How to Restore the Previous Word and Microsoft 365 Layout
Question details
The user wants to revert the Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint interface to the previous layout and color scheme after it was automatically updated to the new Microsoft 365 experience.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user opened Office applications and discovered an unprompted change to the layout and color scheme caused by the new Microsoft 365 experience.
- Observed behavior
- The interface shows a new design with reduced color and contrast, which the user finds difficult to use and wants to revert back to the classic layout.
Before proceeding, make sure to save any open documents, as you will need to completely restart your Office applications for the interface changes to take effect.
Turn Off the New Microsoft 365 Experience
Use the built-in megaphone icon to disable the new layout and restore the classic Office interface across all Microsoft 365 applications.
Microsoft sometimes automatically rolls out interface updates to modernize the user experience. If you find the new layout lacks contrast or makes tools harder to find, you can easily disable it through the 'Coming Soon' feature.
Open Microsoft Word (or Excel/PowerPoint) and look for the small megaphone (horn) icon located in the upper-right corner of the application window.
Click the megaphone icon. This action will open a side panel on the right labeled 'Coming Soon', which explains the recent design changes.
Scroll to the very bottom of the right-side panel and click the toggle switch to turn off the new experience mode.
Close all open Office applications. Once completely closed, reopen Word or any other Office app to see your previous layout and color scheme fully restored.
Tired of Unwanted Interface Changes?
If sudden, unprompted layout updates in Microsoft 365 are disrupting your workflow, try WPS Office. It provides a stable, customizable, and familiar interface, ensuring you can focus on your work without unexpected redesigns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Microsoft Word layout change suddenly?
Microsoft regularly rolls out design updates, such as the 'new Microsoft 365 experience', to modernize the interface and align with the latest Windows aesthetics. These updates are sometimes enabled automatically in the background without a prompt.
Will disabling the new experience in Word affect Excel and PowerPoint?
Yes. The visual experience settings are synchronized across your Microsoft 365 suite. Disabling the new layout in Word will also restore the classic layout in Excel and PowerPoint after you restart those applications.
What if I do not see the megaphone icon in Word?
If the megaphone icon is missing, the new experience may have become the permanent default layout for your specific version of Office. In such cases, you can try adjusting your visual settings by going to File > Account and changing the Office Theme (e.g., to Colorful or Dark Gray) to improve contrast.
How can I restore the color in my Quick Access Toolbar?
The new Microsoft 365 experience often removes the colored background from the title bar and Quick Access Toolbar. By toggling off the new experience using the megaphone icon and ensuring your Office Theme is set to 'Colorful' (under File > Account), the colored title bar will return.
