How to configure the Quick Access Toolbar settings in Outlook?

Do you know all your custom Quick Access Toolbar settings are saved as independent files? Have you tried to move the Quick Access Toolbar to other location? Or just hide the whole Ribbon including the Quick Access Toolbar? In this article, I will describe the detailed methods to configure the Quick Access Toolbar settings in Outlook 2010 and 2013.

Get the Quick Access Toolbar file location

Change the Quick Access Toolbar location in Ribbon

Show / Hide Quick Access Toolbar

Get the Quick Access Toolbar file location

When we customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Outlook, it will generate files for the custom settings and save them in your computer automatically. And you can get the QAT file location easily with following method.

Open a folder, paste the following path into the Address box, and press the Enter key.

C:\Users\%username%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Office

In the opening folder, you will get the qat files.

Notes:

() If you are using Outlook 2007, the qat files are shown as xxxx.qat file; if you are using Outlook 2010 and 2013, the qat files are shown as xxxx.officeUI;

(3) There will be many qat files in the destination folder if you have customized the Quick Access Toolbar in many windows, such as messages composing window, message reading windows, appointment windows, etc.

Change the Quick Access Toolbar location in Ribbon

Some Outlook users may require to change the location of Quick Access Toolbar in the Ribbon. It’s very easy to deploy the QAT location.
Just click the Arrow button  in the Quick Access Toolbar > Show Below the Ribbon.

Then the Quick Access Toolbar is moved from the very top of Ribbon to the bottom of Ribbon. See screen shot below:

If the Quick Access Toolbar has already been below the Ribbon, just click the Arrow button  > Show Above the Ribbon.

Note: Due to Outlook 2007’s main interface showing in classic view, there is no Ribbon at all, therefore, we can’t  change the Quick Access Toolbar location in Outlook 2007’s main interface.

Show / Hide Quick Access Toolbar

Sometimes, the whole Ribbon including the Quick Access Toolbar disappears from the Outlook 2013 interface, and make you annoyed to search for commands.

Show hidden Ribbon including Quick Access Toolbar: just click the Ribbon Display Options button  at the top-right corner of Outlook interface > Show Tabs and Commands.

Hide Ribbon including Quick Access Toolbar: if you do not want to show the Ribbon and Quick Access Toolbar in the Outlook interface, just click the Ribbon Display Options button  at the top-right corner > Auto-hide Ribbon.