How to Turn Off Dark Mode on Microsoft Word to Light Mode

Is MS Word’s dark mode straining your eyes? Learn how to turn off dark mode on Microsoft Word instantly with our step-by-step guide and get back to normal in seconds:

Want to learn how to turn off dark mode on Word? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Dark mode is my preferred mode when using MS Word on mobile or laptop for obvious reasons.

As someone who spends hours on end gazing at a bright digital screen, I find dark mode to be more comfortable and soothing to my eyes.

Disable MS Word Dark Mode in Seconds

I also understand that there are folks out there who aren’t the biggest fans of this mode, especially on Word, as it can affect reading comprehension. That said, you can turn it off at any time without hassle.

[Via Vivaldi Browser]

If you don’t know how, consider this your guide to accomplishing that with ease. In this article, I’ll be covering how to change Word to light mode on different OS versions.

So, without much further ado, let’s dive in.

Check the video below to know the steps to turn off Dark Mode on MS Word:

How to Turn Off Dark Mode on Microsoft Word

Here is a quick summary of how to turn off dark mode on MS Word.

I) On Windows OS

Note that the default theme settings for all Microsoft 365 applications are “Use System Settings”. This basically means that your MS Office application matches the theme of your Windows OS.

For instance, if your Windows OS is in light mode, your Word file will also open in light mode. If you want the Word file’s theme to differ from your OS’s look, you’ll need to configure those settings from within your Word file.

Disabling Dark Mode on the Windows OS is simple. It will only take you a few steps and seconds.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Click on File.
2. In the resulting menu, click on Options > General.
3. In the General menu, see a section called “Personalize Your copy of Microsoft Office”.

4. Within this section, click on the Office Theme box to open a drop-down menu to find the following options:

• Drak Gray
• Colorful
• White
• Black

5. Select “White” to switch Word back to light mode.

6. Click “OK” to return to your page.

Alternatively, you can also do the following:

1. Open your Word file.
2. Select File > Accounts
3. Under the Office Theme section, select “White” as the desired option.

Pat yourself on the back as you’ve now successfully pulled Word out of dark mode.

II) On Word Mac

Although slightly different from Windows, the process for disabling dark mode on Mac is equally simple and quick. To complete the task, follow the steps below.

Here’s how you do it:

1. First, launch MS Word on your Mac.

2. Click on the “Word” option, which you’ll find on the top toolbar, right beside the Apple logo.

3. Click “Preferences” in the drop-down menu.

4. In the “Word Preferences” window, scroll down to the Authoring and Proofing Tools section and click on “General”.

5. In the “General” Window, find a check box that states “Turn Off Dark Mode” underneath the “Personalize” header.

6. Select it, and MS Word will revert to light mode.

The Shortcut “Switch Mode” to Change Page Background Color.

Once you’ve enabled Dark Mode on Word, you are granted the privilege of switching between dark and light mode with a single click. This is essentially a quicker way to enable and disable dark mode on MS Word.

Whether you are using Word on Windows or Mac, simply do the following:

1. Select the “View” tab in the top toolbar.

2. Click on the “Switch Mode” option to change the background color.

Clicking on “Switch Mode” will help you toggle between light and dark mode in an instant. You don’t have to do anything else.

III) On Word Online

Disabling Dark Mode on the web version of Word is relatively simple, as you are presented with this option in the ribbon (top toolbar) itself. If you are someone who uses the web-based version of MS Word, I suggest you follow the guide below to disable dark mode or manage your Word file’s theme.

1. On a web browser, enter https://www.office.com/

2. Sign in to your Microsoft account and select Word.

3. Create a new Word file or select an existing one. It is up to you.

4. With the Word file open, go to the “View” tab at the top and click on “Dark Mode”.

5. If Word is on dark mode, it will revert to light mode as you click on that button.

6. Simply click on it again if you wish to switch back to dark mode.

The web-based version of Word remembers the changes you’ve made and ensures those changes are intact every time you open the file. For instance, if you set a page’s background color to white, it will remain so every time you open the file unless you make a change again.

If you have set your OS or browser theme to dark or light mode, the web version of Word will follow these settings. For instance, if your web browser’s theme is already set to “light mode”, Word on the web will also automatically open in light mode without you having to do anything.

IV) On Word (Android Phone)

MS Word on a smartphone differs completely from its web-based or desktop counterpart. As such, the method of disabling dark mode will also differ. That said, it is still quite simple to accomplish.

Here’s what you’ll need to do to disable a Word file’s dark mode on Android:

1. Open the MS Word app on your Android smartphone.
2. Tap on your profile picture at the top.
3. Go to Settings
4. Scroll down to “Theme”, which you’ll find underneath the “Display Preferences” header.
5. Tap on “Theme” and select “Light”.
6. Once done, restart the app for the changes to take effect.

V) On Word (iPhone)

Although MS Word is available for iOS devices, there is currently no feature that lets you enable or disable dark mode on the iOS version of MS Word. Your iPhone display mode will affect your MS Word’s appearance as well. Simply put, if your iPhone is set to dark mode, MS Word will also feature a darker theme.

To disable dark mode here, you’ll need to adjust the display settings of your iPhone.

Here’s how you do it:

1. Go to Settings

2. Tap on “Display and Brightness”.

[Via Apple Support]

3. Tap on “Light”.

The MS Word app on your iPhone will respond to this change.

Change MS Word’s Theme

Besides switching between dark and light colors, experiment with the aesthetics of your Word document. If that is the case, I would suggest experimenting with your Word file’s color themes.

You can do so by:

1. Going to the “Design” tab.

2. Selecting “Colors”.

3. Pick a color set from the given options.

You can even create your own color set by selecting the “Customize Colors” option in the same drop-down menu.

After selecting a color set, simply hit the “Set as Default” button to make sure these changes apply to all new documents in the future.

Besides the overall theme, you can choose to change your page’s color as well.

1. Go to the “Design” tab

2. Select “Page Color”.

3. Select the color you want for your page.

Things to Know About MS Word’s Dark Mode

If you are someone who uses multiple versions of MS Word, know that enabling or disabling dark mode on one device will not reflect on other devices. You’ll need to perform this action separately on each device.

Also worth noting is the effect Dark Mode has on a document you are trying to print. Even if the Word file is in dark mode, it will be printed by default with the light mode page colors.

Furthermore, Dark Mode’s effect may not apply to the side pages, dialog box, textboxes, chart, and equations in your Word file.

Troubleshooting Guide for Dark Mode on MS Word

You may encounter some problems when working with Dark Mode on MS Word. These problems can be annoying. That said, these are issues that can be solved with a few neat tricks.

#1) Word Keeps Reverting to Dark Mode

This can be an annoying issue where you have to constantly undergo the tedium of turning light mode on again and again. An easy fix to this problem would be to first check your MS Word’s theme settings.

Make sure that the “White” theme is selected. Also, check the “Never change the document page color” on Windows and the “Dark mode has white page color” on Mac to ensure your page color remains white by default even if the theme changes.

If that doesn’t work, try updating the MS Office App. Alternatively, you can try to repair the MS Office file by navigating to your system’s Control Panel > Programs > MS Office> File Repair.

If all else fails, you could take a more technical approach to solving this issue by launching MS Word in Safe Mode.

#2) System Settings Overriding Word Preferences

An easy fix to this problem can be found by navigating to your account settings on MS Word. See if the “Use System Settings” has been selected. If so, you need to disable it by specifying the theme you want for your MS Word file. Select “White” as your MS Office theme instead of “Use System Settings”.

If you are using a work computer, it’s tricky to bypass system settings enforced by your workplace’s IT admin. I suggest getting in touch with your office’s IT admin to override the system settings in place.

#3) Inconsistent Application of Dark or Light Mode

When switching to dark or light mode, you may notice that not all parts of your Word file reflect the change enacted. For instance, it is a common problem for Dark Mode to not map some parts of a Word file, like equations, side panes, dialog boxes, etc.

Try updating your toggle between dark and light mode to fix this issue. You could also try updating the app or reinstalling it to see if the problem has been resolved.

#4) Text-Pasting Issues

Another issue you may face has to do with copy-pasting text from a file that is in dark mode. The copied text might appear in black on a white background. You can solve this very common issue by using the Ctrl+V or Ctrl+Shift+V keys, followed by the “Paste Text Only” option. This should fix the error.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Turning off Dark Mode on Word isn’t rocket science. It is easy, with a straightforward and brisk process for you to follow. Of course, the process itself may vary depending on what device you are using Dark Mode on.

I suggest trying to disable dark mode yourself by following the instructions I’ve laid out in this article. I would also recommend experimenting with the aesthetics of your MS Word file by switching between different themes and page colors. You never know. You might end up with an MS Word file that’s visually distinct and striking.

Research Process:

The total time involved to complete and publish this article is approximately 39 hours. This content was created through a structured research approach to ensure accuracy and reliability.

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