Office Settings & Configuration

Fix Microsoft Office Ribbon and Settings Appearing Too Large

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to reduce the amount of screen space taken up by the Microsoft Office ribbon and the File settings menu (Backstage view).

How to Fix an Oversized Microsoft Office Ribbon and Settings Menu

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Adjusting the Office user interface display to reclaim screen space for document editing.
Observed behavior: The Office ribbon and File settings menu occupy a large portion of the screen, and the size remains excessive even after adjusting Windows display options and Mouse/Touch settings.

Before you start

Verify that your Office application is not stuck in 'Touch Mode', which intentionally increases the spacing between ribbon buttons for tablet users. You can toggle this from the Quick Access Toolbar at the top of the window.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Ribbon Display Options to Minimize or Hide the Ribbon

Adjust the built-in Ribbon Display Options to hide the command bar, freeing up valuable vertical screen space while you type.

Microsoft Office allows you to customize how the ribbon behaves. If it feels too large and intrusive, you can set it to automatically hide or to display only the primary tabs.

Locate the Ribbon Display Options

Look at the top-right corner of your Office application window, just to the left of the minimize/maximize buttons, and click the 'Ribbon Display Options' icon (an arrow inside a small box).

Select a Display Mode

Choose 'Show Tabs' if you only want to see the tab names (like Home, Insert, Layout) until you click them. Alternatively, select 'Auto-hide Ribbon' to completely hide both the ribbon and the application title bar until you hover and click at the top edge of the screen.

Pin the Ribbon Back

If you ever need the full ribbon back, click the Ribbon Display Options icon again and select 'Show Tabs and Commands'.

Use Ribbon Display Options to Minimize or Hide the Ribbon

Keyboard Shortcut: You can quickly toggle between 'Show Tabs' and 'Show Tabs and Commands' by pressing Ctrl + F1 on your keyboard.

Solution 2

Bypass the Full-Screen Backstage View

The File menu (Backstage view) is designed by Microsoft to take up the entire screen. You can change your settings to bypass it during common tasks like opening or saving files.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Cleaner, Customizable Interface

If the bulky Microsoft Office ribbon and full-screen menus continue to disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a sleek, lightweight, and customizable interface that maximizes your workspace while keeping all essential tools within easy reach.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Run the lightweight installer. Once finished, launch WPS Office to experience a cleaner interface.
3. Open Your Files: Drag and drop your existing .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files into WPS Office to continue your work without missing a beat.

Streamlined, less intrusive ribbon design that maximizes your active workspace.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Lightweight architecture ensures faster software loading and smoother performance.Familiar tabbed interface makes it easy to handle multiple documents in one window.Completely free to download and use for your essential productivity tasks.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Office ribbon suddenly get bigger and more spaced out?

Your application likely switched to 'Touch Mode', which increases the space between buttons to make them easier to tap on touchscreens. You can switch back to 'Mouse Mode' by clicking the hand pointer icon on your Quick Access Toolbar at the top left of the window.

Can I resize the actual icons on the Microsoft Office ribbon?

Microsoft Office does not currently offer a native setting to scale down the size of the icons on the ribbon independently of your system settings. You can only hide the ribbon, collapse it to tabs, or adjust your overall Windows display scaling.

How do I get my ribbon to stop disappearing when I type?

If your ribbon disappears when you click into your document, it is set to 'Show Tabs' or 'Auto-hide'. Double-click on any tab name (like Home or Insert) to pin the ribbon back in place, or use the Ribbon Display Options icon to select 'Show Tabs and Commands'.

Is it possible to make the File menu (Backstage view) a smaller dropdown instead of full screen?

No, Microsoft Office hardcodes the File menu as a full-screen 'Backstage view'. However, you can bypass it entirely for opening and saving files by using keyboard shortcuts like Ctrl+O and Ctrl+S after adjusting your Save options.

Office App Problems