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How to Hide Command Labels in Microsoft Office Custom Ribbon
Question details
The user wants to remove or hide the text descriptions that appear next to icons on a customized ribbon and toolbar after a Microsoft 365 update.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Customizing the Office workspace to reduce visual clutter by hiding text labels from custom ribbon groups and the Quick Access Toolbar.
- Observed behavior
- A Microsoft update causes text descriptions (like Spelling and Grammar or Page Setup) to display next to ribbon icons, taking up unnecessary space on the interface.
Ensure you have the latest version of Microsoft 365 installed, as ribbon customization options and Quick Access Toolbar settings may vary slightly in older Office builds.
Disable Command Labels for Custom Ribbon Groups
Apply the 'Hide Command Labels' setting to individual custom ribbon groups to manually remove text descriptions next to icons.
Microsoft Office allows you to hide command labels to save space, but this must be done individually for each custom group. There is currently no master setting to hide labels across all custom groups at once.
Right-click any empty space on your Microsoft Office ribbon and select 'Customize the Ribbon' from the context menu.
In the right-hand pane of the Word/Excel Options window, find and right-click the specific custom group where you want to hide the text labels.
Click on 'Hide Command Labels' in the drop-down menu to disable text descriptions for that specific custom group.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the options window to save your preferences and return to your document.
Toggle Labels in the Quick Access Toolbar
Quickly hide or show text descriptions for commands pinned to your Quick Access Toolbar.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Microsoft Office ribbon suddenly start showing text labels next to all icons?
A recent Microsoft 365 UI update changed the default display settings to show text descriptions next to commands for better accessibility. You can hide these manually in your custom groups or the Quick Access Toolbar.
Is there a way to hide command labels for all ribbon groups at once?
No, Microsoft Office does not offer a single global setting to hide command labels across all groups simultaneously. You must right-click and hide them individually for each custom group.
Can I hide text labels on the default, built-in Microsoft Office ribbon tabs?
Generally, no. The 'Hide Command Labels' option in the 'Customize the Ribbon' menu is restricted to custom groups that you have created. Built-in groups do not natively support hiding their text labels.
How do I restore the command labels if I decide I want them back?
To restore the text descriptions, right-click the custom group in the 'Customize the Ribbon' menu and uncheck the 'Hide Command Labels' option. For the Quick Access Toolbar, click the drop-down arrow and select 'Always show command labels'.
