Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: Turning Off Insert Options.
Excel includes a feature that allows you to modify how you insert rows, columns, or cells in your worksheet. When you insert any of these, Excel displays a small, floating "button" right near the inserted row, column, or cell. The button, called "Insert Options," has a small paintbrush on it, similar to the Format Painter tool. Click the button, and Excel displays some options about how the inserted row, column, or cell should be formatted.
If you find the Insert Options button distracting, or if you never use it, you may want to turn it off. Follow these steps:
Figure 1. The advanced options of the Excel Options dialog box.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (6258) applies to Microsoft Excel 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Excel here: Turning Off Insert Options.
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2017-03-03 05:00:58
Bob
Thanks for the help. Not wanting to subscribe, though. Thanks anyway.
2017-01-13 00:42:47
Jim
Perfect. Many Thanks
2016-09-08 08:25:30
Chris Wall
On a Mac, at least in Excel 2011, click Excel / Preferences. Then, under Authoring, click Edit.
When Excel displays the Excel Preferences dialog box, clear the checkmarks from either or both of the following:
- Show Paste Options smart buttons
- Show Insert Options smart buttons
2016-08-18 13:40:14
Steve
Thank you so much!!
2016-08-02 15:06:41
Todd
This was helpful. Thanks!
2016-07-17 14:51:17
MHBrown
"...display the File tab of the ribbon" is a meaningless statement. What is a "File Tab"? What is a "ribbon?" There is nothing on my screen called "File tab" and nothing looks like a ribbon. I've worked with lots of software, so I'm not a beginner. Where ever this thing is you MUST describe it by identifying things that are labeled: FILE menu, for example, is easy to find because there is a big word "FILE" at the top of my screen. There is nothing that reads "file tab." Do you understand?
2016-07-05 15:37:35
Burr
Not only did this not tell me how to find "options" in excel 2011, but once I googled that and learned preferences is options in mac, it still didn't work.
2016-06-20 15:21:31
Malcolm
I had to exit excel and restart it before this change took effect.
2016-06-03 09:08:55
susan
I wish this had worked. That paintbrush is so annoying. I'll keep looking for the answer to get rid of it.
2016-02-03 22:05:00
Anthea
Thank you. The paintbrush icon was a real nuisance and now it's gone thanks to this clearly written tip.
Got a version of Excel that uses the ribbon interface (Excel 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the menu interface.
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016. If you are using an earlier version (Excel 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Excel, click here: 
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