M365 Changelog: Macro Settings Update to Disable Excel 4.0 Macros by Default

MC289724 – Microsoft is introducing a change to the Excel Trust Center Macro settings to provide a more secure experience for users by default. This new default behavior will disable Excel 4.0 macros.

Note: Users who have already configured this setting or have a group policy configuration in place will not be affected by this change.

Key points

• Timing:
  • Insiders-Slow: will rollout in late October and be complete in early November.
  • Current Channel: will rollout in early November and be complete in mid-November.
  • Monthly Enterprise Channel (MEC): will begin and complete rollout in mid-December.
• Roll-out: tenant level
• Control type: admin control
• Action: review and assess

How this will affect your organization:

The setting Enable XLM macros when VBA macros are enabled will now be unchecked by default, thus disabling XLM macros. This change is limited to end-users who have not yet configured this macro setting or who do not have a group policy configured by their tenant admins.

• Users who have previously configured this setting or who have an existing group policy configuration in place will not be impacted by this change.
• Affected users will still be able to re-enable and configure the behavior of XLM macros via the Excel Trust Center settings.

What you need to do to prepare:

There is no required action from tenant admins.

Help and support

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