Policy
Automation Security
Microsoft Office
Policy overview
Key metadata and intent for this policy.
This policy setting controls whether macros can run in an Office 2016 application that is opened programmatically by another application. If you enable this policy setting, you can choose from three options for controlling macro behavior in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word when the application is opened programmatically: - Disable macros by default - All macros are disabled in the programmatically opened application. - Macros enabled (default) - Macros can run in the programmatically opened application. This option enforces the default configuration in Excel, PowerPoint, and Word. - User application macro security level - Macro functionality is determined by the setting in the "Macro Settings" section of the Trust Center. If you disable or do not configure this policy setting, when a separate program is used to launch Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, or Word programmatically, any macros can run in the programmatically opened application without being blocked.
Registry values
How enabled and disabled states update the registry.
No explicit registry values are set for enabled or disabled states.
Policy elements
Inputs and configuration options exposed by this policy.
| Scope | Element | Type | Registry mapping | Constraints & behavior | Copy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| User | Set the Automation Security level ID L_SettheAutomationSecuritylevel | enum | Path software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security Value name automationsecurity Type REG_DWORD | Options: Disable macros by default (3), Use application macro security level (2), Macros enabled (default) (1) |