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How to Fix Excel Quick Access Toolbar Settings Disappearing After Closing
Question details
The user's customized Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) settings in Microsoft Excel do not save and disappear every time the application is closed or after an Office update.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Customizing the Quick Access Toolbar with frequently used tools for a faster workflow.
- Observed behavior
- Customizations are lost upon restarting Excel, reverting the Quick Access Toolbar to its default state and requiring the user to recreate it repeatedly.
Before attempting to reset or roll back your software, take a screenshot of your ideal Quick Access Toolbar layout so you can easily recreate it if necessary.
Export and Import the Customization File
Manually exporting your working toolbar settings allows you to quickly restore them with one click if Excel drops the configuration again.
Since Microsoft has acknowledged that disappearing settings can be a bug in certain Office updates, maintaining a manual backup of your user interface customizations is the most reliable way to recover them quickly.
Open Excel, go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar, and add all your preferred commands to the toolbar.
In the same Quick Access Toolbar options window, click the 'Import/Export' button located at the bottom right and select 'Export all customizations'. Save the .exportedUI file to a safe location on your computer.
If your customizations vanish after an update or restart, return to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar, click 'Import/Export', choose 'Import customization file', and select your saved .exportedUI file.
Reset the Quick Access Toolbar Configuration
Clearing the existing customizations and recreating them can resolve issues caused by corrupted interface configuration files.
Roll Back Office to a Previous Version
Since this is a known bug in recent Office updates, reverting to an older version can temporarily restore QAT functionality until Microsoft releases a patch.
Switch to WPS Office for a Stable and Customizable Workspace
Tired of dealing with disappearing toolbars and persistent Microsoft Office bugs? WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly stable alternative. Enjoy a familiar interface that reliably saves your custom settings, ensuring your workflow is never interrupted by unexpected resets.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website to download the free WPS Office suite and install it on your device in minutes.
- 2. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and seamlessly open all your existing .xlsx files without worrying about formatting loss.
- 3. Customize Your Toolbar: Set up your Quick Access tools exactly how you want them, knowing your preferences will be permanently saved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where are Excel Quick Access Toolbar settings saved on Windows?
Quick Access Toolbar configurations are typically saved in an .officeUI file located in the %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office folder on your Windows computer.
Will repairing Microsoft Office fix the disappearing QAT issue?
A Quick or Online Repair can sometimes fix corrupted configuration files. However, if the issue stems from a known bug in a specific Microsoft Office update, repairing might not help, and a software rollback or manual backup may be necessary.
Can I share my Quick Access Toolbar customizations with another computer?
Yes, you can easily share your layout. Go to File > Options > Quick Access Toolbar, and use the 'Import/Export' button to export an .exportedUI file. You can transfer this file to another PC and import it using the same menu.
Why did my Quick Access Toolbar disappear completely?
If the toolbar is completely hidden rather than just missing custom icons, right-click any empty space on the ribbon and select 'Show Quick Access Toolbar' to make it visible again.
