The Ribbon has multiple display options to fit your preferences, but with an errant click, you can unintentionally hide your Ribbon.

  • To quickly show the Ribbon, click any tab, for example, the Home or Insert tab.

  • To show the Ribbon all the time, click the arrow on the lower-right corner of the Ribbon.

For more control of the Ribbon, you can change your view and maximize the Ribbon by accessing the Ribbon Display Options near the top of your Excel document.

Using the Ribbon Display Options

  1. Click the Ribbon Display Options button in the lower-right corner of the ribbon.

    Ribbon Options command
  2. In the menu that opens, click Show Tabs and Commands to show the Ribbon with all tabs and full commands.

    Select Show tabs and commands

    This option is the default view. While this option provides quick access to all the commands, it limits the available screen space for your workbook.

    Default view of ribbon and tabs

    Tip: Press Ctrl+F1 to show and hide your commands in the Ribbon.

  3. Click Show Tabs to display the Ribbon tabs without the commands. To access the commands in the Show Tabs option, click any of the tabs.

    Appearance when Show tabs is on
  4. Click Auto-hide Ribbon to hide all tabs and commands.

    By using this option, you get the largest amount of screen space when you view your workbook. To access tabs and commands in this view, click the very top of your workbook.

    Tip: You can customize the Ribbon with your own tabs and commands for quick access to the toolbar features you use most.

The Ribbon has multiple display options to fit your preferences, but with an errant click, you can unintentionally hide your Ribbon.

  • To quickly show the Ribbon, click any tab, for example, the Home or Insert tab.

  • To show the Ribbon all the time, click the arrow (Excel 2013) or pushpin icon (Excel 2016) on the lower-right corner of the Ribbon.

For more control of the Ribbon, you can change your view and maximize the Ribbon by accessing the Ribbon Display Options near the top of your Excel document.

Using the Ribbon Display Options

  1. Click the Ribbon Display Options icon on the top-right corner of your document. It is to the left of the Minimize icon.

    The Show Ribbon Options icon
  2. In the menu that opens, click Show Tabs and Commands to show the Ribbon with all tabs and full commands.

    When you click the Ribbon Display Options icon, a menu opens.

    This option is the default view. While this option provides quick access to all the commands, it limits the available screen space for your workbook.

    All the tabs and commands are displayed on the Ribbon.

    Tip: Press Ctrl+F1 to show and hide your commands in the Ribbon.

  3. Click Show Tabs to display the Ribbon tabs without the commands. To access the commands in the Show Tabs option, click any of the tabs.

    Just the tabs are displayed on the Ribbon.
  4. Click Auto-hide Ribbon to hide all tabs and commands.

    By using this option, you get the largest amount of screen space when you view your workbook. To access tabs and commands in this view, click the very top of your workbook.

    Tip: You can customize the Ribbon with your own tabs and commands for quick access to the toolbar features you use most.

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