Microsoft Excel’s macros were a game-changing tool at launch, but have become more famous as a vector of malware over the past decade. In July 2021, Microsoft released a new Excel Trust Center setting option to limit the use of Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros. Now Microsoft says they have made this the default when opening Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros.
In last September’s forked version 16.0.14527.20000+, Excel XLM was disabled by default.
- The current channel builds 2110 or later (first released last October).
- Monthly Enterprise Channel builds 2110 or later (first released last December).
- Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview) build 2201 or later (created this in January 2022, but it will be first released in March 2022).
- Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Build 2201 or later (to be released in July 2022)
Customers can manage this setting by following the instructions shared in Microsoft’s original blog post. Administrators can also configure this setting using existing Microsoft 365 Apps policy controls.