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How to Import/Export Excel Ribbon Customizations

Sometimes you may need to share the customizations made on your Excel Ribbon to an Excel program running in another computer. You can export the customizations into an XML (Extensible Markup Language) file and that XML (Extensible Markup Language) file can be imported to an Excel program running in another computer.

How to export Excel Ribbon customizations

Follow these steps to export your Excel Ribbon customizations to Excel program running in another computer.

Step 1 - Right-click anywhere on Excel Ribbon and then select "Customize the Ribbon", as shown in below image.

Open Excel Options Import Export

Tip

"Excel Options" window to customize Excel Ribbon can be opened by following methods also.

• Click the "File" tab in Excel Ribbon and then click "Options". Select "Customize Ribbon" Panel.

Or

• Right-click anywhere on the "Quick Access Toolbar" (except on "Customize Quick Access Toolbar" drop-down button). Click "Customize Ribbon".

Step 2 - Click "Import/Export" split button and then select "Export all customizations", as shown in below image.

Export Excel Ribbon Customizations

Step 3 - Click "Save" button to export your Excel Ribbon customizations to a folder as shown in below image. Note that the default name for the Quick Access Toolbar customizations export file is "Excel Customizations.exportedUI", which you may change if required.

Save Excel Ribbon Customization Export file

Step 4 - Copy the "Excel Customizations.exportedUI" XML file to the destination computer.

 

How to import Excel Ribbon customization File

Step 1 - Copy and transport the "Excel Customizations.exportedUI" XML file to the destination computer.

Step 2 - Open "Excel Options" window's Customize Ribbon panel by following the first and second steps from the beginning of this lesson.

Step 3 - Click "Import/Export" button and then select "Import customization file", as shown in below image. Note that the custom Ribbon Tab and Group are not available on right-side list.

Import Excel Ribbon Customization file

Step 4 - Browse to the location where the "Excel Customizations.exportedUI" XML export file is stored using "File Open" dialog box. Select the export file and then click "Open" button, as shown in below image.

Open Excel Ribbbon Customization file

Step 5 - Click "Yes" button in the confirmation prompt as shown in below image. Note that all existing customizations of your Excel Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) will be replaced by the customizations from the import file.

Replace Ribbon and  Quick Access Toolbar Customization prompt

Step 6 - Click "OK" button to import Excel Ribbon customization file, as shown in below image.

Click OK to Replace Excel Ribbon Customization file

Once you click "OK" button, Excel Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) customizations will be imported.

Remember that when you import a Excel Ribbon customization file, Excel Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar customizations you made on that computer will be replaced by the customizations from the import file.

To avoid any mishap, keep a backup of your Excel Ribbon customization by exporting to a file before importing any new customizations. If required, you can revert to the previous state of Excel Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar (state before the import) using the backup file.

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