Office Settings & Configuration

How to Add Advanced Document Properties to the Ribbon in Word

Olivia Miller Oct 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to access the Advanced Document Properties menu more efficiently without repeatedly navigating through the File menu.

How to Add Advanced Document Properties to the Ribbon in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the Word workspace to improve workflow efficiency when managing document metadata.
Observed behavior: Currently, accessing advanced document properties requires multiple clicks through the File menu. The goal is to make it a one-click action directly from the Ribbon or Quick Access Toolbar.

Before you start

Ensure you have a document open in Microsoft Word so you can easily access the Options menu where Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar customization settings are located.

Solution 1Recommended

Add View Document Properties to the Quick Access Toolbar

This is the most efficient method because the Quick Access Toolbar remains visible no matter which Ribbon tab is currently active.

Adding commands to the Quick Access Toolbar provides immediate, one-click access to tools you use frequently without cluttering your main Ribbon tabs.

Open Word Options

Click on 'File' in the top-left corner and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Access Quick Access Toolbar Settings

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Quick Access Toolbar' in the left pane.

Find the Command

Under the 'Choose commands from' drop-down menu, select 'Commands Not in the Ribbon'.

Add the Command

Scroll down the list, select 'View Document Properties', click the 'Add' button in the middle, and then click 'OK' to save your changes.

Add View Document Properties to the Quick Access Toolbar

Quick Access Toolbar Updated: You will now see a new icon at the very top of your Word window. Clicking it will instantly open the Advanced Document Properties dialog.

Solution 2

Add the Command to a Custom Ribbon Group

Use this method if you prefer to keep the command inside a specific Ribbon tab alongside related formatting or reviewing tools.

Manage Document Properties in WPS Office

Customize Your Toolbar and Manage Document Properties Easily in WPS Office

WPS Office provides an incredibly intuitive interface for managing your document metadata. You can easily access and pin document properties to your Quick Access Toolbar for a smoother workflow.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open your text document in WPS Writer.
2. Access the Options Menu: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top-left corner and select 'Options' from the drop-down list.
3. Customize the Toolbar: Navigate to the 'Quick Access Toolbar' tab, find the document properties command, and click 'Add' to pin it for one-click access.

Quickly access document properties and metadataFully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx)Highly customizable and familiar user interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I add the View Document Properties command to an existing Ribbon group?

Microsoft Word locks built-in Ribbon groups to prevent accidental modification of default layouts. To add a custom command to an existing tab, you must first create a 'New Group' inside that tab and add your command there.

What is the advantage of using the Quick Access Toolbar over the Ribbon?

The Quick Access Toolbar remains constantly visible at the top of the window regardless of which Ribbon tab is currently active. This makes it much faster to access frequently used commands like Document Properties without having to switch tabs.

What kind of metadata can I edit in Advanced Document Properties?

In the Advanced Document Properties dialog, you can view and edit metadata such as the document title, author name, company, category, keywords, and subject. You can also add custom properties to help organize and track your files.

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