Introducing the Excel Options Dialog
Learn how to display Excel options and provides an overview of what you might find on each tab. The entry to the Excel Options dialog is at the bottom of the Office icon menu, near the Exit Excel button. Go to Office Button> Excel Options.
Instead of tabs, the Excel Options dialog uses nine categories of options along the left side. When you choose a category on the left, the settings for that category appear on the right.
Table shows the general types of settings you find in each category.
Excel Options Dialog Box Settings| Category | Type Settings |
| Personalize | The most commonly used settings, such as color schemes, custom lists, the default font for new workbooks, the number of sheets in a new workbook, and the customer name. |
| Formulas | All options for controlling calculation, error checking rules, and formula settings. Note that options for multithreaded calculation are currently considered obscure enough to be on the Advanced tab rather than on the Formulas tab. |
| Proofing | Spellcheck options and a link to the AutoCorrect dialog. |
| Save | The default method for saving, autorecovery settings, legacy colors, and webserver options. |
| Advanced | All previous options that Microsoft considers arcane, including editing, display, general, and Lotus compatibility settings. |
| Customize | Icons to customize the Quick Access toolbar. |
| Add-Ins | A list of available and installed add-ins and smart tags. You can install new add-ins from the button at the bottom of this category. |
| Trust Center | Links to the Microsoft Trust Center, with eight additional categories. |
| Resources | Links to Office update, diagnostics, contact, and other information. |
Getting Help with a Setting
Many settings appear with a small i icon. If you hover the mouse near this icon, Excel displays a super ToolTip for the setting. The ToolTip explains what happens when you choose the setting and also provides some tips about what you need to be aware of when you turn on the setting.