To customize the ribbon in Excel on a Mac, select Excel > Settings (called Preferences in older versions), then select Ribbon & Toolbar. On the Ribbon tab, tick or clear tabs to show or hide them, drag tabs to reorder them, and use the + button to create your own tab or group. Choose commands on the left and drag them into a custom group, then select Save.
Applies to: Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac, Excel 2024 and Excel 2021 for Mac. Checked against Microsoft Support on October 9, 2026.
Built-in commands can’t be removed from Excel’s own groups, but you can hide whole tabs and build custom groups with exactly the commands you use.
Open the ribbon settings
- Open Excel.
- In the menu bar at the top of the screen, select Excel > Settings. You can also press Command + , (comma).
- Select Ribbon & Toolbar.
The window has two parts: the commands you can add on the left, and the tabs on the ribbon on the right.
Show or hide ribbon tabs
In the Customize the Ribbon list on the right, tick a tab to show it or clear the box to hide it. For example, tick Developer to show the tab for macros and form controls, or clear Draw if you never use it. Select Save.
Create a custom tab and group
- In the tab list, select the tab you want your new tab to appear after.
- Select the + button at the bottom of the list and choose New Tab. Excel adds a new tab with a new group inside it.
- Select the new tab, select the gear (settings) button, and choose Rename. Type a name such as My Tools.
- Rename the group the same way, for example Formatting.
- To add another group to any tab, select the tab, select +, and choose New Group.
Add commands to your group
- Select your custom group in the list on the right.
- Use the Choose commands from menu on the left to pick Popular Commands, All Commands or Macros.
- Select a command and select the right arrow to add it, or drag it across.
- Repeat for each command, then select Save.
Commands can only go into custom groups. To make a built-in tab more useful, add a custom group to it and put your commands there.
Reorder tabs, groups and commands
Drag any tab, group or command in the right-hand list to a new position. You can move built-in tabs as well as your own, which is handy for keeping the tabs you use most near the left.
Customize the Quick Access Toolbar
The Quick Access Toolbar is the row of small buttons at the top of the window, such as Save and Undo.
- In Ribbon & Toolbar, select the Quick Access Toolbar tab.
- Add commands from the left list, or remove ones you don’t need.
- Select Save.
You can also select the arrow at the end of the Quick Access Toolbar in the Excel window to add common commands quickly.
Hide the whole ribbon for more space
- Press Command + Option + R to collapse or show the ribbon.
- Or double-click any tab name, such as Home. Click a tab once to show the ribbon temporarily.
Reset the ribbon
In Ribbon & Toolbar, select the gear button below the tab list and choose to reset. You can reset a single tab or all customizations. Built-in tabs return to normal and custom tabs are removed.
If your changes don’t work
- A command won’t add: you selected a built-in group. Create a custom group first.
- Changes disappeared: select Save before closing the window. Some changes are lost if Excel quits unexpectedly.
- The Developer tab is missing a command: some features, such as ActiveX controls, aren’t available in Excel for Mac at all.
- Customizations aren’t on your other Mac: ribbon settings are stored on each Mac and don’t sync.
Frequently asked questions
Do ribbon changes apply to Word and PowerPoint?
No. Each Office app has its own ribbon settings, so customize Word and PowerPoint separately.
Can I export my customized ribbon on a Mac?
The Import/Export option is a Windows feature. On a Mac, you’ll need to set up the ribbon again on each computer.
Can I add my macros to the ribbon?
Yes. Choose Macros in the Choose commands from menu, then add the macro to a custom group. The workbook containing the macro needs to be open, or saved in your Personal Macro Workbook.
Can I make the ribbon icons bigger?
No. Office doesn’t let you resize ribbon icons or text. Changing your Mac’s display scaling in System Settings changes everything on screen.
Related: how to delete a sheet in Excel on Mac.
Related: how to change worksheet tab color in Excel on Mac.
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.