Automation Security: registry value automationsecurityUserHKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security

Policy ID: L_AutomationSecurity
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 Office 2016 › Security Settings

Registry

automationsecurity

REG_DWORDUser

HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security Current key

Enabled value: Depends on the option value
Element: Set the Automation Security level

Options
Item	Stored value
Disable macros by default	3
Use application macro security level	2
Macros enabled (default)	1

Apply with .reg · CMD · PowerShell

.reg

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security]

; Options (use only one)
; Disable macros by default
"automationsecurity"=dword:00000003
; Use application macro security level
"automationsecurity"=dword:00000002
; Macros enabled (default)
"automationsecurity"=dword:00000001

CMD

:: Options (use only one)

:: Disable macros by default
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security" /v "automationsecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 3 /f
:: Use application macro security level
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security" /v "automationsecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
:: Macros enabled (default)
reg add "HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security" /v "automationsecurity" /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f

PowerShell

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

# Options (use only one)
# Disable macros by default
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security' -Name 'automationsecurity' -PropertyType DWord -Value 3 -Force | Out-Null
# Use application macro security level
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security' -Name 'automationsecurity' -PropertyType DWord -Value 2 -Force | Out-Null
# Macros enabled (default)
New-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\software\policies\microsoft\office\common\security' -Name 'automationsecurity' -PropertyType DWord -Value 1 -Force | Out-Null