Why the Black Theme is Missing in Microsoft Office 2013 & 2016
Question details
The user is unable to find or enable the Black theme in Microsoft Office 2013, only seeing options for Dark Gray, Light Gray, and White.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to change the Office application interface to a dark mode or black theme for better visibility or eye comfort.
- Observed behavior
- The Black theme option is completely missing from the Office Theme drop-down menu in the Account and Options settings.
Verify your exact Microsoft Office version and license type in the Account settings, as interface theme availability varies significantly between perpetual licenses and subscription versions.
Use the Dark Gray Theme Workaround
Since the Black theme is physically unavailable in older perpetual versions, selecting Dark Gray is the closest native alternative for reducing eye strain.
Microsoft did not include the true Black theme in the release of Office 2013. The darkest available option for this specific version is Dark Gray.
Launch Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
Click on the 'File' tab in the top-left corner, then click on 'Options' at the bottom of the left-hand sidebar.
In the General tab, locate the 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office' section. Click the 'Office Theme' drop-down menu and select 'Dark Gray', then click 'OK'.
Verify Your Office Version or Upgrade
Check if you are running a perpetual license of Office 2013/2016 or a Microsoft 365 subscription, as the Black theme is limited to newer or subscription-based software.
Enjoy Built-in Dark Mode Support with WPS Office
Don't want to pay for a pricey Microsoft 365 subscription just to get a dark theme? WPS Office provides a fully featured Dark Mode and Eye Protection mode natively, along with seamless compatibility with all your existing Microsoft Office documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Microsoft Office 2016 have a Black theme?
The standard perpetual version of Office 2016 does not have the Black theme. It only includes Colorful, Dark Gray, and White. The Black theme is only available if you are using the Microsoft 365 subscription version of Office 2016 or newer versions like Office 2019.
Is there a registry hack to force the Black theme in Office 2013?
No, the visual assets and code required for the Black theme are physically not present in the Office 2013 installation files. Modifying the registry to force a theme value will either revert your application to a default theme or cause display glitches.
What is the difference between the Dark Gray and Black themes?
The Dark Gray theme changes the ribbon, toolbars, and background into shades of gray, while leaving the document canvas white. The Black theme applies a high-contrast black color to the interface and can also invert the document page background to black for a true dark mode editing experience.
