General

User Interface Options

Optimize for best performance - (Added in 365). This uses dynamic scaling and is the best choice if you have a multi-monitor setup. This is the default.
Optimize for compatibility (application restart required) - (Added in 365). This not use dynamic scaling and might help if you are experiencing some display issues when using this other option.
Show mini toolbar on selection - Displays the Mini Toolbar when you have text selected to provide you with quick access to useful formatting tools.
Show quick analysis options on selection - (Added in 2013). Displays the Quick Analysis Smart Tag when you make a cell selection. This provides you with quick access to the following shortcuts: Formatting, Charts, Totals, Tables and Sparklines.
Show convert to data types when typing - (Added in 365). The convert to Datatype option when typing terms in cells that potentially match a data type category. This provides a quick way to convert stocks and geography to their corresponding data types.
Enable live preview - Displays a preview of how a feature or certain formatting with affect your workbook when you hover it with the mouse.
Collapse the ribbon automatically - Select this option to only see the Tabs at the top (no Ribbon Commands). more
Collapse the microsoft search box by default - Replace the Tell Me Search Bar with a search icon in the application header. To access Microsoft Search click on the search icon.
Screentip style - Select a style from the list to control the display of the names of buttons and additional helpful information. Select Show feature descriptions in ScreenTips for names and helpful information, select Don't show feature descriptions in ScreenTips for button names only, or select Don't show ScreenTips for neither.
Color scheme - (Removed in 2016). The default colour scheme is blue although depending on your personal preference there are also grey and black colour schemes available.
Always use cleartype - (Removed in 2013). Excel 2007 was optimised to use ClearType fonts. ClearType fonts make text easier to read. This setting is shared among all your Microsoft Office applications.

When creating new workbooks

Use this as the default font - This is the font used when you create a new workbook. The default is Body Font that refers to Microsoft Calibri.
Font size - This is the default font size when you create a new workbook.
Default view for new sheets - This is the default view when you create a new workbook. There is a choice of Normal, Page Break Preview or Page Layout.
Include this many sheets - This is the default number of worksheets when you create a new workbook. This defaults to 3 but can be any number between 1 and 255.

Personalise your copy of Microsoft Office

User name - Entering your full name will allow your name to be automatically saved in any workbooks that you create. This is shared among all your Microsoft Office applications.
Always use these values regardless of sign in to Office - (Added in 2013). Select this option if you want the program to display this user name and these initials even if you sign in to Office with an account that displays different information. This is handy for shared computers that have multiple users but if you always want the user name and initials properties to be the same.
Office theme - (Added in 2013). Lets you change the tint option that is applied to the background and borders of the ribbon and row and column headings. The drop-down contans the following: White, Light Gray and Dark Gray. This is shared among all your Microsoft Office applications. more
Office background - (Removed in 2022, Added in 2013). Lets you change the pattern that appears above the ribbon. This drop-down contains the following: No Background, Calligraphy, Circles and Stripes, Circuit, Clouds, Doodle Circles, Doodle Diamonds, Geometry, Lunchbox, School Supplies, Spring, Stars, Straws, Tree Rings and Underwater. The default is Clouds. This is shared among all your Microsoft Office applications.

Privacy Settings

This group was added in 2018 Janaury and was previously called Office Intelligent Services.

Privacy Settings - (Added in 365). Displays a new window giving you control over all your privacy settings.

LinkedIn Features

This group was added in 2018 Janaury.

Enable LinkedIn features in my Office applications - (Added in 2018). Allows you to see information from LinkedIn public profiles in Microsoft Applications and Services. This also lets you send invitations to connect on LinkedIn directly through Microsoft Applications. The default is ticked.

Start up Options

Choose the extensions you want Excel to open by default - (Added in 2013). Pressing Default Programs opens the "Set Associates for Program" dialog box. This lets you choose which file extensions you want associated with this program. Once associated double clicking this type of file will open it in this program.
Tell me if Microsoft Excel isn't the default program for viewing and editing spreadsheets - (Added in 2013). If there is a different program (or viewer) installed for editing spreadsheets then display a message.
Show the start screen when this application starts - (Added in 2013). Displays the start screen (instead of the default blank workbook) every time Excel opens.