Quick Access Toolbar is Missing in Excel (6 Solutions)

Steps to solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue in Excel using the Ribbon context menu:

1. Right-click on any tab of the Ribbon.
2. Choose the Show Quick Access Toolbar option in the context menu.

After that, the Quick Access Toolbar will be available.

The Quick Access Toolbar is a feature of Excel that holds the frequently used commands based on the user’s preferences. It is located at the upper-left corner of the worksheet.

After opening an Excel worksheet, you may sometimes find that the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) is missing. There are various reasons for this disappearance: like manual, system, or software-related issues.

In this article, you will learn 6 solutions regarding the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue in Excel.

In the below image, we have solved the Quick Access Toolbar missing problem by following any of the solutions mentioned in this article.

Why Quick Access Toolbar is Missing in Excel?

There are several reasons for missing the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel, those are given below:

• Accidentally Removed: You might have accidentally removed or hidden the Quick Access Toolbar.
• Customized Quick Access Toolbar is not Saved properly: Sometimes you may find that the Quick Access Toolbar and its commands are showing properly in a specific Excel file and missing in all other files. The reason for this problem is you might have forgotten to save the Customized Quick Access Toolbar for all the documents.
• Software is not updated: If your Microsoft Office application isn’t updated and faces an operating system incompatibility, this problem may arise.
• Corrupted Workbook or Application: If your Excel workbook or application is corrupted, you may find the Quick Access Toolbar is missing.

6 Solutions for Quick Access Toolbar Missing Issue in Excel

To solve the missing issue of the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel, we will explore several solutions based on Excel’s built-in features, software, and system.

6 solutions for the missing issue of the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel are:

1. Show the Quick Access Toolbar Using Built-in Features

To show the Quick Access Toolbar, you can use the built-in features like the context menu of ribbon, Ribbon Display Options, and Excel Options. Here, we will discuss the process of showing the Quick Access Toolbar using the context menu of the ribbon.

To solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue using the context menu of the ribbon:

1. Right-click on any tab of the Ribbon.
2. Choose the Show Quick Access Toolbar option in the context menu.

The Quick Access Toolbar is no longer missing.

2. Reset the Quick Access Toolbar

You can reset the Quick Access Toolbar to solve the missing issue arising from its customization. You can do this from the Excel Options window.

To solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue by resetting it in Excel:

1. Click on the File tab.
2. Select Options to appear Excel Options window. Or, press Alt + F + T.
3. In the Excel Options window:
   • Select the Quick Access Toolbar from the left menu.
   • In the right menu, go to Customizations > Reset drop-down > Reset only Quick Access Toolbar.
   • Finally, press OK.

   

3. Show Customize Quick Access Toolbar for All Documents

Sometimes, you may face a situation where the Quick Access Toolbar is visible, but the customized settings are not being displayed. If you want to show the customized Quick Access Toolbar in all documents, you need to save the customized Quick Access Toolbar for all documents, not just the current file. You have to access the Excel Options window for that.

To show the customized Quick Access Toolbar for all documents:

1. Follow the first 2 steps of the previous solution to open the Excel Options window.
2. In the Excel Options window:
   • Click on the Quick Access Toolbar from the left side.
   • On the right side, click on the drop-down box under Customize Quick Access Toolbar.
   • Select For all documents (default) and press OK.

   

The Quick Access Toolbar will be available in all Excel files with customizations.

4. Update Microsoft Office Application

If you are using an older version of the Microsoft Office application, then you may find the Quick Access Toolbar missing due to the incompatibility issue with the operating system. For that, you need to update the Office application.

To solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue by updating the Microsoft Office application:

• Go to File tab > Account > Update Options drop-down > Update Now.

5. Repair the Corrupted Workbook

If the Quick Access Toolbar is missing due to the corrupted workbook, you need to repair that workbook. You can repair the corrupted workbook from File Explorer.

To solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue by repairing the corrupted workbook:

1. Go to File tab > Open > Browse.
2. Select the corrupted file from the File Explorer.
3. Click on Open drop-down > Open and Repair.
4. Click Repair on the warning box.

6. Repair Microsoft Office Application

If the solutions mentioned above cannot resolve the issue of the missing Quick Access Toolbar, there might be a problem with the Microsoft Office application. To solve this, you should repair the Microsoft Office application by accessing the Windows Settings.

Solve the Quick Access Toolbar missing issue by repairing the Microsoft Office application:

1. Right-click on the Start icon of the Taskbar.
2. Select Installed Apps from the newly appeared menu.
   You will see the Settings window with all the installed apps.
3. Find the Microsoft 365 application and click on the triple dot (…).
4. After that, click on the Modify option.
5. In the pop-up window, check Quick Repair > Repair.
6.  Press Repair to start this process in the next pop-up window.

Conclusion

The absence of the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel may result from user settings, customization issues, or system limitations. We’ve mentioned all possible causes and presented six solutions to resolve this. Compare your Excel environment and settings with the mentioned reasons and apply the most suitable solution to restore the Quick Access Toolbar. If you have further queries, please write in the comment box.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to export or save Quick Access Toolbar settings for backup?

You can export or save the Quick Access Toolbar settings for backup from the Excel Options window.

1. Go to File tab > Options.
2. In the Excel Options window, click on Quick Access Toolbar > Customizations > Import/Export drop-down.
3. After selecting Export All Customizations, save the file in the File Explorer formatted as Export Office UI file.

You can use or share this file with others as a backup file of Quick Access Toolbar settings.

Do Excel add-ins interfere with the Quick Access Toolbar?

Some Excel add-ins may affect the appearance of the Quick Access Toolbar. You can investigate if any add-ins influence the toolbar’s visibility from the Add-ins section of the Excel Options window.

Does the screen resolution impact the Quick Access Toolbar?

Screen resolution might impact the visibility of the Quick Access Toolbar and its associated commands. If possible modify the screen resolution from the settings for better visibility of the Quick Access Toolbar commands.

Related Articles

• How to Customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel
• How to Remove Quick Access Toolbar in Excel

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