Customize menus and toolbars in Visual Studio
You can customize Visual Studio not only by adding and removing toolbars and menus on the menu bar, but also by adding and removing commands on any given toolbar or menu.
Tip
To learn more about how to personalize the toolbar so that you can make it yours, see our recent blog post, Optimizing toolbars for your workflow.
Add, remove, or move a menu on the menu bar
On the menu bar, select Tools > Customize.
The Customize dialog box opens.
On the Commands tab, leave the Menu bar option button selected, leave Menu Bar selected in the list next to that option, and then perform one of the following sets of steps:
To add a menu, select the Add New Menu button, select the Modify Selection button, and then name the menu that you want to add.
To remove a menu, select it in the Preview list, and then select the Delete button.
To move a menu within the menu bar, select the menu in the Preview list, and then select the Move Up or Move Down button.
Add, remove, or move a toolbar
On the menu bar, select Tools > Customize.
The Customize dialog box opens.
On the Toolbars tab, perform one of the following sets of steps:
To add a toolbar, select the New button, specify a name for the toolbar that you want to add, and then select the OK button.
To remove a custom toolbar, select it in the Toolbars list, and then select the Delete button.
Important
You can delete toolbars that you create but not default toolbars.
To move a custom toolbar to a different docking location, drag the toolbar by its left edge and move it anywhere in the main docking area.
Note
For more information about how to improve the usability and accessibility of text, toolbars, and more, see Set accessibility options.
Customize a menu or a toolbar
Warning
After you customize a toolbar or menu, make sure that its check box remains selected in the Customize dialog box. Otherwise, your changes won't persist after you close and reopen Visual Studio.
On the menu bar, select Tools > Customize.
The Customize dialog box opens.
On the Commands tab, select the option button for the type of element that you want to customize.
In the list for that type of element, select the menu or toolbar that you want to customize, and then perform one of the following sets of steps:
To add a command, select the Add Command button.
In the Add Command dialog box, select an item in the Categories list, select an item in the Commands list, and then select the OK button.
To delete a command, select it in the Controls list, and then select the Delete button.
To reorder commands, select a command in the Controls list, and then select the Move Up or Move Down button.
To group commands under a horizontal line, select the first command in the Preview list, select the Modify Selection button, and then select Begin a Group.
Reset a menu or a toolbar
On the menu bar, select Tools > Customize.
The Customize dialog box opens.
On the Commands tab, select the option button for the type of element that you want to reset.
In the list for that type of element, select the menu or toolbar that you want to reset.
Select the Modify Selection button, and then select Reset in the menu that appears.
You can also reset all menus and toolbars by choosing the Reset All button.