Advanced users of Microsoft Office will want to have the Developer tab showcased on the Ribbon of Word or Excel programs at all times. However, that tab is not shown by default, which means it can be manually added. Doing this is pretty simple, but not everyone might know how to do it. You can use the Program’s settings, Group Policy or the Registry Editor to do this.
With this in mind, we have decided to explain how to add the Developer Tab to the Ribbon area in Microsoft Office.
What is the Developer Tab used for?
- Run XML commands: One of the cool features of Microsoft Office is the ability to run XML commands. Advanced users and businesses primarily use these commands.
- Develop applications to run in Microsoft Office tools: Yes, it is possible to create your application to run in Microsoft Office for your own needs.
- Write and run Macros: Microsoft has made it possible for users to write and run macros in its Office suite for the longest time. Macros are powerful, and as such, they can be dangerous since running a Macro is similar to running a line of code. You see, Macros have been used to install malware and other dangerous viruses on Windows for a long time now, and despite improved security measures from Microsoft, Macros are still a threat if used in the wrong way.
- Use ActiveX controls: Internet Explorer has its own plug-in system called ActiveX Controls, which can also be used in Microsoft Office via the Developer Tab. If you know what you are doing, then go on ahead and make use of ActiveX in your Office document. However, if you are new to this, we suggest only installing ActiveX tools from a trusted source. Similar to Macros, we understand that ActiveX can be a source for installing malicious software on your computer.
How to add Developer tab in Office programs
OK, so once the Developer Tab is added to the Word or Excel Ribbon, it will stay visible until manually removed. The process is simple:
- Launch Word or Excel
- Open the Options menu
- Open Customize Ribbon
- Activate Developer
Let us talk about this issue in a more detailed manner.
1] Open the Options menu
The first step into adding the Developer Tab to Microsoft Office programs is to click on File, then navigate to Options. You should see several choices, but only one on the list is essential in this respect.
2] Open Customize Ribbon
We have spoken about this section before. You see, if something is missing from the Ribbon in Microsoft Office, then chances are, this is where you will find it. The same goes if you want to remove a feature from the Ribbon.
3] Activate Developer
After you have selected Customize Ribbon, you should see two sections. One on the left is called Popular Commands, and another on the right is called Main Tabs. You will want to look under Main Tabs for Developer and be sure to click inside of the empty box.
Finally, click the OK button, and right away, the Developer Tab should appear on the Ribbon.
How to add Developer tab in Word using Group Policy
To add Developer tab in Word using Group Policy, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to open the Run prompt.
- Type gpedit.msc and press the Enter button.
- Navigate to Customize Ribbon in User Configuration.
- Double-click on the Display Developer tab in the Ribbon setting.
- Choose the Enabled option.
- Click the OK button.
To learn more about these steps, continue reading.
To get started, press Win+R to open the Run prompt, type gpedit.msc, and hit the Enter button. Then, navigate to this path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Word 2016 > Word Options > Customize Ribbon
Here you can see a setting called the Display Developer tab in the Ribbon. You need to double-click on it and select the Enabled option.
Then, click the OK button to save the change.
How to add Developer tab in Word using Registry
To add Developer tab in Word using Registry, follow these steps:
- Press Win+R to show the Run prompt.
- Type regedit > press the Enter button > click the Yes button.
- Navigate to Microsoft in HKCU.
- Right-click on Microsoft > New > Key and name it as office.
- Right-click on office > New > Key and name it as 0.
- Right-click on 0 > New > Key and set the name as word.
- Right-click on word > New > Key and name it as options.
- Right-click options > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it as developertools.
- Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1.
- Click the OK button and restart your computer.
Let’s check out these steps in detail.
First, press Win+R, type regedit, and press the Enter button. Then, click the Yes option in the UAC prompt. Next, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft
Right-click on Microsoft > New > Key, and name it as office.
Then, follow the same method to create a sub-key under the office key and name it as 16.0. Repeat the same steps to create a sub-key under the 16.0 key and call it word.
Right-click on word > New > Key and name it as options. Following that, right-click on options > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and set the name as developertools.
Once done, double-click on it to set the Value data as 1.
Click the OK button and restart your computer.
How to add Developer tab in Excel using Group Policy
To add Developer tab in Excel using Group Policy, follow these steps:
- Search for gpedit.msc in the Taskbar search box.
- Click on the individual search result.
- Navigate to Customize Ribbon in User Configuration.
- Double-click on the Display Developer tab in the Ribbon setting.
- Choose the Enabled option.
- Click the OK button.
Let’s delve into these steps in detail.
First, you need to open the Local Group Policy Editor. For that, search for gpedit.msc in the Taskbar search box and click on the individual search result.
Once it is opened, navigate to the following path:
User Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Excel 2016 > Word Options > Customize Ribbon
Double-click on the Display Developer tab in the Ribbon setting and choose the Enabled option.
Click the Apply and OK buttons to save the change and restart Excel to find the Developer tab.
How to add Developer tab in Excel using Registry
To add Developer tab in Excel using Registry, follow these steps:
- Search for regedit in the Taskbar search box.
- Click on the individual search result and click the Yes button.
- Navigate to Microsoft in HKCU.
- Right-click on empty space > New > Key and set the name as office.
- Repeat these steps to create a sub-key and name it 0.
- Right-click on 0 > New > Key and set the name as excel.
- Right-click on excel > New > Key and name it as options.
- Right-click on options > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value.
- Name it as developertools.
- Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1 and click the OK button.
- Reboot your PC.
To know more about these above-mentioned steps in detail, continue reading.
First, you need to open the Registry Editor. For that, search for regedit in the Taskbar search box, click on the individual search result and click the Yes option.
Then, navigate to the following path:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft
If you have already set this setting for other Office programs, you may find the office sub-key under the Microsoft key. In that case, you need to skip to the 6th step. Otherwise, you need to create all the sub-keys manually for Excel. To do that, right-click on Microsoft > New > Key and name it as office.
Then, repeat these steps to create a sub-key under office and name it as 16.0. Do that again to create a sub-key under 16.0 and name it as excel. One last time, repeat these steps to create another sub-key and name it as options.
Once done, you need to create a REG_DWORD value. For that, right-click on options > New > DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as developertools.
Double-click on it to set the Value data as 1 and click the OK button.
Finally, reboot your computer to get the change.
Note: You need to download the Group Policy template for Office in order to use the GPEDIT method mentioned in the article. Another important thing is that although it says Microsoft Excel16 or Microsoft Word 16, you can apply the same settings on Microsoft 365 or Office 2021/19 programs as well.
Is there a Developer tab in Office 365?
Yes, the Developer tab feature is available in Office 365 as well as the desktop versions of Microsoft Office. You can add it first and then use it on Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. The same feature is also present in Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac and other supported versions.
Hope this helps.
