What Is a Macro in Excel?

An Excel macro is a recorded or coded set of instructions that performs a series of actions automatically. A macro can format a report, clean imported data, copy values between worksheets, refresh a recurring workbook, or complete dozens of other steps with one command.

Most people create their first macro with Excel's Macro Recorder. The recorder watches what you do and converts those actions into Visual Basic for Applications, usually called VBA. You do not need to know programming to record a useful macro, although VBA gives you more control when the workflow becomes complex.

When you start the Macro Recorder, Excel tracks many of the commands you perform: selecting cells, entering values, applying formatting, creating formulas, sorting data, and more. When you stop recording, Excel stores the generated VBA procedure in a module.

Common tasks people automate with macros

• Format weekly or monthly reports consistently
• Clean imported data and remove unwanted rows
• Copy data into a reporting template
• Create, rename, or reorganize worksheets
• Refresh calculations and export a finished report

This example records a simple header-formatting routine. Start with a test workbook, not an important production file, because recorded actions cannot always be undone after a macro runs.

1. 1

   Show the Developer tab

   On Windows, open File → Options → Customize Ribbon, then select Developer. On Mac, use Excel → Preferences → Ribbon & Toolbar.

2. 2

   Start recording

   Select Developer → Record Macro. Name it FormatHeader and store it in the current workbook.

3. 3

   Perform the task once

   Select the header row, make the text bold, add a fill color, and auto-fit the columns. Avoid unrelated clicks because the recorder may capture them too.

4. 4

   Stop the recording

   Select Developer → Stop Recording. Excel has now saved the procedure.

5. 5

   Run and test it

   Open Developer → Macros, select FormatHeader, and choose Run. Test the macro on a copy of your data before relying on it.

Microsoft's official guide covers recorder behavior and Windows/Mac differences in more detail: Automate tasks with the Macro Recorder.

A recorded formatting macro may produce more code than the example below, but the basic shape is the same: a named procedure contains the instructions Excel should execute.

Sub FormatHeader()
    With Range("A1:F1")
        .Font.Bold = True
        .Interior.Color = RGB(217, 225, 242)
    End With

    Columns("A:F").AutoFit
End Sub

Sub FormatHeader() starts a procedure named FormatHeader. The With block applies bold text and a background color to cells A1 through F1. The final instruction automatically adjusts the width of columns A through F.

Is a macro the same as VBA?

Not exactly. A macro is the automation you run; VBA is the programming language commonly used to define that automation in desktop Excel. The Macro Recorder is simply one way to generate VBA without writing every instruction yourself.

Macros are useful, but they are not the best tool for every spreadsheet task. Choose based on what the workflow actually needs to do. Microsoft documents VBA as desktop-focused and Office Scripts as cross-platform, cloud-based automation.

Platform comparison: Differences between Office Scripts and VBA macros.

If you record a macro and then save the workbook as a standard .xlsx file, Excel will warn you that the VBA project cannot be saved. Choose a macro-enabled format instead.

.xlsm

Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook. The usual choice for a workbook containing VBA.

.xltm

Excel Macro-Enabled Template. Useful when new workbooks should share a macro.

.xlsb

Excel Binary Workbook. Can store VBA and may be smaller for large workbooks.

.xlsx

Standard Excel Workbook. Cannot store VBA macros.

Format reference: File formats that are supported in Excel.

A macro you recorded yourself can be a practical productivity tool. A macro from an unknown source is different: VBA can modify files and perform actions beyond formatting a worksheet. That makes malicious macros a real security risk.

• Run macros only from sources you trust.
• Test new automation on a copy of the workbook.
• Inspect unfamiliar VBA or ask a qualified reviewer.
• Avoid using “Enable all macros” as a permanent setting.

For the current security options, see Microsoft's macro security settings.

Sam Ward reviewed the Microsoft documentation below while preparing this guide. Product interfaces and licensing can change, so use the linked documentation for the latest platform-specific details.

1. Automate tasks with the Macro RecorderMicrosoft Support
2. Work with VBA macros in Excel for the webMicrosoft Support
3. File formats that are supported in ExcelMicrosoft Support
4. Differences between Office Scripts and VBA macrosMicrosoft Learn
5. Change macro security settings in ExcelMicrosoft Support