How to View the Tool Menu in Internet Explorer 11

The IE 11 menu bar doesn't display by default

by
Scott Orgera
Scott Orgera
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Scott Orgera is a former Lifewire writer covering tech since 2007. He has 25+ years' experience as a programmer and QA leader, and holds several Microsoft certifications including MCSE, MCP+I, and MOUS. He is also A+ certified.

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Scott Orgera
Updated on September 25, 2020

When you first launch Internet Explorer, which is the default browser in Windows 8.1, 8, 7, and Vista and an upgrade option in Windows XP, the familiar menu bar that includes options such as File, Edit, Bookmarks, and Help isn't available. In older versions of the browser, the menu bar was displayed by default.

Instructions in this article apply to Internet Explorer 11.

Windows Internet Explorer
Christiaan Colen / Flickr.com / CC BY-SA 2.0

How to Display the Menu Bar for IE 11

Temporarily view the Menu Bar by pressing Alt on the keyboard. To permanently view the Menu Bar in IE 11, do the following:

  1. Press Alt to display the Menu Bar.

    Pressing Alt to view the Menu Bar in IE11.

  2. Select View > Toolbars > Menu bar.

    The View Menu Bar command in Internet Explorer

  3. To make the menu bar invisible again, return to this menu and toggle the option off again.

If you run Internet Explorer in full-screen mode, the menu bar is not visible even if it's enabled. The address bar is also not visible in full-screen mode unless you move the cursor to the top of the screen. To toggle from full-screen to normal mode, press ​F11.

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