Switching Between Light and Dark Modes in Microsoft Word

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Microsoft Word gives you the ability to personalize its appearance by switching between light and dark modes. This is super useful for making your document editing experience more comfortable, whether you’re working in bright sunlight or a dimly lit room. Adjusting these settings can make text easier to read and reduce eye fatigue.

Switching to Light Mode

Light mode displays dark text on a bright background, similar to traditional paper. This is often best for well-lit environments. While Office apps might default to a “Colorful” theme or follow your system settings, you can manually enable light mode in all Office apps.

1. Open Microsoft Word. Then, click on the File menu, which you’ll find in the top-left corner.
   

   

2. In the sidebar on the left, look for and click on Account. This will take you to your Office account settings.
   

   

3. On the Account page, there’s an Office Theme dropdown menu. Click it and select White to switch to light mode.
   

   

After you select the ‘White’ theme, the entire Word interface – including the title bar, ribbon, and document background – will adopt a bright appearance.

The ‘White’ theme is a solid, bright, all-white interface, while the default ‘Colorful’ theme has a colored title bar and a light gray ribbon. Choosing ‘White’ gives a consistent light appearance.

Alternative Method: Using Word Options to Switch to Light Mode

Another way to get to light mode is through Word’s options menu.

1. Start by opening Microsoft Word and clicking the File tab in the ribbon.
   

   

2. From the sidebar menu that appears, click Options to open the Word Options dialog box.
   

   

3. In the Word Options window, make sure the General tab is selected. Scroll down until you see the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office section.

4. Click on the Office Theme dropdown and select White. Then, click OK to apply the changes.
   

   

Exploring the Dark Gray Theme

If you’d prefer something a bit softer than a full dark mode but easier on the eyes than the light theme, consider the Dark Gray theme.

1. Use either of the above methods to access the Office Theme settings.

2. In the dropdown, select Dark Gray and then click OK.
   

   

The ‘Dark Gray’ theme gives a darker interface without changing your document background to black.

Customizing the Office Background

Word also allows you to personalize the application’s background with patterns.

1. Open Word, click the File tab, and then select Options.

2. In the Word Options window, under the General tab, find the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office section.
   

   

3. Click the Office Background dropdown menu to select your preferred background pattern.

Enabling Dark Mode in Word

For those who work in darker settings or prefer a dark interface, Word’s Dark Mode changes both the interface and the document background to black. This can reduce eye strain, especially during long work sessions at night.

1. Open Microsoft Word, then click the File tab on the ribbon.
   

   

2. In the sidebar, click Account to access your account settings.

3. Find the Office Theme dropdown and select Black to switch to Dark Mode.
   

   

You can also enable dark mode through the Word Options dialog box:

1. Click the File tab and select Options.

2. In the Word Options window, select the General tab, then go to the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office section.
   

   

3. Choose Black from the Office Theme dropdown and click OK.

Once you enable dark mode, Microsoft Word will display a black theme across the entire application, including the ribbon and document background.

Quickly Switching Between Dark and Light Document Backgrounds

Even when Dark Mode is enabled, you can still view your document with a light background. Word has a quick toggle to switch the document background without changing the overall theme.

1. With Dark Mode on, go to the View tab in the ribbon.

2. In the Dark Mode group, click the Switch Modes button (it looks like a sun or moon icon) to toggle between a dark and light background.
   

   

This is useful when you want a white document background but keep the app’s interface in Dark Mode.

To go back to a dark document background, just click the Switch Modes button again.

Disabling Dark Mode for the Document Editor

If you want to keep the dark interface but always have a white document background, you can disable dark mode for the editor.

1. Go to File and select Options to open the Word Options dialog box.

2. In the General tab, under the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office section, check the box that says Disable dark mode.
   

   

3. Click OK to save changes. The document background will now be white while the application uses the Dark Mode theme.
   

   

By playing around with these settings, you can make Word exactly how you like it for a comfy and personalized experience.

Adjusting themes and backgrounds is a great way to improve your experience in Word, providing the flexibility to work your way, whether you prefer light or dark mode. Word makes it easy to switch between themes and set up a workspace that is just right for you.