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
    2015-12-29T18:31:09+00:00

    Many thanks for such a simple solution. I visited a Microsoft store and the sales/technical person did not know how to do it. Then I read your solution.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-03-18T15:42:19+00:00

    Pull down the tiny arrow in the Quick Access Toolbar. If your box beside Touch/Mouse Mode is unchecked, click that. Now Excel will give you the finger. ^_^  It may not help, though, if it's not already there - if you had a touch screen it should have already been in Touch mode.

    I'm not a fan of the wasted ribbon space either. Touch/Mouse could be renamed Worse/Bad.

    At least within AutoCAD I can control how big the buttons are on the ribbon and control how they shrink as the window is resized. Office apps just reconfigure the ribbon like maniacs as you shrink your working window. Just give us one interface and leave it alone.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-07-13T15:18:15+00:00

    I just discovered how to make it more like Word 2010.  Go to the top menu/task bar.  Click on the icon that looks like a finger pointing and choose "mouse."  A quick, simple solution - though not at all intuitive.

    just a note for those looking for that pointing finger icon... you find this when you go to the top (first) row of the program (outlook for example) and you find the "quick access tool bar" (it's the eject cd looking icon - upside down triangle)... click that once and find/click "touch/mouse mode" in the drop menu.... THEN you'll see the pointing finger icon that allows you to select mouse vs touch mode.

    I also found this helps SLIGHTLY too:

    https://www.extendoffice.com/documents/outlook/2057-outlook-change-ribbon-font-size.html

    but ya... not by much :(

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-25T14:41:13+00:00

    It's a year later since your post. I recently loaded Office 2013 to my PC for a class that I am taking, it requires us to use Access 2013. I have been reluctant because I never really like the new look. I must agree with all the post regarding the  size it is totally ridiculous. I am very disappointed! As soon as my class is finished and am going back to my older version.

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-08-22T04:22:45+00:00

    Solution found! Many thanks to Jeff_Engineer and StrategicData (above). 

    Thanks,

    Dee.

    I'm sorry, but where exactly is the "Top menu/task bar"?? I can't seem to find anything that looks like what is described.... Please HELP!'

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