How to Customize a Toolbar in Microsoft Word

You can make your most used Microsoft Word commands easier to use by simply customizing your toolbar. If you've already found that you need more than the standard formatting commands given in the toolbar, customize your toolbar and have your most used commands at your disposal.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Select "Tools" in Microsoft Word, which is found in the word list above the actual toolbar. Click on the down arrows at the bottom of the list to see additional commands.

2. Click "Customize." You will see two sections. One is "Categories," the other is "Commands." Decide which commands you want to add to the toolbar, paying attention to their category (if you were using the words above the toolbar).

3. Choose "Categories." Look over the categories available by clicking on each one and viewing the commands to them. Microsoft Word categories show on the left side, and their individual commands show on the right. For example, to have an envelope formatting icon available on your toolbar, choose "Tools" on the left and "Envelopes and Labels" on the right.

4. Select an icon and drag it with your mouse up to the toolbar. Release the mouse button when you are at the toolbar and drop the icon.

5. Repeat these steps with each Microsoft Word command you want to add to your toolbar.

Tips & Warnings

• Other commands may already exist for your toolbar. Look for a gray area with a down arrow along the toolbar. Click the arrow to see what other options are available.