Instructions for setting up Ribbon in Microsoft Excel 2016

The Excel 2016 ribbon in the Office 2016 office suite is a powerful "factory" command that helps you dig deeper into your data. It is always ready for you to make the most of your work with daily functions to enhance data tools and view with one click.

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You can personalize the Microsoft Excel 2016 Ribbon to suit your specific usage needs and the following is an article to guide you to do that.

The ribbon is a graphical user interface that contains a large number of commands as well as a set of commands called groups. Separate commands and groups are organized into tabs. Like the Quick Access Toolbar , the Ribbon provides easy location and use for most items that you use in Excel 2016.

1. The ribbon display options

In the upper right corner of the program window, you will see the icon of Ribbon display options. You can change its appearance with just one click and the following are the display options:

• Auto-Hide Ribbon : This option removes most commands, including the Ribbon. What remains are basic worksheet options, like the formula bar and name box. To view the Ribbon , simply click the Options icon in the upper right corner to display it from the top of the screen.
• Show Tabs : This option removes groups and commands from view, leaving only the Ribbon tab . Clicking on a single tab will display the command.
• Show Tabs and Commands : This option works like returning to the default display option as you see when you first access Excel 2016.

Hide Ribbon

While the Ribbon exists there to serve whenever you need it, you don't always need it to be there. If you want those commands to disappear so you can see more boxes on the screen, you can hide the Ribbon and its tabs by clicking the ^ icon in the middle right corner of the ribbon.

Pin the tab contents

• Click on a Tab name to display the groups.
• Click the pin icon to pin groups to the default display mode.

2. Customize the Ribbon

To access the Customize Ribbon option , click File> Options> Customize Ribbon .

The Options screen is a bit confusing, but really easy to navigate. The left column Choose commands from contains 9 list of commands and tabs to browse while the right column Customize the Ribbon lists what is in the Ribbon. You can select commands and tabs from the left column and click on the> icon to move them to the right column to display the Ribbon, or select the displayed items on the right column and click on the <icon to remove them. You also need to keep in mind that incoming commands cannot be changed and removed.

Add a command

• To add a command, click File> Options> Customize Ribbon . Select a command from the Choose commands from list and click on the command . Then, click on Add and Ok to save the operation.

Delete a command

• To delete a command, go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon . Then, click on the command and select Remove .

Individual commands cannot be added to an existing group or tab. You can create a custom group in a tab or subgroup of an existing group. This will allow you to add more commands.

Add a Custom Tab

• To add a Custom Tab , go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon . Then select New Tab and click OK to save.

Add a group to a tab

• To add a Group to a Tab , go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon .
• In the Customize the Ribbon list on the right, select the Tab you want to add a group to.
• Then click New Group at the bottom of the list. Finally click OK to save the changes.

Remove a Tab

• To remove a Tab, go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon .
• Click on the group you want to delete to remove it from the Customize the Ribbon column . Then click on Remove and Ok to finish.

Rename a tab in the Ribbon

• You can rename a tab in the Ribbon by right-clicking on the Ribbon and selecting Customize the Ribbon .
• Then select the Tab you want to rename and click on Rename . Enter a new name and select OK to save.

The renaming option can be applied to group names in a tab as well as to custom group commands.

Rearrange tabs on the Ribbon

Click on any tab on the Ribbon and select Customize the Ribbon . Select the tab to move in the Customize the Ribbon column . Then, use the up and down arrow keys to reposition the tab in the list. Finally, click on OK to finish.

The same steps can be applied to rearrange the commands in your custom group.

Hide and show a tab

• Click File> Options> Customize Ribbon .
• In the Customize the Ribbon column , uncheck / select the tabs you want to hide / show and click on OK to save changes. You cannot hide the File tab .

Reinstall the Ribbon

• To reset the Ribbon back to its factory default settings, go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon and click on Reset in the Customizations section .
• Then, select Reset all customizations to clear all options, or select Reset only selected Ribbon tab to return one tab to its default.

3. Import and export the Ribbon

If your group seems to use the same commands in Excel 2016, you can choose to import their Ribbons or export your own to them.

Enter a Ribbon

• To import a Ribbon, go to File> Options> Customize Ribbon and click on Import / Export .
• Then choose Import customize files and Open . Finally, click Yes in the confirmation window to complete the process.

Export a Ribbon

You can export a Ribbon by going to File> Options> Customize Ribbon and selecting Import / Export . Then click on Export all Customizations . Choose a location and file name in the File Save window . Finally, click on Save to save.

You do not need to know all the commands to understand the Ribbon's function. You will gradually discover its functions during use.