Resetting Ribbons

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated August 14, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021


2

Word 2010 and later versions allow you to customize the appearance of the ribbons that appear at the top of the program window. If you run across a system in which the ribbons have been modified, you can change them back easily by following these steps:

  1. Right-click the mouse anywhere on the ribbon. Word displays a Context menu.
  2. From the Context menu choose Customize the Ribbon. Word displays the Word Options dialog box with the Customize Ribbon option selected at the left. (See Figure 1.)
  3. Figure 1. The Customize Ribbon options of the Word Options dialog box.

  4. If you want to reset a single ribbon tab, use the controls at the right side of the dialog box to select the tab.
  5. Click the Reset drop-down list. Word presents you with two options: Reset Only Selected Ribbon Tab is used to reset whatever tab you selected in step 3 and Reset All Customizations is used to set everything back to its default.
  6. Select the option that represents what you want to reset.
  7. Click OK.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10391) applies to Microsoft Word 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2021.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. ...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Converting List Types

There are two types of common lists you can create in Word: bulleted lists and numbered lists. You can switch between the ...

Discover More

The Line that Won't Go Away

Have you ever had a line appear on your document that you can't seem to get rid of? It could be due to a built-in ...

Discover More

Adding a ScreenTip

Need to add a ScreenTip to your document? It's easy to do, provided you are adding a hyperlink.

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Always Starting with a Blank Document

When you start Word, it displays what is called the Start screen. If you just want to see a blank document as in earlier ...

Discover More

Word Features, by Program Version

When did Word add each new feature to the program? The answer isn't as clear-cut as you might think it is. This tip ...

Discover More

Jumping to a Relative Section

Navigating through a long document can be challenging, at times. Here's a way you can move forward or backwards in your ...

Discover More
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

What is 0 + 7?

2021-08-16 11:08:56

Cynthia Heimann

i have a situation I'd like to resolve that I do not know how to describe, but here's a try. The ruler at the top of a document does not show the 'top half' of the ruler with the arrow one would use, with the lower arrow, to set a hanging indent. See attached (see Figure 1 below) - how can this be fixed?
Thanks!

Figure 1. 


2021-08-16 09:54:01

Cynthia Heimann

i have a situation I'd like to resolve that I do not know how to describe, but here's a try. The ruler at the top of a document does not show the 'top half' of the ruler with the arrow one would use, with the lower arrow, to set a hanging indent. See attached {{fig}} - how can this be fixed?
Thanks!


This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.

Videos
Subscribe

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

(Your e-mail address is not shared with anyone, ever.)

View the most recent newsletter.