How to Add More Favorite Pens to the Draw Tab in Word
Question details
The user wants to save and access multiple custom pens with specific colors and thicknesses directly from the Word Draw tab for quicker drawing and annotation.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Annotating or drawing in a Word document where multiple custom pen styles are frequently needed.
- Observed behavior
- Word limits the number of custom pen slots directly visible on the Draw tab, making it difficult to switch between many custom pens quickly.
Ensure you have a document open in Microsoft Word and navigate to the Draw tab on the ribbon to view your current pen selections.
Pin Custom Pens to the Quick Access Toolbar
Since the Draw tab has limited built-in slots, pinning your customized pens to the Quick Access Toolbar allows you to save and access an unlimited number of favorite pens instantly.
Microsoft Word does not currently offer a native feature to add unlimited custom pen slots directly into the Draw tab ribbon. However, you can bypass this limitation by configuring your ideal pens one by one and pinning them to your Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) located at the top of the application window.
Click on the 'Draw' tab in the ribbon. Select an existing pen and adjust its color and thickness settings to your exact preference.
Right-click the specific pen icon you just customized directly inside the Draw tab ribbon.
Click 'Add to Quick Access Toolbar' from the drop-down context menu. Your custom pen icon will now appear at the very top of your Word window.
Change the pen settings to a new color or thickness, and repeat the right-click process to add as many different favorite pens as you need to the Quick Access Toolbar.
Annotate and Draw Freely with WPS Office
WPS Office provides robust and easy-to-use drawing tools for your document annotation needs. You can easily access various pen styles, customize ink colors, and add freehand drawings directly within your documents without struggling with slot limitations.
- 1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document you wish to annotate or edit.
- 2. Access the Insert tab: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click on the 'Shapes' option.
- 3. Select the Scribble tool: Choose the 'Scribble' line tool from the drop-down menu to draw freely anywhere on your page.
- 4. Customize the pen styling: Use the contextual Drawing Tools tab that appears to instantly change the line color, weight, and style to match your favorite pen settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I increase the number of default pen slots on the Word Draw tab?
No, Microsoft Word has a fixed number of visible pen slots in the Draw tab ribbon. You must either overwrite the existing pens by changing their properties or use the Quick Access Toolbar workaround to save more favorites.
Why is the Draw tab completely missing from my Word ribbon?
The Draw tab might be hidden by default on devices without a touchscreen. To enable it, right-click anywhere on the ribbon, choose 'Customize the Ribbon', and check the 'Draw' box under the Main Tabs list on the right.
How do I remove a saved pen from the Quick Access Toolbar?
Simply right-click the specific pen icon located in the Quick Access Toolbar at the very top of your screen, and select 'Remove from Quick Access Toolbar'.
Is there a limit to how many items I can add to the Quick Access Toolbar?
While there is no strict functional limit for adding custom pens, pinning too many items can clutter the toolbar or push icons off the screen, requiring you to click a drop-down arrow to view the hidden tools.
