How to Add Developer Tab in Excel

Do you ever feel that the default functionality in Excel is a bit limiting and constraints what can be done? Or if automating tasks in Excel is your ultimate aim, and want to make the best use of all the available features, then inserting the developer tab in Excel is the way forward. The developer tab provides users access to all the advanced features and tools.

However, a lot of people are unaware of how to enable the developer tab in Excel. The developer tab was introduced in 2007 and is a part of the Microsoft Office suite. In this blog, we bring the shortest way to add a developer tab in Excel. The steps mentioned here are a one-time process, which needs to be done only once to enable the developer mode. Excel by default is in the After enabling it every time you open Excel, the developer mode would be enabled.

How to Add Developer Tab in MS Excel in Windows?

To activate the developer tab in Excel, you need to follow some very basic steps mentioned below:

• Step 1: From the Excel options highlight the “customize the ribbon tab”. 

• Step 2: The Excel options tab opens up and there you need to click on Customize Ribbon on the left side.

• Step 3: Once clicked the right side will show a list where the “Developer” option will be visible.

• Step 4: You will see the developer tab on the right side from the list of all the tabs in the ribbon. Check if it shows a green tick, if not, click on it and it will show a green tick. Press OK to enable it.

• Step 5: You can see the new ribbon where you can view the new features like record macro, use relative references, Macros security, etc. This confirms that Excel is in Developer mode.

Another way to enable the developer Tab is mentioned below:

• Open the Excel.

• Go to the File option and click on Excel Options.

• Repeat the process from step 2 as mentioned above. 

Sometimes you might not be able to view the developer tab if the indo is narrowed down, and you might need to click on the 》to see the developer tab.

How to Add Developer Tab in MS Excel on Mac?

It might happen that when you are using Excel on your Mac the tabs might not be similar to a Windows. You might not see the Developer tab after file>options>customize the ribbon. Here is the process that can be followed in such a case for enabling the Developer tab on Mac.

Step 1: Open Excel on your Mac, and go to the preferences tab. 

Step 2: View then check the box at the bottom of the Preferences pane.

Alternatively, 

Step 1: Open Excel, and click on the preferences tab.

Step 2: Select the Ribbon and Toolbar tab

Step 3: Check the bottom of the main tab and click on the Developer tab.

Powerful Functions Performed by Enabling the Developer Mode in Excel

Broadly you can use the following functions by enabling the developer mode in Excel:

• Use Macros (VBA): Do you want to automate all the boring stuff, write scripts, and debug code? Or want to record macros, and save them to a workbook for analytical use? The macros and VBA can do it for you by turning Excel on autopilot.

• Insert ActiveX controls and Form controls: If you want to make Excel more interactive you can do so through the add buttons, checkboxes, and dropdowns by inserting the developer mode in Excel.

• Work with XML commands: Does importing and exporting XML seem like an uphill task? With the developer mode in Excel, you can import/export XML data like a pro and map structured datasets as well.

• Use Add-ins: Make the best use of Excel’s power and boost it by loading cool add-ins and plugins.

• COM & Automation Controls: Want to make Excel even smarter? You can do that by integrating Excel with other apps and by creating custom forms.

• Digital Signatures and Security: Want to stay miles away from bad scripts? You can keep things safe from bad scripts, lock your macros, and sign your code using the developer mode in Excel.

Also Read: - How to Turn on Chrome OS Developer Mode

Wrapping Up

If you want to maximize the potential that Excel provides you need to have expertise in Excel developer mode. However, Excel may run into a problem if not handled by an expert. From accidental macro deletion or disabling, enabling dangerous macros, breaking buttons and ActiveX controls to losing important work, an amateur developer can cause more harm than good.

Hence it is necessary to hire developers from a reliable company like TheDevolutions, who can efficiently handle Excel’s developer mode and ensure proper macro implementation, secure VBA coding, 

Maximize Excel’s capabilities without technical mishaps with the talent pool of expert developers from TheDevolutions.