Office Settings & Configuration

How to Restore the Excel Worksheet Tab Appearance After an Update

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to restore the original, larger, rounded worksheet tabs in Excel after they unexpectedly changed appearance.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: The user returned to an unattended computer with an open workbook and found that the interface had updated automatically.
Observed behavior: The Excel worksheet tabs have become significantly smaller and lost their rounded corners, making them uncomfortable and difficult to use.

Before you start

Before modifying application settings or attempting to roll back Office updates, save your current workbooks and close all Microsoft Office applications.

Solution 1Recommended

Check for Additional Office Updates

Microsoft often releases follow-up updates to address user feedback on interface changes. Checking for new updates might restore a better tab appearance.

Open Account Settings

Launch Microsoft Excel. Click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Account' from the bottom of the left-hand menu.

Check for Updates

Under the 'Product Information' section, click on the 'Update Options' drop-down button and select 'Update Now'.

Apply Updates and Restart

Wait for Excel to check for and download any available updates. Once completed, close and reopen Excel to see if the tab appearance has improved.

Solution 2

Roll Back the Microsoft Office Update

If the smaller tabs are too disruptive, you can revert Excel to a previous build before the interface update was introduced.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Comfortable and Consistent Interface

If sudden interface updates in Microsoft Excel disrupt your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a stable, user-friendly spreadsheet environment without forcing uncomfortable UI changes, all while maintaining perfect compatibility with your existing files.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer.
2. Install the Application: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your device.
3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Spreadsheets and open your existing Excel workbooks to enjoy a comfortable editing experience.

Free and lightweight office suiteHighly compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx, .xls) formatsClean, classic tabbed interface that is easy to read and navigateNo disruptive background UI updates while you work

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Excel tabs suddenly change shape while I was away?

Microsoft pushes background updates for Office 365 and newer versions of Office. If an update containing interface tweaks is installed while the application is idle, the new appearance (like smaller, square tabs) will apply immediately upon refreshing.

Is there a setting in Excel to change the worksheet tab size back to normal?

Currently, Excel does not offer a specific built-in setting or toggle dedicated to changing the shape or size of worksheet tabs. You are limited to adjusting your overall Windows display scaling or waiting for Microsoft to adjust the UI in a future update.

Will rolling back the Office update cause me to lose my workbook data?

No. Rolling back the Microsoft Office application version only affects the software files and interface. It does not delete, modify, or corrupt your saved .xlsx workbook files or their data.

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