Scan encrypted macros in Excel Open XML workbooks: registry value excelbypassencryptedmacroscanUserHKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security

Policy ID: L_DeterminewhethertoforceencryptedExcel
Scope: User Configuration
Supported on: At least Windows Server 2008 R2 or Windows 7
Source: Microsoft 365 Apps / Office Administrative Templates (version 5568.1000)
Category: Microsoft Excel 2016 › Excel Options › Security

Registry

excelbypassencryptedmacroscan

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: -

Options
Item	Stored value
Scan encrypted macros (default)	0
Scan if anti-virus software available	1
Load macros without scanning	2

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security]

; Options (use only one)
; Scan encrypted macros (default)
"excelbypassencryptedmacroscan"=dword:00000000
; Scan if anti-virus software available
"excelbypassencryptedmacroscan"=dword:00000001
; Load macros without scanning
"excelbypassencryptedmacroscan"=dword:00000002

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Scan encrypted macros (default)
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security" /v "excelbypassencryptedmacroscan" /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
:: Scan if anti-virus software available
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security" /v "excelbypassencryptedmacroscan" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
:: Load macros without scanning
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security" /v "excelbypassencryptedmacroscan" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f

PowerShell

# Common: create the key
New-Item -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security' -Force | Out-Null

# Options (use only one)
# Scan encrypted macros (default)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security' -Name 'excelbypassencryptedmacroscan' -PropertyType DWord -Value 0 -Force | Out-Null
# Scan if anti-virus software available
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security' -Name 'excelbypassencryptedmacroscan' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null
# Load macros without scanning
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security' -Name 'excelbypassencryptedmacroscan' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null