I'm trying to configure Microsoft 365's baseline security mode, specifically the setting that opens old legacy formats in Protected View and saves them as modern formats. However, I need to allow two specific users to bypass this restriction so they can upload Excel files in the old 97-2003 format. I've set up a blocking policy for all users but created an override policy for these two users. Despite this, I'm still unable to save XLS files without hitting the block. What am I missing?
3 Answers
Yeah, I totally get your frustration! I had a similar issue where I had to go into the registry and manually delete some keys related to the office subkeys. Once I cleaned those out, the policies seemed to go away, and the settings in my Office apps reverted back to normal. Definitely worth a shot if you haven't already.
Also, don't forget to consider the order of your policy evaluation. Sometimes, an existing baseline security policy can override your changes after a sync. Make sure your override policy is prioritized correctly in the settings so that it takes precedence.
It sounds like you're on the right track with your policies, but keep in mind that cloud policies just stage your intent—they don't directly enforce it. The active policies are stored elsewhere in the registry, particularly under HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwarePoliciesMicrosoftOffice. If your override policy isn't showing any effect, check that location to see if the legacy block is still applied there.
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