Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Hard to Read Display Colors in Windows and Office

Phi Hung Vo Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing light gray and hard-to-read text or display colors in Microsoft Office applications and Windows.

How to Fix Hard to Read Display Colors in Windows and Microsoft Office

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: Windows 10
Scenario: Reading or working in Microsoft Office applications where text visibility is poor due to low contrast.
Observed behavior: The interface and document text appear faded or light gray, making the content difficult to read. This can be caused by theme configurations, outdated video drivers, or failing display hardware.

Before you start

Before altering system settings, try connecting your computer to a different monitor or television to quickly determine if the issue is a damaged hardware display rather than a software problem.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Microsoft Office Theme for Better Contrast

Switch the Office theme from White to Gray or Black to instantly improve text visibility and overall application contrast.

The default White theme in Microsoft Office can sometimes cause elements to look washed out, especially on highly bright monitors. Changing to a darker theme increases the contrast of menus and text.

Open Office Options

Launch Microsoft Word or Excel, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to General Settings

In the Options dialog box, ensure the 'General' tab is selected on the left sidebar.

Adjust the Office Theme

Scroll down to the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section. Click the drop-down menu next to 'Office Theme' and select 'Black' or 'Dark Gray', then click 'OK' to apply the changes.

Change the Microsoft Office Theme for Better Contrast

Theme Applied System-Wide: Changing the theme in one Office application (like Word) will automatically apply the new high-contrast theme to all other Microsoft 365 applications.

Solution 2

Modify Windows Theme and Update Graphics Drivers

If faded colors affect your entire computer, adjusting the Windows theme and updating your video driver can resolve the underlying system display issue.

Try WPS Office for Clear Display and Built-in Eye Protection

If adjusting Windows and Microsoft Office themes does not yield the perfect reading environment, try WPS Office. It provides robust built-in display themes, including a dedicated Eye Protection Mode, ensuring text is always sharp and comfortable to read.

1. Download and Install: Download WPS Office for free from the official website and follow the simple installation prompts.
2. Open the View Tab: Launch WPS Office, open any text document or spreadsheet, and click on the 'View' tab in the top ribbon.
3. Enable Eye Protection Mode: Click the 'Eye Protection Mode' or 'Dark Mode' toggle to instantly switch your workspace to a comfortable, high-contrast reading environment.

Built-in Dark Mode and Eye Protection Mode to reduce eye strain and improve readabilityHigh contrast UI themes that are completely free to useFully compatible with all Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX)Lightweight software that runs smoothly on all monitors and older hardware

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word document background look grey instead of white?

This usually happens if Dark Mode or a Dark Gray Office Theme is enabled. You can revert this by navigating to File > Options > General, and changing the 'Office Theme' drop-down to 'White' or 'Colorful'.

Can a bad monitor cable cause washed-out colors on my screen?

Yes, a damaged display cable (such as HDMI, DisplayPort, or VGA) or a loose connection can cause colors to appear faded, gray, or distorted. Try unplugging and securely reconnecting the cable, or testing a completely new cable.

How do I fix blurry text in Windows 10?

Go to Windows Settings > System > Display > Advanced scaling settings, and turn on 'Let Windows try to fix apps so they're not blurry'. You can also search for 'ClearType Text Tuner' in the Windows start menu and follow the prompts to make text sharper.

Office App Problems