How to configure the Quick Access Toolbar settings in Outlook?

Author: Kelly Last Modified: 2025-04-09

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 another location? Or just hide the whole Ribbon including the Quick Access Toolbar? In this article, I will describe 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 generates files for the custom settings and saves them in your computer automatically. You can get the QAT file location easily with the 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

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In the opening folder, you will find the QAT files.

Notes:

(1) If you are using Outlook 2007, the QAT files are shown as "xxxx.qat"; if you are using Outlook 2010 or 2013, the QAT files are shown as "xxxx.officeUI".

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

Change the Quick Access Toolbar location in Ribbon

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

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

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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 displaying in classic view, there is no Ribbon at all; therefore, you 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, making it annoying to search for commands.

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

Hide Ribbon including Quick Access Toolbar: If you do not want to display 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".

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