The Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in Microsoft Word is a small, customisable row of icons usually located at the very top left of the window, above the main Ribbon (or just below it). It is designed to provide one-click access to frequently used commands like Save, Undo, and Redo. However, with the evolution of the modern Ribbon interface and the widespread use of keyboard shortcuts (like Ctrl+S for Save and Ctrl+Z for Undo), many users never actually click these buttons. If you prefer a highly minimalist, distraction-free writing environment, you can hide the Quick Access Toolbar entirely.
How to Hide the Quick Access Toolbar
Hiding the QAT is a simple toggle within Word’s interface options, though the method varies slightly depending on your version of Office.
- Open Microsoft Word.
- Look for the Quick Access Toolbar (it contains the Save icon and Undo arrow).
- At the far right end of the Quick Access Toolbar, click the small drop-down arrow (Customise Quick Access Toolbar).
- A long list of available commands will appear. Look at the very bottom of this list.
- Click on Hide Quick Access Toolbar.
The toolbar will instantly disappear, giving your Word window a slightly cleaner look and reclaiming a tiny amount of vertical screen space.
How to Restore It
If you ever change your mind and want the Quick Access Toolbar back, you can easily restore it from the Ribbon options. Simply right-click anywhere on the main Ribbon (the large grey area containing all your formatting tools) and select Show Quick Access Toolbar from the context menu.