How to turn dark mode on and off in Microsoft Word
Redeem now - To enable dark mode in Microsoft Word, switch the theme to "Black" in the Account menu.
- You can make the document white or black using the "Switch Modes" button in the ribbon's View tab.
- For documents to always appear white, enable "Never change the document page color" in the Options menu.
In recent years, there's been increased scrutiny on the glaring, bright screens many people use at all hours of the day and night. Concerned about the eye strain these programs cause, many programs offer a dark mode that typically flips the color palette so that large, brightly lit sections of the screen are dark, making the screen more comfortable to read.
Microsoft Word has its own dark mode that turns the toolbar and canvas surrounding the document dark, leaving just the document itself white. You also have the option to flip the document to white text on a black background as well.
How to turn on Microsoft Word's dark mode
1. In the ribbon at the top of the screen, click File.
2. Click Account in the bottom of the File menu.
3. Click the Office Theme dropdown, and then select Black.
You should now see a dark interface with a black document. The advantage is that this darker view is typically easier on your eyes in low light settings, but it is a less accurate depiction of what other people will see when you share the finished document, so the choice is yours whether to use it or not.
How to turn off Microsoft Word's dark mode
1. In the ribbon at the top of the screen, click File.
2. Click Account in the bottom of the File menu.
3. Click the Office Theme dropdown, and then select Colorful.
How to make Microsoft Word's document appear white
While in dark mode, you can also opt to make the document appear white (with black text and other modified colors) by clicking Switch Modes.
Note: Switch Modes is only available in the Microsoft Word version that's part of Office 365.
1. Click the View tab in the ribbon at the top of the page.
2. Click Switch Modes. This will toggle the document color.
3. You can switch back to black by clicking Switch Modes again.
How to make Microsoft Word's document always appear white
If you prefer the more accurate white document and want to make sure that Word always starts that way even in dark mode, do this:
1. In the ribbon at the top of the screen, click File.
2. Click Options in the bottom of the File menu.
3. Make sure you are in the General tab, and then find the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Word section.
4. Beside Office Theme, click the checkbox for Never change the document page color.
5. Click OK.
Now Word will always start with a white document even in dark mode.
Note: You can still toggle the document to black by clicking Switch Modes in the View tab — this overrides the Never change the document page color checkbox.
Dave Johnson Freelance Writer Dave Johnson is a technology journalist who writes about consumer tech and how the industry is transforming the speculative world of science fiction into modern-day real life. Dave grew up in New Jersey before entering the Air Force to operate satellites, teach space operations, and do space launch planning. He then spent eight years as a content lead on the Windows team at Microsoft. As a photographer, Dave has photographed wolves in their natural environment; he's also a scuba instructor and co-host of several podcasts. Dave is the author of more than two dozen books and has contributed to many sites and publications including CNET, Forbes, PC World, How To Geek, and Insider. Read more Read lessncG1vNJzZmivp6x7o8HSoqWeq6Oeu7S1w56pZ5ufonyowcidnKxnpJqwqXvMopqrp6Oks7V51qipnWWUlr%2Bsecyom54%3D