Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated December 4, 2021)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
Barry has a stubborn toolbar icon that he cannot get rid of. A long time ago he installed TextBridge Pro, but has since removed it. He's deleted all its files and upgraded his computer's operating system. Yet, the TextBridge icon is still on Excel's Standard toolbar.
You should be able to remove items on the toolbar by displaying the Customize dialog box (View | Toolbars | Customize) and then dragging the icon from an existing toolbar. When you close the Customize dialog box, the icon should be gone.
If, when you restart Excel, the toolbar icon reappears, it is probably due to some macro that is running on startup and modifying the toolbar. Check to see if there are any such macros, and remove them, if necessary. (Remember that the macro could be in your Personal.xls file, as well.)
You should also check in your Startup folder for Excel (XLStart) and see if there are any workbooks in there that you don't recognize. If there are, they could be the source of the offending icon. Drag them out of the Startup folder, and then restart Excel to see what happens.
There are any number of other startup-related problems that could be causing the icon to reappear. A good place to start tracking down startup problems is by following the steps outlined by Jan Karel Pieterse at this page:
http://www.jkp-ads.com/Articles/StartupProblems.asp
If you still cannot get rid of the icon, there is one last thing you can try, as described in these general steps:
Hopefully the offending icon will like its new home in the never-to-be-seen toolbar, and you can get on with using Excel without the distraction.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (3097) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
Dive Deep into Macros! Make Excel do things you thought were impossible, discover techniques you won't find anywhere else, and create powerful automated reports. Bill Jelen and Tracy Syrstad help you instantly visualize information to make it actionable. You’ll find step-by-step instructions, real-world case studies, and 50 workbooks packed with examples and solutions. Check out Microsoft Excel 2019 VBA and Macros today!
Excel's interface can be easily modified to reflect the way you want to do your work. This tip explains how you can ...
Discover MoreCreate your own toolbars and, at some point, you may have a hankering to change their names. Here's how you can make the ...
Discover MoreIf your Formula bar disappears when you load a workbook, it could be due to the presence of a macro that turns it off. ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments