Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 3, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, Excel in Microsoft 365, and 2021
When David clicks a hyperlink in a worksheet, he sees a message that says, "this operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer." This is David's home computer, and he hasn't put any restrictions in place of which he's aware. He wonders how to fix this so that he can, once again, use hyperlinks.
This is, from everything we can tell, not a problem with Excel, but a problem with Windows. You may be able to solve the problem by making sure your version of Windows is up to date. If that doesn't fix it, then you'll need to make a change in the Windows Registry.
Note that changing the Registry has the potential to mess up your system entirely if you do it incorrectly. (Does that sound scary? Good!) For that reason, it can be a good idea to back up your Registry "just in case." If you don't know how to back up your Registry, then this may help:
https://windows.tips.net/T012206
Once you are ready, get out of Excel and any other programs you are using, and then press Windows+R. You'll see the Run dialog box, and you should type "regedit" (without the quotes) and press Enter. You'll then see the Registry Editor displayed. Using the tools it provides, navigate to the following key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer\DisallowRun
Right-click on the key and, from the resulting Context menu, choose Delete. Once deleted, you can exit the Registry Editor. (And it wouldn't hurt to restart Windows.)
If you are still experiencing issues, then you may find these articles helpful:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/cant-open-any-hyperlinks-in-excel-2010-this/890fa6a8-68ca-4c99-a253-d23d7549e9db https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/all/error-this-operation-has-been-cancelled-due-to/f8f2cc9e-4e63-4cd7-a84e-3daeed10700c https://stackoverflow.com/questions/30707353/this-operation-has-been-canceled-due-to-restrictions-in-effect-on-this-computer https://appuals.com/this-operation-has-been-cancelled-due-to-restrictions-in-effect-on-this-computer/ https://www.slipstick.com/problems/this-operation-has-been-cancelled-due-to-restrictions/
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2024-08-04 02:39:45
Ron S
I forgot to mention the simplest "fix". It is also the one that is most often forgotten/skipped.
RESTART your Computer!
Sometimes Windows "gets confused". The fix is to reload windows by restarting the computer.
Since restarting messes with anything you have open it is a "med level" trouble shooting step. Do any of the "non destructive", non-risky repair suggestions first.
Then, BEFORE hacking the registry, is a good time for a restart.
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