Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 3, 2024)
This tip applies to Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365
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/
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (13936) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Excel in Microsoft 365.
Best-Selling VBA Tutorial for Beginners Take your Excel knowledge to the next level. With a little background in VBA programming, you can go well beyond basic spreadsheets and functions. Use macros to reduce errors, save time, and integrate with other Microsoft applications. Fully updated for the latest version of Office 365. Check out Microsoft 365 Excel VBA Programming For Dummies today!
Make a hyperlink to a cell in your workbook, edit the structure of that workbook a bit, and you may find that the ...
Discover MoreCopying information from one place to another in a worksheet is easy. Copying hyperlinks may not seem that easy, but you ...
Discover MoreTired of having Excel convert what you type into active hyperlinks? Here are things you can do to undo Excel's ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
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.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments