Blocked macros in Microsoft Word on Microsoft 11 OS

dhaun21
The Zotero tab is no longer visible in any of my Microsoft Word documents. Instead, I get a "BLOCKED CONTENT Macros in this document have been disabled by your enterprise administrator for security reasons" message. The banner message then references the Zotero.dotm file as being blocked specifically.

I am unable to open the Zotero.dotm file manually with Word. I tried the manual plugin installation instructions here (https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_manual_installation#locating_your_word_startup_folder) without any luck. Does anyone know what security policy or security setting I need to modify in order to use Zotero? It is a personal computer and I am the only user.
  • adomasven
    edited January 19, 2022
    You will have to poke around in the Word Trust Center in the options, although macros can be disabled by group policy in Windows by your administrator. Is this a personal computer?
  • dhaun21
    Yes, it is a personal computer. I've spent a few hours modifying various settings in the Word Trust Center without any success unfortunately. Are there particular options in the Trust Center I need to verify?
  • adomasven
    Did you try restarting your computer? What are the macro settings in the Trust Center right now? Is Zotero.dotm displayed in Word Options -> Add-ins. In that dialog at the bottom under "Manage:" if you select "Disabled Items" and press "Go..." is Zotero extension listed there? Can you enable it?
  • dhaun21
    No, it is not listed under disabled items in the dialog box. I have restarted several times (to include reinstalling Zotero, Microsoft Office, and the Zotero word plugin). Zotero.dotm is listed as an Active Application Add-in in Word Options -> Add-ins, type column lists Template.

    In the Manage dialog box, when I select Word Add-ins and press Go, Zotero.dotm is checked and currently loaded. Thank you for your help so far. I am at a loss!
  • adomasven
    What are the Macro settings in the trust centre? What full version of Word are you running?
  • dhaun21
    I previously updated my Macro settings in the trust center to "Enable all macros (not recommended; potentially dangerous code can run)" and I checked "Trust access to the VBA project object model".

    I am running Microsoft Word version 2112 (build 14729.20260).
  • adomasven
    If you create a new user account on this computer does the Zotero Word plugin work there?
  • dhaun21
    edited January 19, 2022
    Sorry for the delay -- I had to create a new user account. But yes, that worked. I'm able to use the Zotero Word plugin on the new user account. I'm sorry for my ignorance, but why is that? And how do I go about resolving the issue on my original user account (it is an admin account). The new user account I created was a standard account.
  • adomasven
    Something is wrong with the config on your original user account, although it's hard to say where. It could be Word config, or some group policy thing. Perhaps the upgrade to Windows 11 corrupted something. We haven't seen a bug like this before, so it's hard to say more. You should try to reset any Word/Office configuration options that you can find on your original account.
  • dhaun21
    Got it. Thanks again for all your help. I am documenting my resolution in case anyone in the future has a similar problem.

    I was not able to find what configuration option was corrupted or needed to be reset after more troubleshooting. I ended up resetting my entire machine (restored all settings back to default). That resolved the issue and now the Zotero Word Plugin is working again.
  • adomasven
    Thanks for reporting back and sorry for the trouble and lack of a less severe solution.
  • micheleske
    i'm having same problem and idk what to do
  • dstillman
    @micheleske: There's no information other than what's above.
  • shucwu
    I am encountering the same issue too -- Zotero tab disappeared from my Word. Zotero.dotm file is already in the startup folder. Been getting a security warning when starting Word "Macros have been disabled" and yet Zotero.dotm is still shown under Active Application Add-ins. (And there is nothing under Disabled Items). This is a company computer (Windows 10 Enterprise); I only get one account and that account is tied to my badge chip. I'd appreciate any information/suggestion beyond what's on this page (been 10 months since the issue was last brought up).
  • dstillman
    edited May 10, 2024
    @shucwu: Beyond what's on https://www.zotero.org/support/word_processor_plugin_troubleshooting#zotero_tab_does_not_appear_in_the_word_ribbon, you would have to ask your IT department.
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