Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (2024)

Applies ToExcel for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 PowerPoint for Microsoft 365 Access for Microsoft 365 Visio Plan 2 Excel 2024 PowerPoint 2024 Access 2024 Excel 2021 Word 2021 PowerPoint 2021 Access 2021 Visio Professional 2021 Visio Standard 2021 Excel 2019 Word 2019 PowerPoint 2019 Access 2019 Visio Professional 2019 Visio Standard 2019 Excel 2016 Word 2016 PowerPoint 2016 Access 2016 Visio Professional 2016 Visio Standard 2016

Last updated November 13, 2024

Trusted documents are files that have been marked as trusted by enablingactive content in them.

Active content (macros, ActiveX controls, data connections, and so on) opens without the Message Bar warning after you mark the file as trusted. For a trusted document, there is no prompt when you open the file, even if new active content was added, or changes are madeto the existing active content. However, the prompt does appearif the file was moved since you last trusted the file.

After a document is trusted, it does not open in Protected View. Therefore, you should trust documents only if you trust the source of the file.

Note:If a file opens in Protected View that has no active content, and you enable editing, the file is trusted and no longer opens in Protected View. However, if the file contains active content, a Message Bar appears for the disabled active content, until you enable the content. Active content is not enabled automatically when you exit Protected View.

Creating trusted documents

When you open a new file that has active content (data connections, macros, and so on) the Message Bar appears because active content may contain viruses and other security hazards that could harm your computer or your organization’s network.

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (1)

However, if you trust the source of the file, or know that the active content is secure (for example, the macro is signed by a trusted publisher), then you can enable the file’s active content by selecting the Enable Content button. This makes it a trusted document. When you reopen the file, the Message Bar won't appear.

Caution:Never enable content in a document if you're not sure what that macro does. Malicious macros are often used by attackers to distribute malware.

Some files can't be made trusted documents

There are situations when you can't make a file a trusted document. For example, one or several, types of active content have been disabled when you attempt to open the file. Active content can be disabled if:

  • The system administrator has set a security policy to disable a certain type of active content for your organization (for example, Disable all macros without notification). In this case, if you open a file with macros, and data connections, the file can't be trusted because the macros are disabled when the file opens.

  • You have changed your Trust Center settings for one, or more, active content types.

To see your security settings, select the File tab >Options >Trust Center, and then click Trust Center Settings. Or you can learn more in View my options and settings in the Trust Center.

  • The file opened from an unsafe location, such as your temporary Internet folder (TIF) or the Temp folder

  • If the feature is turned off by your system administrator for network locations, or for all locations

  • If the file you are trying to trust is a template, such as files with the extensions .dot, .dotx, or .dotm

For these files, click Enable All Content to enable the active content for that session. This enables the content for one time, only. The Message Bar appears when you reopen the file.

The following example is an image the Security Warning area when a file cannot be trusted.

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (2)

Trusting documents on a network

It’s important to be careful before trusting documents on a network because other people could tamper with network files and change the active content in them. To lower the possibility of security risks, you should only trust files on a network location that is access controlledor created by the system administrator.

A Security Warning dialog box appears when you try to trust a file from a network location. You can selectDon't show this message again in the dialog box, and then the dialog box does not appear again. In addition, you can turn off the feature by selectingNo on the Security Warning dialog box.

Turn off Trusted Documents feature for network locations

You can turn off the Trusted Documents feature, for network locations,in the Trust Center.

  1. Select the File tab.

  2. SelectOptions.

  3. SelectTrust Center, and then Trust Center Settings.

  4. SelectTrusted Documents.

  5. Clear the Allow documents on a network to be trusted check box.

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (3)

View or modify Trusted Documents settings in the Trust Center

You can view or change Trusted Documents settings in the Trust Center. Making changes starts or disables the ability to create trust documents that protects your computer and your organization's network from possible malicious code in active content.

  1. Select the File tab.

  2. SelectOptions.

  3. SelectTrust Center, and then Trust Center Settings.

  4. SelectTrusted Documents.

  5. Make selections for trusted documents that you want.

Trusted Documents settings explained

  • Allow documents on a network to be trusted TheSecurity Warning dialog box no longer appears for files in network locations.

  • Disable Trusted Documents The Security Warning dialog box appears for files, each time you open them.

  • Clear all Trusted Documents so that they are no longer trusted Select to delete the list of documents that were previously trusted.

Learn more

Active content types in your files

Need more help?

Want more options?

Discover Community

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (4)

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (5)

Microsoft 365 training

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (6)

Microsoft security

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (7)

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (8)

Ask the Microsoft Community

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (9)

Microsoft Tech Community

Trusted documents - Microsoft Support (2024)

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Laurine Ryan

Last Updated:

Views: 5538

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 84% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Laurine Ryan

Birthday: 1994-12-23

Address: Suite 751 871 Lissette Throughway, West Kittie, NH 41603

Phone: +2366831109631

Job: Sales Producer

Hobby: Creative writing, Motor sports, Do it yourself, Skateboarding, Coffee roasting, Calligraphy, Stand-up comedy

Introduction: My name is Laurine Ryan, I am a adorable, fair, graceful, spotless, gorgeous, homely, cooperative person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.