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You can open and run an old Excel 4.0 macro sheet (XLM) in supported desktop versions of Excel by allowing the file type in File Block Settings and enabling XLM in Macro Settings. Keep Excel’s macro policy restrictive and decide whether to enable code only for a workbook whose source and purpose you can verify. These settings permit execution; they do not certify that a file is safe.
Before you enable an XLM macro
Excel 4.0 macros are also called XLM macros and are stored in macro sheets. Microsoft lists Microsoft 365, Excel 2024, and Excel 2021 among the versions that still support them. Its guidance encourages users to migrate XLM macros to VBA for long-term use. Microsoft: Working with Excel 4.0 macros
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First, check who sent the workbook and why you need it. A message such as “Because of your security settings, macros have been disabled” reports Excel’s current protection state; it does not show whether the workbook is benign. If you cannot verify the file’s origin and purpose, leave its macros disabled. Microsoft warns that enabling all macros can allow potentially dangerous code to run. Microsoft: Enable or disable macros in Microsoft 365 files Microsoft: Change macro security settings in Excel
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File Block Settings determine whether Excel permits this file type to open. Macro Settings separately determine whether its code may run.
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- In Excel, go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > File Block Settings.
- Find Excel 4 MacroSheets and make sure Open is checked.
- Follow Microsoft’s XLM guidance for the selected file types’ open behavior: choose Open selected file types in Protected View and allow editing.
For Microsoft’s full XLM-specific procedure, see Working with Excel 4.0 macros.
Enable XLM under a restrictive macro policy
- Go to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings.
- Select Enable Excel 4.0 macros when VBA macros are enabled. When selected, the VBA macro policy also applies to XLM. When it is cleared, XLM macros are disabled without notification. Microsoft explains the XLM checkbox and macro policies.
- For case-by-case decisions, keep Disable VBA macros with notification selected. Excel can then show a security alert so you can decide whether to enable macros for a particular file.
- Do not select Enable all macros as a workaround. Microsoft labels it “not recommended” because potentially dangerous code can run. See Microsoft’s descriptions of Excel macro security settings.
Reopen the workbook and make a file-specific decision
If Excel opened the workbook with its macros disabled, close and reopen it after changing the settings. Microsoft says an XLM workbook must be reopened and its macros enabled for them to run. Enable them only if you have established that the workbook is appropriate to trust; the warning or its dismissal is not a safety check.
If Excel won’t let you change the settings
Your organization may manage Office macro policy. If a setting is unavailable, greyed out, or changes back, contact the administrator responsible for Office rather than trying to bypass the control. Microsoft documents an administrative policy for restricting XLM macros, including Group Policy management. Microsoft Excel Blog: Restrict usage of Excel 4.0 (XLM) macros with new macro settings control
Plan to migrate macros that remain in use
For recurring or business-critical workbooks, review the legacy macro and plan a migration to VBA. Microsoft still supports XLM in the listed Excel versions, but recommends migration and describes object-model additions intended to help replace some functions that previously lacked VBA equivalents. Check that a migrated workbook produces the expected results before relying on it.
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Microsoft also describes runtime inspection of XLM macros using the Antimalware Scan Interface (AMSI). That protection depends on the registered antimalware provider and security configuration, so it is an additional defense—not a reason to trust an unknown workbook. Microsoft Security: XLM + AMSI: New runtime defense against Excel 4.0 macro malware
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