Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change the Microsoft Office Theme and Word Ribbon Appearance

Huda Qurayshi Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to change the Microsoft Word theme to restore the blue title bar and make the ribbon interface less bulky, but preferred themes like 'Colorful' are missing.

How to Change the Microsoft Office Theme and Word Ribbon Appearance

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the workspace appearance to make the ribbon less bulky, change capitalized tabs, and restore the familiar blue title bar layout.
Observed behavior: Only White, Gray, and Light Gray themes are available in the settings. The interface appears bulky with capitalized tabs, and the preferred 'Colorful' theme is missing due to Office version limitations.

Before you start

Verify your current Microsoft Office version, as available themes (like the Colorful option) vary significantly between Office 2013, 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Office Theme in General Settings

Access the Word Options menu to apply available appearance themes such as Colorful, Dark Gray, or White.

Microsoft Office allows you to personalize your workspace by applying different themes. This setting changes the appearance of the title bar, ribbon, and background across all your installed Office applications.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word. Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand menu to open the Word Options dialog box.

Navigate to General Settings

In the left pane of the Word Options window, ensure that the 'General' tab is selected.

Locate Personalization Settings

Scroll down to the section labeled 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office'.

Select a New Theme

Click the 'Office Theme' drop-down menu and choose your preferred theme. Selecting 'Colorful' will generally restore the classic blue title bar.

Apply Changes

Click the 'OK' button at the bottom of the window to instantly apply the new theme to your Office interface.

Change the Office Theme in General Settings

Missing Themes or Bulky Interface: If 'Colorful' is not listed or tabs are stuck in all-caps, your specific Office version (such as Office 2013) may not support newer interface designs. Additionally, if the ribbon feels bulky, ensure you are in 'Mouse Mode' rather than 'Touch Mode' by checking the Quick Access Toolbar.

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Get a Clean, Familiar Interface with WPS Office

If your older version of Microsoft Word lacks the themes you prefer and you want to avoid paying for an expensive software upgrade, WPS Office provides a modern, customizable, and lightweight alternative completely for free.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install and Launch: Run the installer, follow the simple on-screen instructions, and open WPS Writer once completed.
3. Open Your Word Documents: Click 'Open' to seamlessly load your existing .docx files with full formatting preserved in a visually pleasing interface.

Free to use with a familiar, non-bulky ribbon interface.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx, .doc).Multiple built-in UI themes and a dedicated Dark Mode to reduce eye strain.Lightweight installation that runs incredibly smoothly on older computers.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the 'Colorful' theme missing from my Microsoft Word drop-down menu?

The availability of the Colorful theme depends entirely on your Office version. It was introduced as the default starting in Office 2016. If you are using Office 2013, you will only see White, Light Gray, and Dark Gray options.

How do I make the Word ribbon less bulky?

Your Office interface might be set to 'Touch Mode', which spaces out buttons for tablet users. To fix this, click the 'Touch/Mouse Mode' icon on your Quick Access Toolbar (at the very top of the window) and select 'Mouse'. You can also collapse the ribbon entirely by double-clicking any main tab.

Can I change the theme for only Microsoft Word without affecting Excel?

No. Changing the Office Theme in Word's General settings will automatically apply the same appearance settings across all your installed Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.

How do I fix capitalized ribbon tabs in older Office versions?

Microsoft Office 2013 introduced ALL CAPS for ribbon tabs by default, and there is no built-in toggle to change this to standard title case. Upgrading to Office 2016 or newer, or using a free alternative like WPS Office, will restore the traditional title case capitalization.

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