This page last revised: 01 Jan 2021 20:39:13 -0500 .
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Microsoft Word adopted the Ribbon User Interface (UI) with the introduction of Office 2007. This page explores some of the variations on that Ribbon through the versions. In composing this page, a deliberate choice was made to not resize images. This makes for a wide page, especially on mobile devices. Narrower versions with resized images are available as narrow version and very narrow version. They may not be updated as often.
I was not a great lover of the Ribbon; it has grown on me. MS tells us that it is easier for beginners to use, and they may be right.
For experienced users, there is a tremendous learning curve. From Word 2007 on, it has been possible to modify the Ribbon. In Word 2007 this required an ability to code in vba and XML. In the later versions it has been possible to make much more limited modifications through the interface. All versions since 2007 have included the Quick Access Toolbar as the only easily modifiable toolbar. This is in sharp contrast to Word 97-2003 where all of the menus and toolbars were easily modified from within the interface.
Quick Parts Microsoft Word Mac Shortcut
For a start on modifying the ribbon using XML and vba, I recommend Greg Maxey's site, starting with Customize the Ribbon (It doesn't take rocket science) . An essential book, and not just for Word 2007, is RibbonX: Customizing the Office 2007 Ribbon - by Robert Martin, Ken Puls, and Theresa Hennig.
What I will do here is show some variations over time on the tabs I commonly used in Word.
Incidentally, I recently discovered that if you hover your mouse pointer over the Ribbon and use the wheel on the mouse, it will scroll horizontally through the tabs!
The non-context tabs (always available): Home - Insert - Draw - Design - Page Layout - References - Mailings - Review - View - Developer - Help
Some of thecontextual tabs: Outlining - Table Design - Table Layout - Header & Footer Tools - Drawing Tools - Picture Tools - Equation Tools - Learning Tools
Other: Print Preview (legacy)
Problems with Ribbon display are discussed at the bottom of this page. Commands Missing - Missing Tabs - Strange-Lookng Ribbon
Not Ribbon 'Tabs' - Backstage - The Office Button and File Button on far left
On the left end of the Ribbon is a special button to take you to Word's 'backstage.' In Word 2007 this is the multi-color Office button. In the later versions it appears to be a blue tab named File. You do not see the document when you click on one of these. You also do not see any of the Ribbon tabs when your are in Backstage view. Pressing Esc returns you to the document view in the tab that you were viewing last. If you don't see your tab's controls chances are that you have minimized the Ribbon. There are screenshots from the Backstage view at the bottom of this page.
Minimizing the Ribbon - making more room to see your document
If you right-click on a Ribbon tab one of the options is to minimize/maximize the ribbon. Double-clicking on any tab or pressing the Ctrl+F1 key combination will do the same thing. In Word 2010 and later because the File Button is blue/black, it is easy to think that the File 'Tab' has been selected or become the default when the Ribbon is minimized. Here is a sample of a minimized Ribbon.
If the Ribbon is minimized, you can use the same process to bring it back: (1) double-click on any ribbon tab, or (2) right-click on any ribbon tab and uncheck 'minimize the ribbon,' or, (3) Press the Ctrl+F3 keyboard shortcut.
In Word 2013 or later, there is an additional switch that can cause it to entirely disappear until you move your cursor to the top of the screen. That is the AutoHide option. The control for this is an arrow in a box at the top-right corner of the window by the X to close a document. Using AutoHide also hides the QAT and the Status Bar. It gives you your document in print mode with the rulers.
The Home Tab - the basic workspace in a document:
Word 2007
-Word 2007 - wider
-Word 2007 - narrower
I won't do this with each tab. The three tabs above are all screenshots of the ribbon on the same computer. Word repackages the ribbon tabs to fit the available space.
In the wider version, it gives more space to the Styles Gallery. In the narrower version some buttons shrink or lose captions. The combination of screen size and resolution determines what you will see, so your ribbons may not look exactly like any of the ones shown here. Another example showing different screen layouts is in the Word 2010 version of the Drawing Tools contextual tab below. Your ribbon may or may not have a Developer Tab, that is up to you.
The Word 2007 and 2010 tabs shown are from a laptop running Windows Vista. The Word 2013/365 tabs are from a desktop tower running Windows 7 on a larger screen or from a laptop running Windows 10.
Word 2010
Word 2010 - Narrower
(Note the collapse of the QuickStyles Gallery and Editing Group. The Quick Styles gallery is now available through the button. Other groups are compressed. This is less than half as wide as the one immediately above it.)
Word 2013
Beginning with Word 2013 the Change Styles and Quick Style Sets were moved to the Design Tab.
Quick Parts Microsoft Word Macro
Word 2013 in Touch Mode - see below
Word 2013 - Narrower
Word 2016
Original Word 2016
Word 365 in 2018 - Note Voice/Dictate Group on Right - this is likely to be the starting point for Word 2019
Word 2019/365
Word Online
Word Online is a different program. It looks much the same but has fewer features.
The Dialog Launcher for the Styles group launches the Apply Styles Dialog, not the Styles Pane.
The Insert Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013
Word 2016
Word 365 in late 2018 - likely to be 2019's Insert - note that Feedback (smiley face) no longer there - it has been moved to under File tab
The Store icon has been changed to Get Add-Ins. It serves the same function. Note the addition off 3D Models and Icons under Illustrations.
Word 2019/365
Slightly different look, retains 3D Models and Icons under Illustrations.
Word Online
WordArt Dropdown in the Insert Tab
WordArt has been a component of Word for some time and continues under the Insert Tab. However, its appearance differs.
Word 2007
This gallery dropdown is the view of WordArt straight from Word 2003.
Word 2010
This changed dramatically in Word 2010. However, once WordArt is created, the use of Text Effects under the Drawing Tools Context Tab can manipulate it.
Note, that this is in a document in Word 2010 native .docx format. If the document is in Word 97-2003 .doc format we see the same gallery as in Word 2007.
However, it is possible to have your cake and eat it too! The next screenshot is from a Word 2010 screen in a document formatted as a native Word 2010 .docx document. An Add-in containing a custom Building Blocks (AutoText) gallery is in use. That .dotx template also has a QAT modification to allow quick access to the gallery. This was done using tools from Greg Maxey's site (not required, just easier) and contains no macros. This Add-In can be downloaded for free from my downloads page.
If instead, you used Insert > WordArt in this document, you would get the Word 2010 dropdown.
Word 2013
Word 2016/365
The Draw Tab - Word 2016-19/365 only
2019/365
The Design Tab - Word 2013-19/365 only
This tab takes controls that were previously on the Home, Page Layout and Insert tabs and expands them.
It is primarily about Quick Style Sets and Themes. I don't know that it introduces any new controls.
Here are some of the galleries accessed through this tab:
Themes (formerly on the Page Layout Tab)
[Quick] Style Sets (formerly by Styles on the Home Tab)
(Theme) Colors:
(Theme) Fonts:
Can give access to this dialog:
Watermarks (Formerly on the Page Layout Tab)
Page Background Colors
Page Borders
Paragraph Spacing (Also on Layout Tab but without Gallery)
If you move your mouse pointer over choices, a tip will show you what the settings will be.
Custom Paragraph Spacing takes you to the Manage Styles Set Defaults Dialog
Theme Effects
Word 2016/365
The Design Tab in Word 2016 is unchanged from Word 2013.
Word 2019/365
The Page Layout Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
The Page Background Group was moved to the Design Tab beginning with Word 2013.
Word 2013/365
Word 2016/365 - Layout Tab
The Layout Tab in Word 2016-2019/365 is the same as the Page Layout Tab in Word 2013.
Word 2019/365 - Layout Tab
The References Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013
Word 2016/365
Word 365 as of 9/2018 - likely to be Word 2019
Note that in later versions of Office 365, the Feedback (smiley face) is under the File button, not at the top of the Ribbon.
Word 2019/365
The Mailings Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013/365
Word 2016/365
Word 2019/365
The Review Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013/365
Word 2016/365
Word 365 Sept. 2018 - added Resume and Ink groups - likely to be 2019 tab
Word 2019/365
The View Tab
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013/365
Word 2016/365
Word 365 Sept 2018 - likely to be Office 2019 - added SharePoint Properties button
Word 2019/365
See also Ways to View a Document in Word - Office Watch
The Developer Tab - see Developer Tab in Microsoft Word 2007-2013/365
(This is an optional tab. If you don't see this tab on your computer or have questions about the controls on the tab, use the link above.)
Word 2007
Word 2010
Word 2013
Word 2016
In Word 2016+ the Developer Tab is displayed by default.
Quick Parts Microsoft Word Mac Pro
Word 2019/365
The Help Tab (Office 365/2019 and later)
Some of the tabs only show up when Word thinks you can use them.
The Outlining Tab - Activated by Selecting Outline View under the View Tab
Most contextual tabs show up on the right side of the Ribbon. The Outlining tab will pop up before the Home tab!
The Outlining tab has been unchanged since Word 2007.
You deactivate the Outlining tab by clicking on 'Close Outline View' or by changing to a different view.
The controls in the Outline Tools Group are self-explanatory, I believe.
See my page on Outlining in Microsoft Word for more.
The next group, though, should be handled with caution.
I advise not doing anything with the Master Document controls until you have read and thought about my page on
the Master Document 'Feature' in Word.
Outlining Tab - Word 2007
Outlining Tab - Word 2010
Outlining Tab - Word 2013
Outlining Tab - Word 2016
Outlining Tab - Word 2019/365
The Table Tools Design Tab (Contextual) - must be in a table
If you insert a table and are in the table, you will see two additional tabs: Design and Layout.
Table Tools Design Tab - Word 2007
Table Tools Design Tab - Word 2010
Table Tools Design Tab - Word 2013
Note the draw table and eraser commands have been moved from this tab to the Layout tab.
Table Tools Design Tab - Word 2016
Word 2019
Note: the Header Row checkbox in the Table Tools Design tab has nothing to do with whether or not the table's first row is repeated on subsequent pages. That is controlled on the Table Tools Layout tab.
Word 2019/365 (Contextual) Layout Tab change
The Table Tools encompassing tab has disappeared! The Table Design is now so designated and the Layout Tab is still there.
Word Online
The Table Tools Layout Tab (Contextual) - must be in a table
Word 2007 - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Word 2010 - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Word 2013 - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Note the Draw Table and Eraser are in the Draw group on this tab in Word 2013-2019/365.
Word 2016 - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Word 2019 - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Word 2019/365 (Contextual Table) Layout Tab change
The Table Tools encompassing tab has disappeared! The Table Design Tab is now so designated and the Layout Tab is still there.
Word Online - Table Tools Layout Contextual Tab
Header and Footer Tools Tab (Contextual) - must be in a header or footer
Header and Footer Tools Design Tab - Word 2007
Header and Footer Tools Design Tab - Word 2010
The Header and Footer Tools tab is similar in Word 2013.
Header & Footer Tools Design Tab 2016 / 365
In Word 2016 a button is added for Document Info.
Word 2019 / 365 (Design under Header & Footer Tools)
As is often the case, the Document Info button simply gives you another spot to find a command.
It returns the functionality of the AutoText entries for Document Name and path from the Menu versions of Word.
The Author and Document Title are the same as the Author and Title Document Property content controls.
File Name and File Path are simply the FileName Field without and with the /p path switch.
Both Document Property and Field are also under the Quick Parts button.
Word 2019/365 (2020) - an unannounced change to the title of the tab
Word Mac
Here is the contextual tab as of October 2019 in Word 365
They are similar but not exactly the same.
Word Online - Header and Footer Tools Contextual Tab does not exist.
Instead when you click on Insert > Header and Footer, you are placed in the Header for editing. A table is created and the Table Tools tabs become available even though not activated. An options menu is available or some of the header and footer options.
Drawing Tools Format Tab (Contextual) - must have a drawing object selected or be in one
Drawing Format Tab - Word 2007
Drawing Format Tab - Word 2010
(wider screen version - note expanded captions for some icons)
The 2010 version appears to have dropped a number of options to allow for the WordArt and Text groups. In reality, the effects have been moved to the Shape Effects drop-down.
(Narrow version of 2010 Drawing Tools Format tab)
Drawing Format Tab - Word 2013
Drawing Format Tab - Word 2016/365 - adds Accessibility group with Alt Text button
Word 2019 / 365
Picture Tools Format Tab (Contextual) - must have an image selected
Picture Tools Format Tab - Word 2007
Picture Tools Format Tab - Word 2010
(Picture Shape moved from Picture Styles to a drop-down under Crop in the Picture Size group)
compatibility mode - Word 97-2003 format - Word 2010
Picture Tools Format Tab - Word 2013
Picture Tools Format Tab - Word 2016/365 - adds Alt Text button in Accessibility Group
Picture Tools Format Tab - Word 2019 / 365
Compatibility mode - Word 97-2003 format - Word 2019/365
Equation Design Tools (Contextual) - must have equation selected - can insert an equation from the Insert Tab
Immersive Learning Tools Contextual Tab
On the View menu in Office 365 (and perhaps Office 2019) there is a button for Learning Tools. It brings up the following tab:
Other - the Print Preview Tab
This is a legacy from the menu versions.
Quick Parts Microsoft Word Mac Download
In Word 2007, it was available under print.
The tab is virtually unchanged in later versions but you can only get to it using a QAT button or keyboard shortcut.
When this tab is showing, you can type and do basic editing in the document. The button for 'Print Preview and Print' gives the same screen you would get from the document by pressing Ctrl+P.
More on the Backstage View
Again, backstage contains information about the document and Word. It gives you access to controls for the document like Save, Send and Print; it gives you access to control over Word options that let you change how Word works in all documents. Again, in any version of Word you can return to the document view and other ribbon tabs by pressing the Esc button on your keyboard. The Backstage could easily be the subject of a separate page and perhaps some day it will be. Here are just some pictures.
Backstage - Word 2007
Backstage - Word 2010
Backstage - Word 2013
Backstage 2016
But, in the fall of 2019, this initial view using the backstage Info tab changed to using the new backstage Home tab. See 2019-2 below.
Backstage 2019
In the fall of 2019, backstage's initial view changed to the backstage Home tab from the Info tab: