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

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:

Right-click the button on the QAT. Word displays a Context menu.
Choose Customize Quick Access Toolbar. Word displays the Word Options dialog box.
At the right side of the dialog box click on the macro whose ToolTip you want to modify.
Click the Modify button. Word displays the Modify Button dialog box.
Change the Display Name setting to whatever you want the ToolTip to be.
Click OK to close the Modify Button dialog box.
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. Learn more about Allen...

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What is nine minus 1?

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?

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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.