There are a lot of different tools in Microsoft Excel, but not all of them are available by default. Many of these tools are found on the Excel 365 Developer tab in Microsoft Excel which is, itself, also not available by default.
The tabs at the top of the window in Microsoft Excel provide you with the means to format and create many of the objects that you will need when editing your spreadsheet. But that ribbon isn’t set in stone, and you are able to remove or add certain tabs from it as needed.
One tab that you might find you need is the Developer tab, this one includes some important features, such as the ability to create macros. Our guide below will show you how to add the Developer tab to the ribbon in Excel for Office 365.
How to Add the Developer Tab in Microsoft Excel for Office 365
- Open Excel.
- Click File.
- Choose Options.
- Select Customize Ribbon.
- Check the Developer box and click OK.
Our guide continues below with additional information on adding the Excel developer tab, including pictures of these steps.
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Why Doesn’t Excel for Office 365 Have a Developer Tab? (Guide with Pictures)
This tab is typically hidden by default because many users don’t need the features that it provides, and using those features can be complicated. But if you are interested, then Microsoft has a good guide on creating your first Macro.
But the tools on the Developer tab can allow for some very useful additions to a spreadsheet, so continue below to see how to add them.
Step 1: Open Excel for Office 365.
Step 2: Click the File tab at the top-left of the window.
Step 3: Click the Options button at the bottom of the left column.
Step 4: Select the Customize Ribbon tab from the left side of the Excel Options window.
Step 5: Check the box to the left of Developer from the list on the right side of the window. You can then click the OK button to apply your changes.
You should now see the Developer tab at the top of the window.
Our tutorial continues below with additional information about including the Excel developer tab as well as the comparable options in other Microsoft Office programs.
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More Information on How to Make the developer Tab Visible in Microsoft Excel
Once you have added this tab by checking the Developer checkbox you are going to have access to options like:
- the VBA editor for visual basic code
- VBA macros
- Form controls
- XML commands
- Other advanced functions
There is a lot that Excel users can do on the Excel ribbon, even before the possibility of using VBA code or having the option to insert interactive tools into their spreadsheets.
But everything on the Developer tab really opens up the number of possibilities for people with advanced Excel skills who like to create VBS applications and customize their installations with Excel add ins, VBA applications, and recorded macro options that make Excel even more powerful than it is already.
While we have focused on the positive aspects of adding the Excel 365 Developer tab in this guide, it does give you access to some tools that can potentially cause issues with spreadsheets. if someone else uses your computer and you don’t want them to be able to use macros or other things then you might want to follow these same steps and hide the Developer tab when you’re done using it.
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Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.