Where to find dark mode in Word

Dark mode in Word is controlled through your account settings, not through the process itself. When you turn on dark mode for your Microsoft account, Word switches to a dark background with light text. The setting lives in your Microsoft account preferences, which means the change applies across Word, Outlook, Excel, and other Microsoft 365 apps on that device.

You do not need to restart Word or sign out and back in — the change takes effect when ready once you save it. If you share a computer with other users, each person's dark mode preference stays separate because it is tied to their individual Microsoft account.

Key Takeaways

  • Dark mode is controlled through your Microsoft account settings, not through Word's own preferences menu.
  • On Windows, go to Settings, then Accounts, then Your Info, and choose Dark under the Choose your mode section.
  • On Mac, open System Preferences, select General, and switch the appearance to Dark.
  • Word will switch to dark mode when ready after you save the change, without requiring you to close and reopen the process.
  • Dark mode affects the ribbon, menus, and document background, but your actual document text color does not change unless you formatted it that way.

Turning on dark mode in Windows

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click on Accounts in the left sidebar, then select Your Info at the top of the list. Look for the section labeled "Choose your mode" — you will see three options: Light, Dark, and Custom.

Click on Dark. Windows will explore the dark theme to your entire system, and Word will switch over within a few seconds. If you want dark mode only for apps and not for your Windows background and menus, click Custom instead, then toggle the "App mode" switch to Dark while leaving "Windows mode" set to Light.

If you do not see the "Choose your mode" section, your Windows version may be older. In that case, scroll down in the same window until you find "Color mode" or "Theme", and select Dark from the dropdown menu.

Turning on dark mode on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer macOS versions). Click General in the sidebar. At the top of the window, you will see "Appearance" with three choices: Light, Dark, and Auto.

Click Dark. Word will switch to dark mode when ready. If you choose Auto, your Mac will switch between light and dark mode based on the time of day — dark mode turns on at sunset and off at sunrise, using your location.

What dark mode changes and what it does not

Dark mode changes the background of Word's ribbon, menus, and the area around your document. The document itself gets a dark background instead of white. However, the text color in your document does not automatically change — if your text was black, it stays black, which can make it hard to read on a dark background.

If you find your text is now hard to see, you have two options. You can turn off dark mode and go back to light mode, or you can select all your text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac) and change the font color to white or light gray. Word will remember your text color choice even if you switch back to light mode later.

Switching back to light mode

Follow the same steps you used to turn dark mode on. On Windows, go back to Settings > Accounts > Your Info and click Light. On Mac, go back to System Preferences > General and click Light. The change takes effect when ready in Word and all other Microsoft 365 apps.

If you chose Custom mode on Windows and want to switch the app appearance back to light while keeping your Windows background dark, return to Settings > Accounts > Your Info > Custom and toggle "App mode" back to Light.

Dark mode and document printing

Dark mode is only a display setting on your screen — it does not change how your document prints. When you print or save your document as a PDF, the text and background colors you actually formatted into the document are what appear on paper, not the dark mode appearance you see on screen.

This means if you typed black text on a dark background in dark mode, your printed document will show black text on white paper (the default), which is readable. However, if you changed your text color to white to read it on screen, that white text will be invisible when printed. Before printing, switch to light mode or change your text color back to black so you can see what will actually print.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does dark mode work in Word Online?

Dark mode in Word Online depends on your web browser's dark mode setting, not on your Microsoft account setting. If your browser is set to dark mode, Word Online will display in dark mode. If your browser is in light mode, Word Online stays in light mode, even if your Windows or Mac system is set to dark.

Will dark mode slow down Word or use more battery?

On devices with OLED screens (some newer laptops and phones), dark mode can slightly reduce battery drain because black pixels use less power. On standard LCD screens, dark mode makes no difference to battery life or performance. Word runs at the same speed regardless of which mode you choose.

Can I set dark mode for Word only, not for my whole system?

On Windows, yes — use Custom mode and toggle only "App mode" to Dark. On Mac, you cannot set dark mode for individual apps; the setting applies system-wide. However, you can use Auto mode so dark mode only turns on at night when you are more likely to use it.

What if dark mode makes my document hard to read?

Select all your text with Ctrl+A (Windows) or Command+A (Mac), then change the font color to white or light gray using the font color button in the ribbon. Alternatively, switch back to light mode by following the steps in the "Switching back to light mode" section above.

Does dark mode affect the colors I see in charts or images in my document?

No. Charts, images, and any colors you have already applied to text or shapes display exactly as you formatted them, regardless of dark mode. Dark mode only changes the background and menus around your document, not the content inside it.