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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.