How to safely remove vba macros from an excel file received by email
- Step 1Save the .xlsm email attachment to disk — Do not open it in Excel. Save it to your Downloads folder without double-clicking.
- Step 2Upload to the VBA Macro Stripper — Drop the .xlsm file. JSZip unpacks and removes xl/vbaProject.bin in browser memory — no code runs.
- Step 3Open the clean .xlsx — Download and open the output .xlsx in Excel. No macro warning appears. Inspect the content safely.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to process the .xlsm in the browser tool?+
Yes. JSZip reads the file as a ZIP archive and removes binary content. No JavaScript in the file is executed.
What if the file is also password-protected?+
Encrypted .xlsx/.xlsm files cannot be unzipped without the password. Ask the sender for the password, decrypt in Excel first, then strip macros.
Does removing macros guarantee the file is safe?+
VBA macros are the most common vector. XLM macro sheets (a different format) require separate removal. Always verify the file source regardless.
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.