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To access the Developer tab on the ribbon of an Office application, you must configure it to show that tab because it doesn't appear by default. For example, you must show that tab if you want to add a GroupContentControl to a document-level customization for Word.

Note

This guidance applies to Office 2010 or later applications only. If you want to show this tab in the 2007 Microsoft Office System, see the following version of this topic How to: Show the Developer tab on the ribbon.

Applies to: The information in this topic applies to document-level projects and VSTO Add-in projects for the following applications: Excel; InfoPath 2013 and InfoPath 2010; Outlook; PowerPoint; Project; Visio; Word. For more information, see Features available by Office application and project type.

Note

Interested in developing solutions that extend the Office experience across multiple platforms? Check out the new Office Add-ins model. Office Add-ins have a small footprint compared to VSTO Add-ins and solutions, and you can build them by using almost any web programming technology, such as HTML5, JavaScript, CSS3, and XML.

To show the Developer tab

1. Start any of the Office applications supported by this topic. See the Applies to: note earlier in this topic.

2. On the File tab, choose the Options button.

   The following figure shows the File tab and Options button in Office 2010.

   The following figure shows the File tab in Office 2013.

   The following figure shows the Options button in Office 2013.

3. In the ApplicationNameOptions dialog box, choose the Customize Ribbon button.

   The following figure shows the Options dialog box and the Customize Ribbon button in Excel 2010. The location of this button is similar in all other applications listed in the 'Applies to' section near the top of this topic.

4. In the list of main tabs, select the Developer check box.

   The following figure shows the Developer check box in Word 2010 and Word 2013. The location of this check box is similar in all other applications listed in the 'Applies to' section near the top of this topic.

5. Choose the OK button to close the Options dialog box.

See also

You can now get Office Add-ins from the Store or use Add-ins you already have from right within recent versions of Word for Mac and Excel for Mac.

There are two kinds of add-ins: Office Add-ins from the Office Store (which use web technologies like HTML, CSS and JavaScript) and add-ins made by using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA).

If you're looking for a built-in add-in such as Solver or Analysis ToolPak, select the Tools menu and then select Add-ins.

Get an Office Store add-in for Word or Excel for Mac

1. On the Insert menu, select Add-ins.

2. To get new add-ins, select Store. To use add-ins you already have, select My Add-ins.

   • The add-ins you'll see will depend on the app you're using and the kind of Office 365 subscription you have.

   • Office for Mac doesn't currently support organization-based add-ins.

Get a VBA add-in for Word or Excel for Mac

1. On the Tools menu, select Add-Ins.

2. In the Add-Ins available box, select the add-in you want, and then click OK.

Mac Microsoft Word Free

Requirements

Mac Microsoft Word Developer Tutorial

Office Add-ins aren't available in Office for Mac 2011. They're only available in newer versions.