Customize Ribbon Size to Make it Smaller

Anonymous
2013-08-26T01:47:56+00:00

I'm extremely disappointed that Microsoft has made the ribbon so HUGE and does not appear to offer any way of customizing its size other than completely collapsing it.  Between the menu bar, the ribbon, the formula bar, etc. almost HALF of the screen real estate is non-content. Microsoft has it backwards, thinking the more screen space should go to the user interface rather than the content. This is maddening, and it's extremely frustrating that Microsoft doesn't allow me to customize the size of the ribbon to maximize content. Does anyone know of a work around?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-27T00:22:09+00:00

    Yours is a good solution for those who use a small set of features. But for my work as an editor I need the Review tab open at all times. I customized it--which was a learning curve over a period of weeks--and there is sits, a fat ribbon atop the screen. I would dearly like to compact it, as it was back in Word 2003, but no option to do this. Yes, Microsoft doesn't get the part about maximizing CONTENT and minimizing its Ribbon. And no, I'm not getting one of those apps that can bring you back to 2003. I've already spent enough time learing Office 2010, which I purchased in the last year to bring me up to docx level.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-26T12:29:33+00:00

    I do think answers like that will engender assistance. I have read the whole subject matter/thread. I have also researched the subject matter extensively without success.  I do not know if repairing office will fix your problem. I do know that repairing office fixes all sort of problems where there is no exact cause identified.  I was in the process of posting the following, as I have started I will finish. However, I will not be attempting to assist you further although with your bad manners I do not expect that will make much difference to you.

    Try this>Right click on any of the tabs on the ribbon>Choose customize the ribbon>Bottom right hand side click on the down arrow on the reset tab>Reset all customizations (Of course you will loose any settings)

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-13T17:52:27+00:00

    I think that it may be a matter of changing the font size See: How to change Ribbon font size in Outlook?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-12-13T17:19:04+00:00

    My settings were imported, so no "pointing finger".

    I've been through every command available and still no finger.

    There's one pointing to a document but that clearly isn't the one.

    I am ready to scream...

    Click the down arrow to customize the quick access toolbar. Check Touch/Mouse Mode. This make the "finger" appear. Click the"finger" and select Mouse Mode.

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  5. Anonymous
    2015-12-08T23:02:11+00:00

    My settings were imported, so no "pointing finger".

    I've been through every command available and still no finger.

    There's one pointing to a document but that clearly isn't the one.

    I am ready to scream...

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