How to Make the Today Calendar Highlight More Visible in Outlook
Question details
The user wants to emphasize the current date square in the Outlook Calendar because the default subtle highlight makes the 'Today' indicator difficult to see.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Navigating and organizing daily schedules within the Outlook Calendar view.
- Observed behavior
- The default 'Today' indicator in the calendar is too lightly highlighted, and standard conditional formatting rules only change the appearance of appointments rather than the background of the date square itself.
Ensure your Outlook application is updated to the latest version, as Microsoft occasionally releases interface updates that may alter the calendar's contrast and display settings.
Use Conditional Formatting to Highlight Today's Appointments
Since Outlook does not allow customizing the background color of the date square, you can use conditional formatting to make all appointments scheduled for today stand out visually.
Conditional formatting in Outlook lets you apply specific colors and fonts to calendar items that meet certain criteria. While this does not highlight the empty date square itself, making today's appointments bolder serves as an effective workaround to draw your eye immediately to the current day's events.
Launch Outlook and navigate to the Calendar view. Click on the 'View' tab located in the top ribbon, then select 'View Settings'.
In the Advanced View Settings dialog box, click the button labeled 'Conditional Formatting'.
Click 'Add' to create a new formatting rule. Name the rule something identifiable, like 'Today's Appointments', and select a bold, noticeable color from the Color drop-down menu.
Click the 'Condition' button. Go to the 'Appointments and Meetings' tab, change the 'Time' drop-down to 'Starts', and select 'Today' from the adjacent drop-down. Click 'OK' on all dialog boxes to apply the changes.
Change the Office Theme for Better Visual Contrast
Applying a different Office theme, such as Dark Gray or Black, can increase the overall contrast of the application and make the subtle Today indicator easier to notice.
Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft
Because the inability to color-code the 'Today' square is a structural limitation of Outlook, submitting feedback directly to Microsoft is the best way to request this feature in future updates.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the background color of the 'Today' square in the Outlook Calendar?
No, Microsoft Outlook currently does not offer a built-in feature to change the background color of the 'Today' square specifically. You can only change the default color of the entire calendar.
Why does conditional formatting only change my appointments and not the date box?
Conditional formatting in Outlook is designed specifically to apply rules to data items (such as emails, appointments, or meetings) based on defined criteria. It cannot alter the structural UI elements, like the grid or date boxes of the calendar interface.
How do I quickly jump to the current date in the Outlook Calendar?
If you lose track of the current date while browsing your calendar, simply go to the 'Home' tab on the ribbon and click the 'Today' button in the 'Go To' group to immediately jump back to the current day.
Will using a Dark Theme in Office fix the calendar visibility issue?
While switching to a Dark or High Contrast theme will not let you custom-highlight the 'Today' square, it alters the overall color scheme of the application. This change in contrast often makes subtle indicators, like the light outline of the current day, easier to spot.
