Opening a Workbook and Suppressing Automatic Macros

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 2, 2026)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365

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When you open a workbook, Excel normally runs any automatic macros that are saved with the workbook. Paul notes that in previous versions of Excel he could hold down the Shift key as the workbook was opened and Excel would not run the automatic macros. In the latest version of Excel this doesn't seem to work for Paul, so he wonders if Microsoft has changed this convention.

The short answer is no, Microsoft has not changed this convention. When you open a workbook and hold down the Shift key as it is opening, Excel should ignore any automatic macros set up for the workbook. If that behavior is not what you are experiencing on your system, it could be that you aren't actually holding down the Shift key at the start of the loading process or you aren't holding it down long enough. Make sure you hold the Shift key as you click on the Open button (in the Open dialog box) or as you click the file in the MRU.

For a great, in-depth exposition of how all this works, visit this page on the site maintained by Excel MVP Jan Karel Pieterse:

https://www.jkp-ads.com/Articles/preventopenevent.asp

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the ExcelTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (8769) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Excel in Microsoft 365.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

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What is four more than 2?

2023-02-16 08:10:40

John M

Per the linked article by Jan Karel Pieterse, he claims that Excel 365 has changed the Shift behavior and it no longer works for 365. Be sure to check the article for a few workarounds.

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