How to Customize the Icon Bar in QuickBooks Desktop

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In this tutorial, I’ll show you how you can customize the icon bar in QuickBooks Desktop. This can make working in QuickBooks much faster and easier.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Delete Icons from the icon bar
  • Add Icons to the icon bar
  • Add Custom Reports to the icon bar

I’ll be using QuickBooks Desktop 2020 Premier Edition. This should work with either Pro or Premier.

If you’ve never customized your icon bar it’s probably on the left-hand side and looks something like this:

QuickBooks Premier 2020 Icon Bar on Left

If you’d prefer, you can move the icons to the top of the screen. To do this click View in the top menu and then select Top Icon Bar.

Changing the location of the icon bar in QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2020

The icons now appear across the top of the screen.

Icon bar across top in QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2020

These icons represent different actions you can take and different reports you can generate within QuickBooks.

If you find yourself not using some of these icons you can edit this icon bar. To do so right click on the icon bar, a “Customize Icon Bar…” message will appear.

Click on that message to open the Customize Icon Bar window.

From this window you can select which icons you’d like to keep and which ones you’d like to remove.

Delete Icons from the Icon Bar

To remove an icon select it from the list and click Delete.

As you delete icons from the list in the window you’ll see them disappear from the icon bar.

Add Icons to the Icon Bar

If you’d like to add icons to your Icon Bar click the Add button and the Add Icon Bar Item window will appear.

Adding icons to the icon bar in QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2020

In this window you’ll see a selection of options that you can add to your icon bar.

You also get the option to customize your selection. You can choose the icon you’d like to use as well as give it your own label and description.

In the image below I’m adding “Back Up Data” to my icon bar with the label “Backup!” and using the Disk icon.

Customizing items in the Icon Bar in QuickBooks Desktop Premier 2020

I click the blue OK button and Backup! is added to my icon bar on the far right.

A new icon added to the QuickBooks Desktop icon bar.

I’d like to move this icon to the far left.

In the Customize Icon Bar window I click the little arrow to the left of Backup! and drag it to the top of the list.

Moving an icon in the QuickBooks Desktop icon bar.

Backup! Is now located on the far left of the icon bar.

Icon moved to left in QuickBooks Desktop icon bar.

You can add space between your icons by click the Add Separator button.

Adding space between icons in the QuickBooks Desktop icon bar with the Add Separator button.

Adding Custom Reports to the Icon Bar

It’s possible to add items to the icon bar that aren’t in the existing list. This might be a custom report you’ve created.

You’ll first need to navigate to the report you’d like to add. To do this from the main menu you’ll click Reports -> Memorized Reports and then select the report you’d like.

Navigating to a custom report in QuickBooks Desktop 2020

To add the report to the icon bar in the main menu click View. About halfway down the menu you’ll see “Add “Your Report Name” to the icon Bar..”

Adding a custom report to the icon bar in QuickBooks DesktopA new Add Window to Icon Bar window will open.

From here you can add a custom label, description and pick an icon for the report.

Adding a custom report to the icon bar in QuickBooks Desktop

When you click the OK button an icon linking to the report will appear in your icon bar.

Icon for a custom report

 

When you take the time to customize your icon bar and you’ll no longer have to search around for the actions and reports you use most often. You’ll save yourself time in the long run.

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If you’d like to watch me walk through this icon bar customization process you can watch the video below:

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This content is for information purposes only and should not be considered legal, accounting, or tax advice, or a substitute for obtaining such advice specific to your business. Additional information and exceptions may apply. Applicable laws may vary by state or locality. No assurance is given that the information is comprehensive in its coverage or that it is suitable in dealing with a customer’s particular situation. Gentle Frog, LLC does not have any responsibility for updating or revising any information presented herein. Accordingly, the information provided should not be relied upon as a substitute for independent research. Gentle Frog, LLC does not warrant that the material contained herein will continue to be accurate, nor that it is completely free of errors when published. Readers and viewers should verify statements before relying on them.

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