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How to insert a macro button to run macro in Excel?

Author: Kelly Last Modified: 2024-08-29

You may load a useful macro with Microsoft Excel VBA. And every time when you apply the macro, you have to press keyboard shortcuts you set for this macro, or click View > Macro > Select the proper macro > Run. Think of easy ways to apply macros? Yes, you can create a button to run a specific macro either in QAT of Ribbon or working area in Microsoft Excel.


Insert macro button in working area of current workbook

This section will introduce the detailed tutorial about inserting a macro button in the working area of current workbook.

1. Firstly of all, show the Developer Tab in Ribbon as follows:
(1) In Excel 2010 or higher versions, please click the File > Options > Customize Ribbon, see the following screen shot. (View how in Excel 2007)
(2) In the right side, check the Developer option, and then click the OK button.
a screenshot of enabling the Developer tab in the ribbon
If you are using the Excel 2007, click the Office button > Excel Options> Popular, and check the Show Developer tab in the Ribbon option in the Top options for working with Excel section.

2. Secondly insert Macro Button in working area. Please click Developer > Insert, and then select the first option under the Form Controls section, see screenshot:
a screenshot of inserting a form control

3. Draw a button in working area.

4. Then the Assign Macro dialog box pops up, select one macro you want to assign to this built button, and click OK button.
a screenshot of assigning a macro to this form control
Now the button is valid to apply the macro.

5. It's optional to format the macro button based on your needs.
If you want to make the macro button easily understand and look nice, you can format it. You are able to change the text on button, change the assign macro, and format the control button with context menu by right clicking it.
a screenshot of changing the text on the button

Quickly remove all macros from active workbook or from all workbooks in many folders

Kutools for Excel provides two workarounds for Excel users to easily remove all macros in workbook.

  • A. Remove All Macros: This utility enables to delete all macros in active workbook with only one click.
  • B. Batch Remove All Macros: This utility can batch remove all macros of multiple workbooks from many folders without opening these workbooks at all! See screenshot:
  • a screenshot of using Kutools for Excel to quickly remove all macros from active workbook or workbooks in certain folders

Insert macro button in the Quick Access Toolbar on Ribbon

If you insert the macro button in working area of current workbook, you can only apply this macro in this workbook. However, you can apply the macro in all workbooks if you add the macro button in the Quick Access Toolbar on Ribbon.

1. Click the arrow button at the top of ribbon, and select the More Commands… item in the drop down list. See the following screen shot:
a screenshot of selecting More Commands to open the Excel Options window

2. In the Excel Options dialog box, Select the Macros item in the Choose commands from drop down box, see the following screen shot;

3. Select and highlight the macro that you will assigned to new button;

4. Click the Add button.
a screenshot showing how to add an existing macro to the Quick Access Toolbar

5. Now the selected macro name is added into the right box. Select the macro name in the right box. See the following screen shot.

6. Click the Modify button.

7. In the Modify Button dialog box, select one button symbol.
a screenshot of assigning a symbol to the macro

8. Click OK button.

Then go back to the QAT in Ribbon, you will get the new button assigned to the macro you selected in the Step 3.


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