How to safely strip all vba macros from an excel workbook
- Step 1Upload the .xlsm workbook — Drop the macro-enabled Excel file. JSZip unpacks the container in browser memory — the VBA code never executes.
- Step 2Strip macros — xl/vbaProject.bin is removed. The workbook relationship XML is cleaned of the vbaProject reference.
- Step 3Download the clean .xlsx — The output is a safe .xlsx with no VBA code. Open in Excel — Macro warnings are gone.
Frequently asked questions
Can I strip macros without opening the file in Excel?+
Yes. The tool unpacks the OOXML ZIP container and removes the macro binary without executing any code.
Will the workbook still work after stripping?+
Formulas, data, formatting, and charts are unaffected. Any functionality powered by VBA will no longer work.
What about Excel 4.0 macro sheets (XLM macros)?+
XLM macros are stored as regular worksheet XML, not in vbaProject.bin. The current tool removes VBA only. XLM strip is on the roadmap.
Privacy first
Every JAD Excel tool runs entirely in your browser using SheetJS and ExcelJS. Your spreadsheets, formulas, and data never leave your device — verified by zero outbound network requests during processing.