Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Washed-Out Colors in Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where Microsoft 365 applications display faded colors and low contrast.

How to Fix Washed-Out Colors in Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint

Product: Microsoft 365 (Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Viewing and editing documents on an OLED laptop display.
Observed behavior: Microsoft 365 apps show washed-out colors and poor contrast, whereas the Windows desktop and other applications display colors normally.

Before you start

Verify if Windows HDR is enabled on your laptop, as mismatched High Dynamic Range settings often cause specific desktop applications to appear washed out on OLED screens.

Solution 1Recommended

Adjust Windows HDR and Display Settings

Disable or recalibrate Windows HDR settings, which is the most common cause of faded colors in Microsoft Office apps on OLED displays.

Windows handles color profiles differently for standard and HDR content. If HDR is enabled but not properly calibrated for your specific OLED panel, SDR applications like Microsoft 365 may appear faded or grayed out.

Open Windows Display Settings

Right-click an empty area on your Windows desktop and select 'Display settings'.

Toggle HDR Settings

Scroll down to the 'Windows HD Color' or 'Use HDR' section. Toggle the HDR switch to 'Off' to see if the colors in Excel and PowerPoint return to normal.

Adjust SDR Content Brightness (Optional)

If you prefer to keep HDR on, click on the HDR settings menu and adjust the 'SDR content brightness' slider until the Office applications look vibrant.

Immediate Effect: Changes to HDR and display settings take effect immediately. You do not need to restart your Microsoft 365 applications to see the difference.

Solution 2

Change Graphics Performance Preference for Office Apps

Force Windows to use a specific graphics profile for Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint to bypass potential GPU rendering conflicts.

Solution 3

Update Display Drivers and Color Profiles

Ensure your graphics drivers are up to date and your laptop's color profile is correctly calibrated.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Vivid Document Rendering with WPS Office

If Microsoft 365 continues to display washed-out colors or rendering issues on your OLED screen, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative with excellent display rendering that adapts perfectly to your system's color profiles.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Free Download' button to get the latest installation file.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup on your Windows device.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Excel, PowerPoint, or Word documents to experience vibrant colors and perfect formatting.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Office formats including DOCX, XLSX, and PPTX.Crisp and vibrant UI rendering that integrates seamlessly with OLED and HDR displays.Free, lightweight, and fast-loading alternative to Microsoft 365.Familiar user interface ensuring a smooth transition with no learning curve.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do colors look faded only in Microsoft Office apps and not other programs?

This typically occurs because Microsoft Office applications interact differently with Windows hardware acceleration and HDR settings. If Windows is outputting an HDR signal but Office is rendering in standard dynamic range (SDR) without proper scaling, the interface will look washed out or gray.

Can I fix this by disabling hardware graphics acceleration in Office?

Yes, in older versions of Office, going to File > Options > Advanced and checking 'Disable hardware graphics acceleration' could fix this. However, Microsoft has removed this option in newer Microsoft 365 builds. You can achieve a similar result by changing the app's GPU preference in Windows Graphics Settings.

Does OLED inherently cause color issues in productivity software?

No, OLED technology itself displays infinite contrast and vibrant colors. The issue stems from software-level color profile mismatches and HDR calibration within the operating system, rather than the physical display panel.

Does WPS Office support dark mode on OLED screens?

Yes, WPS Office features a built-in Dark Mode that is perfectly optimized for OLED screens. It utilizes true blacks, which not only looks fantastic but also helps conserve battery life on OLED laptops.

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