Office Settings & Configuration

How to Turn On Dark Mode in Microsoft Office for iPad

Adam Davis Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to enable a dark theme for Microsoft Office applications on an iPad.

How to Enable Dark Mode in Microsoft Office for iPad

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: iPadOS
Scenario: Using Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on an iPad in low-light environments where a dark interface is preferred.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Office apps for iPad lack a dedicated in-app Dark Mode toggle and instead rely entirely on the system-wide iPadOS appearance settings.

Before you start

Ensure your iPad is updated to a recent version of iPadOS (iPadOS 13 or later) that supports system-wide Dark Mode.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable System-Wide Dark Mode in iPadOS Settings

Since Microsoft Office for iPad does not have an independent dark mode switch, you must enable the system-wide dark appearance to change the Office app theme.

Microsoft designed the iPadOS versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to automatically adapt to your device's global appearance settings. Changing the theme for the entire device is the only way to apply Dark Mode to these apps.

Open iPad Settings

Navigate to your iPad's home screen and tap the gear icon to open the Settings app.

Access Display Settings

Scroll down the left navigation menu and tap on 'Display & Brightness'.

Select Dark Appearance

Under the Appearance section at the top of the screen, tap 'Dark'. Your iPad and supported apps, including Microsoft Office, will instantly switch to a dark theme.

Set Automatic Schedule (Optional)

Toggle on the 'Automatic' switch if you want your iPad to automatically transition between Light and Dark modes based on local sunset and sunrise times or a custom schedule.

Enable System-Wide Dark Mode in iPadOS Settings

App Relaunch May Be Required: If Microsoft Office does not immediately switch to Dark Mode after changing the setting, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to force close the app, then reopen it to apply the new system theme.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on Dark Mode in Microsoft Word for iPad without changing my system settings?

No, Microsoft Word and other Office apps for iPad currently do not offer an independent in-app Dark Mode toggle. They rely exclusively on your iPadOS system appearance settings.

Why is my Microsoft Office app still in light mode after changing iPad settings?

If the app hasn't updated its appearance automatically, force close the Office app from the multitasking view and relaunch it. Also, ensure you are running the latest version of the app by checking for updates in the App Store.

Does Dark Mode change the color of my document pages in Word for iPad?

By default, Dark Mode changes the surrounding menus, ribbons, and toolbars to dark colors, but the document canvas often remains white to accurately reflect how the document will print. Some versions allow you to toggle the page background color within the View tab of the app.

Is Dark Mode available on older iPad models?

Dark Mode requires iPadOS 13 or later. If your iPad is running an older operating system that cannot be updated, the system-wide Dark Mode—and subsequently the dark theme for Office apps—will not be available.

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