Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change or Remove Microsoft Office Themes

Maira Mehtab Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to change or revert the theme appearance in Microsoft Office applications like Word and Excel.

Official Microsoft Office Theme setting using system settings

Product: Microsoft Office (Microsoft 365)
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the visual appearance and interface of Office applications.
Observed behavior: The current Office theme is unwanted, and the user wishes to select a different theme or return to a simpler interface.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your Microsoft account, as changing the theme in one application will automatically sync and apply across all supported Microsoft 365 applications tied to your account.

Solution 1Recommended

Change Office Theme via General Options

The standard method to modify or remove the current theme across all your Office applications.

Microsoft Office allows you to switch between several color profiles, including Colorful, Dark Gray, Black, White, or automatically matching your system settings. This setting is global and will update the appearance of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook simultaneously.

Open an Office Application

Launch any supported Microsoft Office application, such as Word or Excel, and open a blank document.

Navigate to Options

Click on the 'File' tab located in the top-left corner of the window, then select 'Options' at the very bottom of the left-hand menu.

Locate Theme Settings

In the Options dialog box, ensure the 'General' tab is selected. Scroll down to the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section.

Select a New Theme

Click the dropdown menu next to 'Office Theme' and choose your preferred option (e.g., Dark Gray, Black, White, Use system setting, or Colorful).

Apply Changes

Click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window. The new theme will immediately apply to your current app and all other installed Office applications.

Theme Sync: If you are signed into Microsoft 365, your selected theme will also sync across your other desktop devices using the same account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience a Customizable and Free Office Suite with WPS Office

If you are unhappy with Microsoft Office's interface changes or subscription costs, try WPS Office. It offers a highly customizable, familiar interface with full support for dark and light themes, completely free of charge.

1. Download WPS Office: Download and install WPS Office for free from the official website.
2. Access Skin Center: Open WPS Office and click the 'Skin Center' or 'Settings' icon in the top right corner.
3. Apply a Theme: Choose your preferred appearance, such as Dark Mode or Light Mode, to instantly customize your workspace.

Easily switch between customized workspace themes, including Dark Mode and Eye-Protection mode.Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats like DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Familiar, intuitive user interface that requires zero learning curve.Lightweight installation that runs smoothly even on older devices.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the 'Use system setting' Office theme do?

Selecting 'Use system setting' allows Microsoft Office to automatically switch between Light and Dark themes based on your current Windows or macOS system personalization settings.

Why didn't my Office theme change on my other computer?

If your theme settings are not syncing across devices, ensure you are logged into the exact same Microsoft account on all computers and that your Office sync settings are enabled in your account preferences.

Can I set a different theme for Word and Excel?

No, the Microsoft Office Theme setting is a global configuration. Changing it in one application like Word will automatically apply the same theme to Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

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