Enable Macros in Excel for Mac

Applies to Excel templates: "Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac" and "Georges Budget Spreadsheet for Mac" "Georges Budget for Excel", "Georges Excel Checkbook Register"

(back to All Support Topics)

 

How to enable macros on Excel for Mac?

While Microsoft Excel for Mac and Microsoft Excel for Windows are more similar in features than ever before, there are still differences including differences in Excel settings and also the VBA macros and how to enable macros. To enable macros in Excel for Mac (Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Excel 2024 for Mac, Excel 2021 for Mac, Excel 2019 for Mac, Excel 2016 for Mac).

Below are also the 6 steps you can follow to enable Excel macros on a Mac computer:

Step 1 - Open the Microsoft Excel program

Step 2 - Click Excel in the top menu bar

Step 3 - Click Preferences

Step 4 - Click Security & Privacy

In the Security & Privacy section, select "Disable all macros with notification". This is the default setting and you will be prompted each time a macro is detected.

Step 5 - Close the Microsoft Excel program

Step 6 - Open the Excel file that you purchased on BuyExcelTemplates.com and you will be prompted to enable macros. Click Enable Macros. The macros are now enabled and you can start using the Excel spreadsheet template.

End of steps to enable macros on Excel for Mac.

For further reference, you can also view the Microsoft help article on how to enable macros in Excel for Mac. 


Macros Run on Open and Closing of File

The information below is just for your reference. You do not need to change any settings. This just lets you know some of the Excel settings that the macros adjust and then reset to the default Excel settings upon opening and closing the Excel checkbook register files or the Excel budget spreadsheet files.

When you enable macros and "Georges Budget for Excel" or "Georges Excel Checkbook Register for Mac" opens and properly runs those macros, certain Excel default settings will be changed. These changed settings will apply to other Excel files you open if "Georges Budget for Excel" or "Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac" is open, unless you open those files in a different instance/session of Excel. Excels default settings will be changed to the following settings each time "Georges Budget for Excel" or "Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac" is opened and its macros enabled.

  • The drag and drop feature and fill handle will be turned off.
  • Background error-checking will be disabled.
  • Include new rows and columns in table will be disabled.
  • Fill Formulas in Tables to create calculated columns will be disabled.
  • Show paste options buttons will be disabled.
  • AutoRecover for this workbook only ("Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac") will be disabled.
  • Display AutoCorrect options will be disabled.
  • After pressing Enter move selection to the Right (as opposed to down)

If "Georges Budget for Excel" or "Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac" macros have been enabled and they properly execute and you then close "Georges Budget for Excel" or "Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac", the above changed settings will be restored to Excels default settings with exception of the AutoRecover for this workbook only ("Georges Excel Checkbook for Mac" or "Georges Budget for Excel").

 

(back to All Support Topics)