Office Apps Not Opening

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Apps Starting With a White Screen

Maira Mehtab Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

Users observe a solid white splash screen when launching Microsoft 365 or Office applications like Word, Excel, and Outlook.

How to Fix Microsoft 365 Apps Starting With a White Screen

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening Microsoft Office applications after a recent update or interface change.
Observed behavior: A white startup screen appears instead of the traditional branded splash screen. It may or may not affect the functionality of the software once fully opened.

Before you start

Wait a few moments to see if the application fully loads past the white splash screen. Verify if your Office apps have recently received an automatic update, as Microsoft frequently introduces new interface designs.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Application Functionality and Change Office Theme

Confirm if the white screen is a cosmetic UI update and change your theme settings if preferred.

Microsoft periodically changes the appearance of the Office splash screen. If the application loads normally after the white screen and all functions work as expected, this is not a malfunction.

Launch the application

Open Word, Excel, or Outlook and wait for the white splash screen to pass.

Check the ribbon and controls

Verify if the application's ribbon, menus, and document editing areas load and function correctly.

Open Options

If the app works normally, click on 'File' in the top left corner, then select 'Options' at the bottom of the left sidebar.

Modify the Office Theme

Navigate to the 'General' tab. Scroll down to the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section, change the 'Office Theme' to your preferred color (e.g., Colorful, Dark Gray, or Black), and click 'OK'.

Verify Application Functionality and Change Office Theme

Visual Updates: Changing the theme may not alter the initial splash screen color, but it will restore your preferred colors to the main application interface.

Solution 2

Troubleshoot Unresponsive White Screens

If the application freezes on the white screen and fails to load the ribbon or controls, you may need to diagnose add-ins or repair the installation.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless, Reliable Experience

If unexpected Microsoft 365 interface changes and startup bugs are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and user-friendly alternative that launches quickly without bloated updates.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
2. Install the software: Run the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install WPS Office on your device.
3. Open existing files: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about formatting issues.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight software that launches instantly without freezing on splash screensClean, familiar user interface that requires zero learning curveFree to use with powerful built-in PDF editing tools

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did Microsoft 365 suddenly change to a white splash screen?

Microsoft periodically updates the visual interface of Office apps. A recent update introduced a minimalist white splash screen to align with modern design guidelines, which is considered normal behavior.

Does the white startup screen mean my Office apps are broken?

Not necessarily. If Word, Excel, or Outlook fully loads and the ribbon is visible and usable after the white screen appears, your software is functioning correctly.

Can I revert the startup screen back to its original color?

You cannot directly change the color of the splash screen itself, but you can change the overall application appearance by navigating to File > Options > General and modifying the Office Theme setting.

What if the white screen stays forever and the app freezes?

If the application fails to load past the white screen, it may indicate a malfunctioning add-in or a corrupted installation. Try launching the app in Safe Mode (e.g., typing 'winword /safe' in the Run dialog) or running an Office Repair from your Windows App Settings.

Office App Problems