Run Programs
This per-user policy value controls whether PowerPoint can launch external programs through the Run Program action.
since 0.9.8.11
Purpose
Show registry keys (1)
HKCU\software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\powerpoint\security\runprograms
This per-user policy value controls whether PowerPoint can launch external programs through the Run Program action. This action can be assigned to an object or action button in a presentation and invoked by the user during a slide show.
runprograms is a REG_DWORD value with the following meanings:
0: PowerPoint does not launch the assigned program. Invoking the action has no effect.1: PowerPoint displays a security warning and requires confirmation before launching the program.2: PowerPoint launches the program without displaying a security warning first.
If the corresponding policy is disabled or not configured, PowerPoint blocks these actions, which is functionally equivalent to setting the value to 0.
Notes
Security
Values 1 and 2 allow a presentation to launch an external process when the user invokes an appropriately assigned action. A maliciously prepared presentation could use this capability to start harmful or otherwise unwanted software. With 1, the security prompt provides an additional decision point. With 2, the warning is removed entirely, increasing the risk of unintended program execution.
This setting does not grant additional Windows privileges to the launched program. The process remains subject to the signed-in user's security context, including that user's file permissions and other access restrictions. The policy therefore does not provide administrative privileges or unrestricted access to files or system resources.
Possible side effects
With a value of 0, presentations that depend on action buttons or other objects to launch external applications no longer work as designed. The external application must instead be started independently of the presentation.
Notes
This setting specifically controls PowerPoint's Run Program action. It does not generally control macros, hyperlinks, embedded OLE content, or every mechanism capable of opening external content.
The value documented here resides in the policy-managed HKCU\software\policies\... branch. It should not be confused with the similarly named per-user value under HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\PowerPoint\Security discussed in Microsoft's support article about the corresponding PowerPoint feature.
Microsoft documentation
Microsoft Support: “Run Programs” custom action is disabled in PowerPoint 2016
Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise security baseline settings reference