Excel VBA Activate Workbook: Examples to Activate Workbooks

In this Excel VBA Tutorial, you learn how to activate workbooks with macros.

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Excel VBA Activate This Workbook

VBA Code to Activate This Workbook

To activate this workbook, use the following statement in the applicable procedure.

ThisWorkbook.Activate

Process to Activate This Workbook with VBA

Refer to this workbook (the workbook where the macro is stored).
Activate the workbook.

Main VBA Constructs Used to Activate This Workbook

(1) Application.ThisWorkbook property.

Returns a Workbook object representing the workbook where the macro is stored (the workbook where the macro is running).

(2) Workbook object.

Represents an Excel workbook.

(3) Workbook.Activate method.

Activates the (first) window associated with a workbook.

Macro Example to Activate This Workbook

The macro below does the following:

Activate this workbook (the workbook where the macro is stored).
Maximize the active window.

Sub ActivateThisWorkbook()
    'Source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'For further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/excel-vba-activate-workbook/
    
    'This procedure:
        '(1) Activates this workbook (the workbook where the macro is stored)
        '(2) Maximizes the active window
    
    'Activate this workbook
    ThisWorkbook.Activate
    
    'Maximize the active window
    ActiveWindow.WindowState = xlMaximized

End Sub

Effects of Executing Macro Example to Activate This Workbook

The image below illustrates the effects of using the macro example. In this example:

2 workbooks (“Excel VBA Activate Workbook” and “Book1”) are open.
The “Book1” workbook is the active workbook.
The macro example is stored in the “Excel VBA Activate Workbook” workbook.

When the macro is executed, Excel:

Activates this workbook (“Excel VBA Activate Workbook”; the workbook where the macro example is stored); and
Maximizes the active window.

Example: Activate this workbook with VBA macros

Excel VBA Activate Workbook by Filename

VBA Code to Activate Workbook by Filename

To activate a workbook by filename, use the following structure/template in the applicable statement.

Workbooks("Filename").Activate

Process to Activate Workbook by Filename with VBA

Refer to the workbook to activate by filename.
Activate the applicable workbook.

Main VBA Constructs Used to Activate Workbook by Filename

(1) Application.Workbooks property.

Returns a Workbooks collection representing all open workbooks.

(2) Workbooks object.

Represents all open workbooks.

(3) Workbooks.Item property.

Returns a specific Workbook object from the applicable Workbooks collection.

(4) Workbook object.

Represents an Excel workbook.

(5) Workbook.Activate method.

Activates the (first) window associated with a workbook.

Queues to Activate Workbook by Filename with VBA

Wrap the workbook filename in double quotes and parentheses ((“Filename”)).
As a general rule, include the complete filename (including file extension) when specifying the filename (for ex., “Filename.xlsm”) of a previously saved workbook.

Macro Example to Activate Workbook by Filename

The macro below does the following:

Activate the workbook with filename “Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm”.
Maximize the active window.

Sub ActivateWorkbookByFilename()
    'Source: https://powerspreadsheets.com/
    'For further information: https://powerspreadsheets.com/excel-vba-activate-workbook/
    
    'This procedure:
        '(1) Activates the workbook with filename "Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm"
        '(2) Maximizes the active window
    
    'Activate the workbook with filename "Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm"
    Workbooks("Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm").Activate
    
    'Maximize the active window
    ActiveWindow.WindowState = xlMaximized

End Sub

Effects of Executing Macro Example to Activate Workbook by Filename

The image below illustrates the effects of using the macro example. In this example:

2 workbooks (“Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm” and “Book1”) are open.
The “Book1” workbook is the active workbook.

When the macro is executed, Excel:

Activates the workbook with filename “Excel VBA Activate Workbook.xlsm”; and
Maximizes the active window.