How To Show The Developer Ribbon Tab [With Pictures]

Unlock The Power Of The Developer Tab!

You can access a bunch of neat advanced features in your Office program by choosing to display the Developer tab in your Ribbon.

These advanced features include

• Access to the VBE (Visual Basic Editor)
• Various Macro coding buttons (record, open, edit)
• Microsoft’s Add-in Store and Third-Party Add-in/COM file managers
• Ability to insert Control Form and ActiveX controls (think drop downs, scroll bars, check boxes, etc…)
• Import and Export XML files

These features will allow you to create more customized or automated solutions for your Excel, Word, or PowerPoint files.

Steps To Add The Developer Tab In Excel For PC

1. Right-Click on the Home Tab and select Customize The Ribbon
   • Alternatively, you can navigate through File >> Options >> Customize Ribbon
2. Under the Customize The Ribbon ListBox, ensure the Developer checkbox is checked
3. Click the OK Button
4. The Developer tab should now be displayed in your Excel Ribbon (typically the last tab)

Infographic of Steps to Add Developer Tab in Excel (PC)

If you are a visual learner, I’ve put together a simple infographic that shows you step by step how to enable the Developer Tab inside your PC version of Microsoft Excel.

Add The Developer Tab in Excel For Mac

1. Click the Excel button on your Mac’s Menu Bar
2. Choose the Preferences option.
3. Select the Ribbon & Toolbar icon under the Authoring section.
4. Under the Customize The Ribbon ListBox, ensure the Developer checkbox is checked
5. Click the OK Button
6. The Developer tab should now be displayed in your Excel Ribbon (typically the last tab)

How To Add The Developer Tab in Microsoft Word

Steps To Add The Developer Tab In Microsoft Word

1. Right-Click on the Home Tab and select Customize The Ribbon
   • Alternatively, you can navigate through File >> Options >> Customize Ribbon
2. Under the Customize Ribbon ListBox, ensure the Developer checkbox is checked
3. Click the OK Button
4. The Developer tab should now be displayed in your Microsoft Word Ribbon (typically the last tab)

Infographic of Steps to Add Developer Tab in Microsoft Word (PC)

If you are a visual learner, I’ve put together a simple infographic that shows you step by step how to enable the Developer Tab inside your PC version of Microsoft Word.

How To Add The Developer Tab in Microsoft PowerPoint

Steps To Add The Developer Tab In PowerPoint

1. Right-Click on the Home Tab and select Customize The Ribbon
   • Alternatively, you can navigate through File >> Options >> Customize Ribbon
2. Under the Customize Ribbon ListBox, ensure the Developer checkbox is checked
3. Click the OK Button
4. The Developer tab should now be displayed in your PowerPoint Ribbon (typically the last tab)

Infographic of Steps to Add Developer Tab in PowerPoint (PC)

If you are a visual learner, I’ve put together a simple infographic that shows you step by step how to enable the Developer Tab inside your PC version of Microsoft PowerPoint.

I Hope This Helped!

Hopefully, I was able to explain how you can get the Developer tab to appear in either the Excel, Word, or PowerPoint programs of Microsoft’s Office suite. If you have any questions about this technique or suggestions on how to improve it, please let me know in the comments section below.

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Chris Newman

Chris is a finance professional and Excel MVP recognized by Microsoft since 2016. With his expertise, he founded TheSpreadsheetGuru blog to help fellow Excel users, where he shares his vast creative solutions & expertise. In addition, he has developed over 7 widely-used Excel Add-ins that have been embraced by individuals and companies worldwide.