How to Create Custom Toolbars in LibreOffice

Creating customized toolbars in LibreOffice allows you to group your most frequently used commands into a single, easily accessible interface. By tailoring your workspace to fit your specific workflow—whether you are using Writer, Calc, or Impress—you can eliminate menu navigation and significantly boost your productivity. This guide walks you through the exact steps to create, populate, and organize a personalized toolbar.

Step 1: Open the Customize Menu

  1. Launch any LibreOffice application (such as LibreOffice Writer or Calc).
  2. Go to the top menu and select Tools.
  3. Click on Customize… to open the customization dialog window.

Step 2: Create a New Toolbar

  1. In the Customize window, switch to the Toolbars tab located at the top.
  2. Click the Add… button (or the gear icon next to the Toolbar dropdown menu and select Add…, depending on your LibreOffice version).
  3. In the pop-up box, enter a descriptive name for your new toolbar (e.g., Quick Access or My Tools).
  4. Under the Save In dropdown, choose whether you want this toolbar available across all documents (LibreOffice) or only within the current active document.
  5. Click OK. Your new, empty toolbar will now be selected in the LibreOffice Toolbar dropdown.

Step 3: Add Commands to Your Toolbar

  1. In the Available Commands pane on the left, locate the commands you want to add. You can:
    • Select a specific section from the Category dropdown (e.g., Edit, Insert, Format).
    • Type the command name directly into the Search bar.
  2. Select the command you want from the list.
  3. Click the Right Arrow (->) button (or Add) to move the command into the Assigned Commands list on the right.
  4. Repeat this process for all the specific commands you need.

Step 4: Organize and Format Your Commands

  1. Reorder Buttons: Select any command in the Assigned Commands list and click the Move Up or Move Down arrows on the right to arrange the sequence of icons.
  2. Add Separators: To group related buttons visually, click the gear/menu button under the Assigned Commands list and choose Add Separator.
  3. Change Display Style: Right-click any command in the assigned list to change its appearance to show an icon only, text only, or both icon and text.

Step 5: Save and Display the Toolbar

  1. Click OK at the bottom of the Customize window to save your changes.
  2. If your new toolbar does not appear immediately on screen, navigate to View > Toolbars from the main menu and ensure your new toolbar has a checkmark next to its name.
  3. Drag the toolbar by its handle to dock it anywhere along the top, bottom, or sides of the window, or leave it floating as a separate palette.