How to prevent macros from running in MS Office applications

Anything downloaded from the Internet these days needs to be checked many times to verify that it is not a dangerous virus capable of destroying the system or stealing data. Are you aware of the macros that are easily available on the internet for the convenience of users to manipulate the data quickly?

However, these macros are often produced by hackers using basic visual code and then posted on the Internet, where they can be harmful to a user’s system if downloaded. In any case, Microsoft intends to disable macros by default. However, until then, the user may need to avoid macros in their MS Office application.

In this article, we will guide you on how this can be done using the local group policy editor.

How to prevent macros from running in MS Office applications using Group Policy Editor

NOTE: This method is for users who have Windows 11 pro on their system because Group Policy editor is not available in Windows Home edition. If you want to enable Group Policy Editor on Windows Home edition, please refer to this article.

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor in the system typing gpedit.msc in it Run command box (Press Windows + R keys together).

2. Then press Get into wrench.

3. This opens the Local Group Policy Editor on your system.

4. Go to Trust Center navigating with the help of the route indicated below.

User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft PowerPoint 2016 > PowerPoint Options > Security > Trust Center

5. After selecting Trust Center in the left pane, double-click Block execution of macros in Office files from the Internet on the right side of the Editor to open it.

6. In the window, select the Activated radio button and click Apply y IT’S OKAY.

7. Do the same procedure to allow block macros to run on Office files from the Internet for Word, Excel, etc.

8. Once done, close the local group policy editor window.

How to Download and Install MS Office Group Policy Template in Windows 11

1. Open a new tab in your web browser (eg Google Chrome, etc.)

2. Copy and paste the URL provided below into the address bar and press Get into key to go to the download page.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49030

3. On the download page, click Descargar to proceed.

4. Then, on the next page, select the admintemplates_x64_5287-1000_en-us.exe check box if you are using a 64-bit computer.

5. Click next to start downloading the Administrative Templates for the Office programs.

6. It downloads quickly.

7. Go to downloads folder and the right button of the mouse on admintemplates_x64_5287-1000_en-us.exe and select Execute as an administrator in the context menu to open the configuration file.

NOTE: Accept the UAC prompt to continue.

8. Then select the Click here to accept the Microsoft Software License Terms checkbox and click Continue.

9. In the Browse for Folder window, click create new folder at the bottom and rename it to templates and select it. Then click IT’S OKAY.

10. Click OKAY to close the window.

11. The continuation, opened the templates newly created folder on the desktop and double click about him admx folder inside.

12. Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E keys together.

13. Copy and paste the C:WindowsPolicy Definitions in the address bar and press Get into wrench.

14. now Policy Definitions y admx the folders are both Opened.

14. The continuation, copy (CTRL + C) all .admx files of the admx file.

15. To take them in the Policy Definitions file.

15. Next opened the is-us folder under the admx folder and dupdo all .adml records

sixteen. Paste it (CTRL + V) in it en-US folder you can browse using C:WindowsPolicyDefinitionsen-US.

17. That’s it. Are you ready. Close all open folders.