How to Enable Dark Mode on Windows, Office, and Your Browser

Estimated Time to Fix: 4 minutes

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10, Microsoft 365, Edge, Chrome
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-07-20

Summary

This article guides you through enabling dark mode on your computer, Office applications, and web browser.

Prerequisites

• None required.

Instructions

1. Enable Dark Mode in Windows

1. Click the Start button and type Settings, then press Enter.
2. Click on Personalization in the left menu.
3. Click on Colors.
4. Click the dropdown next to Choose your mode and select Dark.

2. Enable Dark Mode in Microsoft Office

1. Open any Office application, such as Word or Excel.
2. Click on File in the top left corner, then click Account (or Office Account) at the bottom left.
3. Click the dropdown under Office Theme and select Dark Gray or Black.
4. This changes the theme for all Office apps simultaneously.

3. Enable Dark Mode in Your Web Browser (Edge or Chrome)

1. In Microsoft Edge, click the three dots in the top right corner and select Settings.
2. Click on Appearance on the left side.
3. Under Overall appearance, select Dark. (Google Chrome usually follows your Windows color setting automatically. To force it, go to Settings > Appearance and select Dark).

4. Verify Success

1. Open your Start menu, Word, and your browser to confirm they all display a dark background.

Troubleshooting

WARNING

Some older applications may not support dark mode and will still appear with a white background regardless of your Windows settings.

Symptom / Error	Potential Cause	Solution
Websites are still white in the browser	Website doesn't support dark mode	Dark mode only affects the browser menus and borders, unless the website has its own dark mode setting.
Office Theme option is missing	Outdated Office version	Update Microsoft 365 or check if your company has restricted theme changes.

Related Articles

• How to Use Night Light (Blue Light Filter) in Windows

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