Restart to apply privacy settings

[TMS]

I've been noticing recently a message saying that I have to restart my Office application(s) because new privacy settings needed to be applied on the device. I didn't think that much about it, or its implications, until I downloaded a file from the forum to diagnose an issue.

And ... I no longer had the option to enable the macros in the downloaded file. Full stop. I know this is a good thing but I had completely missed any notification or communication that this was about to happen.

Anyway, short story ... after some research and reading, I discovered what had happened and why. It took me a little longer to work out how I could still download files and run macros.

The cause.

Note that, in this case, it was not me and it was not an IT Administrator making changes that affected my device(s), it was Microsoft.

Restart to apply privacy settings

Excel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 Outlook for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Less

If your privacy settings in Office have changed you'll be prompted to restart Microsoft Office. If you didn't change the settings yourself, it's possible that your IT administrator made a change that affects your device, or that a change you made on a different device has synced to this device. The restart is necessary because we can't apply new privacy settings to services that are already running. Once you restart Office you should be able to resume using Office normally, with your new privacy settings selected.

To restart Office simply exit the Office applications, such as Word or Outlook, and start them again.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...c-b0a560871da2

Microsoft Office Will Now Block VBA Macros by Default

https://www.thurrott.com/office/2624...ros-by-default

Helping users stay safe: Blocking internet macros by default in Office

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/...n/ba-p/3071805


The fix

Note that it is not enough to move the file to a Trusted Location, you need to unblock the file. That is, you need to remove the Mark of the Web.

Microsoft takes macros out of the equation for five Office apps

https://blog.malwarebytes.com/report...block%20option.

The change will begin rolling out in Version 2203, starting with Current Channel (Preview) in early April 2022. According to Microsoft, this significant security improvement will roll out to other Office update channels at a later date. After this change rolls out, Office users will no longer be able to enable macros with a click of a button after they’ve been automatically blocked.

So, this may not have affected you yet but, rest assured, it's on its way.


In general, I think/know this is a good thing. But, when you're trying to help people, it is just a teeny weeny bit tedious. Ho hum, learn to live with it, we will.

[AliGW]

Thanks for this, Trevor.

I think this is just another push towards the phasing out of VBA altogether. I don't mind it, to be honest - it's amazingly easy to forgetfully click on Enable Macros!

I have noticed a few people beginning to ask questions about Web Script (is that what it's called?), and with all the new 365 functions and LAMBDA, there's going to be a bit of a paradigm shift fairly soon. I'm even beginning to feel that PowerQuery will end up being the Beta Max to the soupled up formula and function capability's VHS.

[TMS]

Not so sure about that.

That said, I suspect the thing that will kill VBA is the desire to use Excel on Tablets and Smart Phones.

[AliGW]

It's not just for mobile devices, though. Given that VBA won't work in the browser environment even on a PC or laptop, the push towards other options is pretty evident, I feel. Because of this and because I am seeing more and more people here having their VBA solutions effectively nullified by the need to use Excel in the browser (it was happening at my school latterly, too), I think it's only a matter of time. But, as always, time itself will tell.

[TMS]

Given that VBA won't work in the browser environment even on a PC or laptop, …

Yes, I forgot about that.

I think I’d be inclined to start using Google apps and scripts. But a bit late in life for me to start from scratch with a new environment and programming language.

[AliGW]

Ooh, it's never too late, Trevor!!! It's good for the little grey cells ...

[TMS]

Mmmm, I’m not sure my wife would appreciate a new "interest". I already get a lot of stick for what she calls my "Excel p0rn"

[AliGW]

LOL!!! I'm really lucky - my other half and I are both essentially introverts, and we can sit next to each other chatting occasionally, but both completely absorbed in our own projects for hours and it's never an issue. But I know this is an unusual state of affairs!