How to Change Microsoft 365 Office Themes for Better Readability
Question details
The user wants to improve and customize Microsoft 365 Office themes to enhance visual comfort and readability.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Customizing the visual appearance of Office applications like Outlook to scan a large volume of emails more comfortably without eye strain.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 provides a limited selection of built-in Office themes, which can be visually tiring and lack sufficient contrast for some users.
Ensure your Microsoft 365 applications are fully updated, as Microsoft occasionally introduces new accessibility features or tweaks visual contrast settings in newer releases.
Change the Built-in Office Theme in Microsoft 365
Adjust the existing Office Theme settings to switch between Dark Gray, Black, White, or Colorful modes to find the best option for your visual comfort.
While Microsoft 365 does not allow fully custom themes, you can switch between the available native themes to reduce eye strain. The Black or Dark Gray themes are particularly helpful for reading large amounts of text in Outlook.
Launch any Microsoft 365 application, such as Outlook, Word, or Excel, and click on the 'File' tab located in the top left corner of the ribbon.
Click 'Options' at the very bottom of the left-hand menu to open the Word/Outlook Options dialog box. Ensure the 'General' tab is selected.
Scroll down to the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section. Click the drop-down menu next to 'Office Theme' and choose a different theme, such as 'Dark Gray' or 'Black'.
Click 'OK' at the bottom of the dialog box. The new theme will immediately be applied across all your installed Microsoft 365 applications.
Submit Feedback for More Theme Customization
Since the current customization options are limited, submitting or voting on a feature request in the Microsoft Feedback Portal helps prioritize the addition of more adjustable themes.
Try WPS Office for a Comfortable and Customizable Workspace
If the limited theme options in Microsoft 365 are causing visual fatigue, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, user-friendly interface with an excellent native dark mode designed to protect your eyes, alongside seamless compatibility with all Microsoft document formats.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free installation package for your PC or mobile device.
- 2. Install and Configure: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the lightweight office suite.
- 3. Open Your Files Seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with perfect formatting retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create fully custom themes in Microsoft 365?
No, Microsoft 365 currently does not support creating custom UI color themes. You are restricted to choosing from the built-in options like Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, and White under File > Options > General.
Why did my Office theme change automatically?
Your Office theme might change on its own if it is set to 'Use system setting'. This means the application automatically switches between light and dark modes based on your Windows operating system's display settings or time of day.
Does changing the Office theme affect how my documents print?
No, changing the Office Theme only modifies the appearance of the application interface, such as the menus, ribbons, and application backgrounds. It does not alter your document's actual content colors or how it appears when printed.
How can I make Outlook emails easier to read without changing the entire theme?
If you do not want to use a dark theme, you can improve readability by adjusting the zoom slider in the bottom right corner of the Outlook window, or by changing your default message font settings under File > Options > Mail > Stationery and Fonts.
