Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Changing ToolTips for a Macro Button.

Changing ToolTips for a Macro Button

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 15, 2024)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016


4

Calvin has a number of custom buttons on his Quick Access Toolbar (QAT). The buttons in question are assigned to macros. He would like to change the ToolTip that appears when the mouse pointer is hovered over the buttons. He wonders how to go about changing the ToolTip associated with a macro button on the QAT.

Changing the ToolTip is rather easy in Word. All you need to do is follow these steps:

  1. Right-click the button on the QAT. Word displays a Context menu.
  2. Choose Customize Quick Access Toolbar. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
  3. At the right side of the dialog box click on the macro whose ToolTip you want to modify.
  4. Click the Modify button. Word displays the Modify Button dialog box.
  5. Change the Display Name setting to whatever you want the ToolTip to be.
  6. Click OK to close the Modify Button dialog box.
  7. Click OK to close the Word Options dialog box.

It's important to note that you can only modify macros in this way, not any of the other buttons that Word provides.

Note:

If you would like to know how to use the macros described on this page (or on any other page on the WordTips sites), I've prepared a special page that includes helpful information. Click here to open that special page in a new browser tab.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (10509) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Changing ToolTips for a Macro Button.

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

Number Formatting Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can save time and make developing a workbook much easier. Here's how to apply the most common of ...

Discover More

Printing Multiple Pages On a Piece of Paper

If you want to save paper on a printout, you might consider printing multiple pages on a single piece of paper. This can ...

Discover More

Great Gray Tones from a Black and White Printer

Your laser printer probably does a great job in putting black type on the paper. If you want to print gray tones, the ...

Discover More

Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Inserting the Time Remaining Until a Target Date and Time

Would you like a countdown value of some type to appear in your document? You can create your own through the use of a ...

Discover More

Reversing a String

Need to reverse all the characters in a string? You can do so by using the function described in this tip.

Discover More

Accessing the Dirty Flag

When creating macros, you might want to know if a user has made changes in the document or not. Here's how to figure that ...

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 seven more than 7?

2024-04-16 13:40:20

Barry

When modifying (or creating new macro entries) on the QAT is it possible to access other symbols in addition to those displayed. Or just modify the existing ones by adding one or two letters to the blank coloured squares?
Thanks.


2019-04-24 11:06:13

Manuros72

Is there a version of this for Word 365?


2017-05-11 07:50:07

mkamoski

Did not work. Excel 2013. When I rollover the mouse on the custom macro button on the Quick Access Toolbar, there is no tooltip.


2016-11-15 19:52:03

Jaime

Hi Allen, how can I change the ToolTip/ScreenTip for a custom macro Ribbon command?


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.