

1. Open an Office application (e.g., Access, Excel, Word, or PowerPoint)
2. Navigate to the Trust Center
   • Click File > Options
   • In the left pane, select Trust Center
   • Click Trust Center Settings...
3. Open Trusted Locations
   • In the Trust Center window, click Trusted Locations on the left sidebar
   • Click Add new location...
4. Add the File Path
   • Enter the full network or local path to the folder where the file is stored
     • Example: \\admnet.oakland.edu\shares\Human_Resources\UHRBenefits
   • (Optional but recommended) Check the box: Subfolders of this location are also trusted
5. Click OK to confirm and close all setting windows
6. Restart the application and open a file with macros. The macro warning should no longer appear.

FAQ or Troubleshooting

•  

  Q: Can I just enable all macros to avoid this?

  A: No. Enabling all macros is strongly discouraged due to the risk of malicious code. Trusted Locations allow you to safely run macros from specific, known folders.

• Q: The “Add new location…” button is grayed out. Why can’t I add a Trusted Location?

  A: This usually means that your organization manages Office settings via Group Policy. In this case, you won’t be able to add new Trusted Locations. Please contact the OU Technology Center for assistance.

• Q: I added the folder to Trusted Locations, but I still get the macro warning. What should I check?

  A: Make sure:

  • You checked the box for “Subfolders of this location are also trusted” if your file is in a subfolder.

  • You added the correct path format (e.g., UNC path like \\server\share, not a mapped drive letter).

  • You restarted the Office app after making the change.

• Q: Can I use a mapped drive letter (e.g., H:\) instead of a full network path?

  A: It’s best to use the full UNC path (e.g., \\server\share) when adding Trusted Locations. Mapped drive letters may not be consistently recognized across systems or user profiles.

Who is Eligible?

• Faculty, staff, and student employees using Microsoft Office applications.

  • Note: On university-managed devices, some settings may be restricted by IT policy. If you are unable to add Trusted Locations, please contact the OU Technology Center for assistance.

Additional Support

If you are unable to add a Trusted Location, please contact the OU Technology Center for further assistance.

• OU Technology Center
• 44 Oakland Center
• Rochester, MI 48309-4479
• (248) 370-4357
• Office House: M-F 8:00 am - 5:00 pm