How to Change Microsoft Word to Dark Mode

Microsoft Word's dark mode changes the appearance of the user interface to a darker color scheme, making it easier on the eyes, especially in low-light environments. Additionally, it provides a more modern feel to Word and helps conserve battery life on your device.

This tutorial will guide you through the process of turning on dark mode in Word, adjusting the page background color, and switching back to light mode when needed.

Video: Change Microsoft Word to Dark Mode

Turn on dark mode in Word

To enable dark mode in Microsoft Word, follow the steps below. Please note that this change will apply to all Microsoft Office applications, including Excel and PowerPoint.

1. In an open document, click "File" > "Account".
2. Under "Office Theme", click on the dropdown menu and select "Black".

   

Switch page background color to white in dark mode

Even with dark mode enabled, you might prefer your document pages to remain white for various reasons. For instance, you might want to see how your text will appear on a white canvas for readability purposes, or to preview how it will look when printed.

1. In your Word document, go to the "View" tab.
2. Click on "Switch Modes". Tip: By clicking the "Switch Modes" button, you can easily toggle between dark and light page backgrounds.

   

Make page background color always white in dark mode

If your document’s page color returns to black when you close and reopen Word, you can disable the dark page background in dark mode to keep the page light every time you open Word.

1. In your Word document, go to "File" > "Options".
2. In the "Word Options" dialog box, on the "General" tab, find the "Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office" section.
3. Check the box that says "Never change the document page color".
   Tip: In some relatively older versions of Word, this option might be labeled as "Disable dark mode".
4. Click "OK".

   

Change Word from dark mode to light mode

If you decide that dark mode is not for you, switching back to light mode is simple.

1. In an open document, click "File" > "Account".
2. Under "Office Theme", click on the dropdown menu and select "White" or "Colorful".

   

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Will the dark mode affect how my documents print or share?

   No, the dark mode only affects the interface and on-screen appearance. To preview your document for printing and sharing, use the "Switch Modes" button on the "View" tab to change the page background to light.

2. Does dark mode work on all versions of Word?

   No, dark mode is supported only in "Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365)", which is the subscription-based version updated regularly, as well as in the perpetual versions like "Office 2019" and "Office 2021". However, earlier versions such as "Office 2016" and "Office 2013" do not have dark mode, though they do offer darker themes.

3. Are there any known issues with dark mode in Word?
   • The dark mode setting does not sync between the Web, Windows, and Mac versions of Microsoft Word; you will need to enable it separately on each platform.
   • When copying text from another app while in dark mode, the pasted text might show as black text on a white background. To resolve this, press Ctrl + Shift + V, or paste normally with Ctrl + V and then choose "Paste Text Only" from the "Paste Options" shortcut menu.
   • Some side panes and dialog boxes may not fully support dark mode.
   • Certain components, such as charts, textboxes, and equations, may not display correctly in dark mode.

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