'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Fix Missing Black Theme in Word 2016
Question details
The user is unable to find the Black Office theme in Word 2016 and only sees the Colorful, Dark Gray, and White options in the settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Word 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to change the Microsoft Office appearance to the Black theme (Dark Mode).
- Observed behavior
- The Black theme is missing from the Office Theme dropdown menu; only Colorful, Dark Gray, and White are visible as available options.
Ensure your computer is connected to the internet to check for the latest Office updates, as the availability of the Black theme is directly tied to specific software builds.
Update Office 2016 to the Latest Build
The Black theme was introduced in later builds of Microsoft Office. Updating your Office 2016 installation is the most direct way to see if the theme can be added to your current version.
Microsoft frequently rolls out new features and visual updates to newer builds. If you are running an older, unpatched version of Office 2016, you will only see the original Colorful, Dark Gray, and White themes.
Launch Microsoft Word 2016, click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, and select 'Account' from the left-hand navigation pane.
Under the 'Product Information' section, click on the 'Update Options' button next to Office Updates.
Select 'Update Now' from the dropdown menu. Wait for Microsoft Office to check for, download, and install any available updates.
Once the updates are installed, restart Word 2016, go back to File > Account, and check the 'Office Theme' dropdown menu to see if the Black theme is now available.
Verify Your Office Version and Build Number
Some specific installations of Office 2016 (such as volume-licensed versions) do not receive feature updates like the Black theme. Checking your build number helps confirm your software's capabilities.
Experience Built-In Dark Mode with WPS Office
If your current version of Word 2016 does not support the Black theme and you don't want to pay for a Microsoft 365 upgrade, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a native, easy-to-use Dark Mode and excellent compatibility with all your Microsoft Word documents for free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Word 2016 only have Colorful, Dark Gray, and White themes?
Early builds and Volume License (MSI) versions of Word 2016 were shipped before the true Black theme was developed. The Black theme was later introduced to Microsoft 365 subscribers and newer Office versions, leaving older or specific enterprise builds of Office 2016 with only the original three themes.
Can I get the Black theme in Word 2016 without a Microsoft 365 subscription?
It depends on your installation type. If you have a Retail or Click-to-Run version of Office 2016, updating to the latest build via File > Account > Update Options may enable it. However, Volume License versions will not receive this feature update.
Is Dark Gray the same as the Black theme in Word?
No. The Dark Gray theme changes the ribbon and background to varying shades of gray but leaves the document canvas white. The Black theme (or true Dark Mode) turns the interface significantly darker and can also invert the document canvas to a dark color for better eye strain reduction.
How do I turn on dark mode in WPS Office?
In WPS Office, you can easily enable Dark Mode by clicking the 'Skin Center' icon (the t-shirt icon) in the top right corner of the application and selecting the 'Dark' theme, or by toggling 'Eye Protection Mode' in the bottom status bar.
