Do you use the same tools over and over in Microsoft Excel? If you’re constantly clicking around to find them, there’s a better way. You can create your own customized tab in Microsoft Excel and group all your favorite tools in one place. This means no more digging through menus!
Here’s how you can streamline your workflow and boost your efficiency. And yes, this works in Word and PowerPoint too! Let’s dive in.
What Are Tabs and Groups in Excel?
Before we get started, let’s cover some quick definitions so we’re on the same page. In Excel, Tabs are the sections at the top of your screen, including Home, Insert, and Data—essentially, the menus we use to get things done. Within each tab, you’ll find Groups of tools. For example, under Home there’s a Clipboard group that includes actions like Cut, Copy, and Paste.
We’re going to create our own tab and place our favorite tools into custom groups right beneath it.
Step-by-Step Guide to Creating a Customized Tab in Microsoft Excel
Let’s walk through the whole process of creating your customized tab in Excel.
1. Open the Settings
Start by opening your Excel file. Once you have that open, go to File and then scroll down to Options at the bottom of the list. This will bring up the Excel options menu where we’ll make the changes.
2. Customize the Ribbon
In the Options dialog box, select Customize Ribbon from the sidebar. On the right, you’ll see a list of all the existing Excel tabs—everything you usually see at the top of your screen.
3. Add a New Tab
Here comes the magic! Go to the right side of the screen and click New Tab. Excel will generate a new tab for you, but you’ll probably want to give it a more meaningful name. By default, it’s called New Tab (Custom). Go ahead and right-click on it, select Rename, and name it something personal. I named mine Melissa.
4. Create Your First Group
Each tab must contain at least one group of tools. Excel will create a basic new group under your tab for you. You can rename this too, but for now, let’s leave it as is and start adding tools.
5. Pick Your Favorite Tools
Now that you have your custom tab and an empty group, it’s time to fill that group with your most-used tools. On the left side, you’ll see a huge list of commands you can add under different categories like Popular Commands or All Commands.
For example, I frequently use:
- Paste Special
- Print Preview
- Quick Print
After picking these, just click Add to toss them into your custom group.
6. See Your New Tab in Action
Click OK to wrap up this step. You should now see your new customized tab (in my case, called Melissa) up at the top, right after Home, or wherever you like it. Click on it, and boom—there are all your tools inside the new group you just created. No more endless searching!
RELATED TOPIC: How to Create Custom Views for Data in Excel
Adding More Custom Groups and Commands
Maybe you want more than just one group of tools, right? No problem! You can always add another group.
1. Add Another Group
Head back to File > Options > Customize Ribbon. Click on New Group below your custom tab. Give it a quick name (I named mine Image Group) if the default doesn’t fit.
2. Add More Tools
Just like before, pick what you want from the list of commands on the left and move them over to your new group. This time, I wanted to experiment with tools that aren’t even listed in the regular ribbon, so I chose Commands Not in the Ribbon and moved a few over.
Excel doesn’t limit how many groups you can add. You can keep building out your tab to fit your exact needs.
Rearranging and Organizing Your New Tab
Want to rearrange where your custom tab shows up? You can simply drag and drop it where you want it to be within the list.
For example, I like my custom tab right next to Home at the top of my screen, but you might prefer it all the way to the right. It’s all about what works best for you.
If you decide some tools should move around, you can also drag them between groups or remove them altogether by highlighting the tool and hitting Remove.
Custom Tabs Aren’t Only for Excel
Here’s the best part: This same process works in Word and PowerPoint! So if you’re jumping between apps for work, you can streamline them all in the same way.
No more hopping around in menus—the tools you love can stay right at your fingertips.
RELATED TOPIC: How to Create a Pivot Table in Microsoft Excel
Conclusion
If you’re working in Excel often, using a customized tab in Microsoft Excel can make a massive difference in how efficient your workflow is. Instead of losing precious time searching through tabs and groups every time you need something, you’ll now have everything you use regularly right in front of you.
Give it a try—and be sure to come back and let me know how much time it’s saving you!
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