How to add Developer tab in Word

In this article you will learn how to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon in Word. The Developer tab includes commands that are not available in other tabs in Word – but the tab is turned off by default so you need to turn it on to get access to the commands.

The steps to follow to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon depend on your version of Word (get help to find your version of Word).

How to add the developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2010 and newer versions of Word

Follow the steps below if you have Word 2010, Word 2013, Word 2016, Word 2019, or Word for Microsoft 365.

  1. Select File tab > Options > Customize Ribbon (see 1 in Figure 1).
  2. In the right side of the Word Options dialog box, select Main Tabs (see 2 in Figure 1) and turn on Developer (see 3 in Figure 1).
  3. Click OK.
Microsoft Word Developer tab – How to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2010 and newer versions of Word

Figure 1. How to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2010 and newer versions of Word.

Now the Developer tab will appear in the Ribbon:

Developer tab Word – The Developer tab in Word added to the Ribbon - from Word for Microsoft 365

Figure 2. The Developer tab has been added in Word and is shown in the Ribbon (screen dump here from Word for Microsoft 365).

How to add the developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2007

  1. Select Office Button > Word Options > Popular category (see 1 in Figure 3).
  2. Turn on Show Developer tab in the Ribbon (see 2 in Figure 3).
  3. Click OK.
Developer tab Word – How to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2007

Figure 3. How to add the Developer tab to the Ribbon in Word 2007.

Now the Developer tab will appear in the Ribbon (see Figure 2).
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