A trusted location in Microsoft Office is a folder that contains files you trust to be safe.
You should use a trusted location to store a file when you don't want that file to be checked by the Trust Center, or if you don't want it to open in Protected View. Especially files with macros, data connections, or ActiveX controls (what we call active content).
If you think the active content in a file is from a reliable source, the best practice is to move the file to a trusted location.
Caution:Â Any files you store in a trusted location are considered safe by the system and will bypass some of the security checks. Be certain that you trust the source of any files you put there.
Add a trusted location
-
In your Office app, on the File tab, select Options and choose Trust Center.
-
Select Trust Center Settings and choose Trusted Locations in the left nav pane.Â
-
Select Add new location.
​​​​​​​
-
Select Browse to find and choose a folder.
-
Select OKÂ until you've closed all windows.Â
Remove a trusted location
-
In your Office app, on the File tab, select Options and choose Trust Center.
-
Select Trust Center Settings and choose Trusted Locations in the left nav pane.Â
-
Choose the location to be removed, and then select Remove.
-
Select OKÂ until you've closed all windows.Â
Change a trusted location
-
In your Office app, on the File tab, select Options and choose Trust Center.
-
Select Trust Center Settings and choose Trusted Locations in the left nav pane.Â
-
In the Trusted Locations list, choose a location, and then select Modify.
-
Make the modifications you want, and then select​​​​​​​ OK.
