Excel Macros for Beginners: Automate Repetitive Tasks

Enabling the Developer Tab

By default, the Developer tab is hidden:

File → Options → Customize Ribbon → check “Developer” → OK

Recording Your First Macro

1. Developer tab → Record Macro
2. Name your macro (no spaces)
3. Choose where to store it (This Workbook is safest for learning)
4. Click OK — recording starts
5. Perform the actions you want to automate
6. Developer tab → Stop Recording

Running a Macro

• From ribbon: Developer → Macros → select → Run
• Keyboard shortcut: Assign one when recording
• Button: Insert a button (Developer → Insert → Button) and assign the macro

Macro Storage Options

• This Workbook: Macro only available in this file
• New Workbook: Creates a new file for the macro
• Personal Macro Workbook: Available in all workbooks (stored in PERSONAL.XLSB)

Saving Macro-Enabled Workbooks

Regular .xlsx files can't contain macros. Save as .xlsm (macro-enabled workbook) to keep your macros.

When opening macro-enabled files, Excel shows a security warning. Click Enable Content to run macros.

Limitations of Recorded Macros

• Can't make decisions (no IF/ELSE logic)
• Record absolute cell references by default
• Can't loop through rows

For more complex automation, you'll need to learn VBA basics or edit the recorded code.

Official Resources

• Quick start: Create a macro — record your first macro
• Create or delete a macro — macro management guide