The ribbon functions as a space for common commands within Obsidian.
On desktop, it's located in the [[Sidebar#Open hidden sidebars|left Sidebar]] and remains visible even when the left Sidebar is closed.
On mobile, you can access the [[Use the mobile app#Ribbon actions|Ribbon Actions]] by tapping the **Menu option** ( ![[lucide-menu.svg#icon]] ) at the bottom-right corner of the app when you're not editing a note.
## Actions
Each action is represented by an icon in the ribbon. Hovering over these icons will display a tooltip, while selecting them will activate the associated action. On mobile, you can tap these icons to activate them.
1. Open **[[Manage vaults|Vault switcher]]** ( ![[obsidian-icon-vault-switcher.svg#icon]] ).
2. Access **help** ( ![[lucide-help-circle.svg#icon]] ).
3. Open **[[Settings]]** ( ![[lucide-settings.svg#icon]] ).
In the mobile version, you can configure a quick access action on the ribbon. For more information, see the [[#Mobile|mobile section]] and [[Use the mobile app]].
## Customize the ribbon
Your customized ribbon layout is remembered across sessions. It synchronizes with other devices and the mobile app when app settings (in the `workspace.json` and `workspace-mobile.json` files) are synchronized.
### Desktop
On the desktop version, you can customize the ribbon as follows:
- Rearrange the order of ribbon actions by dragging and dropping the icons.
- To hide specific actions, right-click on an empty space within the ribbon and uncheck the actions you want to hide.
#### Hide the ribbon
You can hide the ribbon in two ways:
- Right-click on the ribbon and select **Hide ribbon**.
- Open **[[Settings]]** → **Appearance**, scroll down to **Advanced**, and disable **Show ribbon**.
#### Show the ribbon
If you have hidden the ribbon and want to display it again:
1. Open **[[Settings]]** → **Appearance**.
2. Scroll down to **Advanced**.
3. Enable **Show ribbon**.
4. The ribbon will appear again on the left side of the window.
> [!tip] Custom CSS
> If you're using a community theme or custom CSS, make sure it does not hide the ribbon through custom style rules.
### Mobile
In the mobile version of Obsidian, you can perform quick access actions, rearrange items, and customize the ribbon menu. To access these customizations, follow these steps:
1. Open Obsidian's **[[Settings]]** ( ![[lucide-cog.svg#icon]] ).
2. Navigate to the **appearance** section.
3. Scroll down to the **advanced** options.
4. Select the **Manage** button under the **Ribbon menu** item.
#### Quick access
By default, the quick access option is set to "Open ribbon menu" on a *short press*. If you choose another option as your quick access:
- The selected option will be triggered with a *short press*.
- The ribbon menu access will change to a *long press*.
> [!info] Quick access options depend on the Obsidian settings and core plugins you have enabled.
#### Rearrange and visibility
To change the order of items in the ribbon menu, press and hold the **drag-and-drop** ( ![[lucide-menu.svg#icon]] ) button and move the selected item up or down.
You can show or hide items in the ribbon menu using the red **remove** ( ![[lucide-minus-circle.svg#icon]] ) or green **add** ( ![[lucide-plus-circle.svg#icon]] ) buttons to toggle their visibility.
![[ribbon-rearrange-visibility.jpeg#interface]]