17 Mar, 2026

How to Add a Custom Button in the Global Command Bar in Dynamics 365

Posted on 17 Mar, 2026 by Bharathi Siripuram, Posted in

Blogs

Introduction:

Global Command Bar in Dynamics 365 (also known as the Global Tab or Mscrm.GlobalTab) is the top-level ribbon that stays visible across all pages in your model-driven app. Adding a custom button there gives users instant, one-click access to key actions.

In this blog, we walk through how to add a custom button to the Global Command Bar step by step, using a new Solution, the Application Ribbon, and Ribbon Workbench inside XrmToolBox.

Pre-requisites:

• Access to a Dynamics 365 environment.
• XrmToolBox installed on your machine.
• Ribbon Workbench installed inside XrmToolBox.
• Basic familiarity with Dynamics 365 Solutions.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Step 1: Create a new solution (Start by creating a dedicated Solution to keep your ribbon customizations clean)

• Navigate toPowerApps and select your environment.
• Go to Solutions from the left navigation.
• Click+ New Solution and fill in the Display Name, Publisher, and Version.
• Click Create to save the solution.

Step 2: Add Application Ribbon to the solution (Application Ribbon is what controls the Global Command Bar (Mscrm.GlobalTab).

• You need to add it explicitly to your solution before Ribbon Workbench can work on it.
• Open your newly created solution.
• Click Add Existing and then select Application Ribbons.
• The Application Ribbon component will be added to your solution.

Note: Without this step, Ribbon Workbench will not show the Global Tab for customization.

Step 3: Open Ribbon Workbench in XrmToolBox

• Open XrmToolBox and connect to your Dynamics 365 environment.
• Search for and open Ribbon Workbench.
• Click Choose Solution and select your solution from the list.
• Ribbon Workbench will load the solution and display the available ribbon components.

Step 4: Add a Custom Button to Mscrm.GlobalTab

• Mscrm.GlobalTab is the ribbon section that maps to the Global Command Bar - visible across all pages in Dynamics 365.
• In the Ribbon Workbench left panel, locate Mscrm.GlobalTab under the ribbon sections.
• From the Buttons toolbox, drag a Button onto the Mscrm.Global Tab ribbon area.
• Drop it in the position where you want the button to appear.

Step 5: Configure Button Properties — Label, Icon, Command & Rules

Once the button is placed on the ribbon, configure its properties from the right-hand panel in Ribbon Workbench.

Label

Set a meaningful label that users will see on the command bar. Keep it short and action-oriented.

Icon

You can use a built-in Dynamics 365 web resource icon or upload your own. To upload a custom icon, add a PNG Web Resource to your solution first, then reference it in the button's Image property.

Command

A Command defines what happens when the button is clicked. In the Commands section, create a new Command and link a JavaScript Action or a URL Action to it. For a JavaScript action, reference a web resource and specify the function name.

Note: After creating the Command, go back to your button's properties and select it from the Command dropdown to attach it.

Step 6: Refresh Ribbon XML → Save → Publish

Once all properties are configured and the command is attached, it's time to publish your changes.

• Click the Refresh XML button in Ribbon Workbench to validate the ribbon definition.
• Review the XML preview to confirm your button and command are present.
• Click Publish to push the changes to your Dynamics 365 environment.
• Wait for the publish process to complete (this may take a few seconds).
• Refresh your Dynamics 365 browser tab and look for your new button in the Global Command Bar!

This is how it looks after adding a custom button in the global command bar!

Conclusion

Adding a custom button to the Global Command Bar in Dynamics 365 is a straightforward process once you know the right tools.

By combining a dedicated Solution, the Application Ribbon component, and the visual power of Ribbon Workbench inside XrmToolBox, you can place any custom action - right at the top of every page in Dynamics 365.

Whether it's a genuinely useful productivity button or a fun Netflix experiment, the Global Command Bar is yours to customize.