Always open untrusted database files in Protected View

Purpose

Show registry keys (1)

• HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\excel\security\protectedview\enabledatabasefileprotectedview

This per-user Excel policy determines whether database files in .dbf format are always opened in Protected View when they originate from an untrusted location.

When the policy is enabled, Excel initially opens these files in a read-only mode in which most editing functions are disabled. If the policy is disabled or not configured, this setting does not force the affected files into Protected View. Other security policies, file properties, or trust settings can still affect how a file is opened.

Notes

Security

Protected View reduces the risk that malicious content in an untrusted .dbf file will immediately affect the system when the file is opened. Users can initially inspect the file without access to the normal editing functions.

The policy does not block the file completely or establish that its contents are safe. Unless another policy prevents it, a user can leave Protected View and enable editing. Doing so removes the read-only restrictions provided by Protected View.

Possible side effects

While the file remains in Protected View, it cannot be edited, saved, or printed in the same way as a normally opened file. Add-ins may load but might not operate as expected in Protected View.

Notes

The setting applies only to .dbf database files that Excel identifies as originating from an untrusted location.

Although the setting appears under “Microsoft Excel 2016” in the administrative templates and uses the 16.0 registry branch, Microsoft states that this particular policy setting applies only to Microsoft 365 products.

Microsoft documentation

Microsoft Support: What is Protected View?

Microsoft Learn: Settings for the Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise security baseline

See also

• Entry in the reference