Setup

Setup

Download the add-in from the Download page. No account is needed.

1. Copy the add-in into XLSTART

Press Win+R, enter %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Excel\XLSTART, and copy the .xlam into that folder. If Windows can't find the folder, enter %APPDATA%\Microsoft\Excel instead and create a folder named XLSTART there. Restart Excel; a WHOA tab appears on the ribbon.

Excel opens every file in XLSTART when it starts and trusts that folder, so there's nothing to unblock. To remove the add-in, delete the file. When you upgrade, delete the old version first, or Excel shows two WHOA tabs.

2. Check your macro settings

Go to File → Options → Trust Center → Trust Center Settings → Macro Settings.

  • Choose Disable all macros with notification. Excel asks before running macros in a file, and you decide which files to trust. Avoid Enable all macros.
  • If you'll build applications with the add-in, also check Trust access to the VBA project object model. The add-in writes VBA for you, so Excel has to allow it. People who only use a workbook someone else built can leave this unchecked.

These settings apply to all of Excel, not just one workbook. If buttons or forms don't respond, check the ActiveX settings in the same Trust Center.

Some antivirus products flag the add-in by mistake. See the Security page for what to do, how to verify your download, and how IT can review the source code.

Stuck on any step? Email [email protected].