How to Turn On Dark Mode in Outlook (and Turn It Off Again)
Dark mode is easier on the eyes in the evening, kinder to laptop batteries with OLED screens, and — let's be honest — it just looks nicer to some people. Outlook has it everywhere, but each version keeps the switch in a different place.
Quick reference
| Version | Where |
|---|---|
| New Outlook / web | Settings → General → Appearance → Dark |
| Classic Outlook | File → Office Account → Office Theme → Black |
| Phone | Profile → Settings → Appearance |
| Follow Windows | Choose Use system setting |
1. New Outlook and Outlook on the web
1. Click the Settings cog.
2. Go to General → Appearance.
3. Under Theme, pick a colour theme if you like.
4. Under Dark mode, choose Dark, Light or Use system setting.
5. Click Save.
2. Go to General → Appearance.
3. Under Theme, pick a colour theme if you like.
4. Under Dark mode, choose Dark, Light or Use system setting.
5. Click Save.
Use system setting follows Windows (or macOS), so if you have Windows set to switch to dark in the evening, Outlook follows.
2. Classic Outlook (Windows)
1. Click File → Office Account.
2. Under Office Theme, choose Black.
3. Or choose Use system setting to follow Windows.
2. Under Office Theme, choose Black.
3. Or choose Use system setting to follow Windows.
This changes every Office app — Word, Excel and PowerPoint too. Dark Gray is a halfway option with a dark frame but lighter panels.
3. Keep the email itself white
Some people like a dark frame but find white-on-black email hard to read. Both versions let you switch the message background without leaving dark mode:
• New Outlook: when reading or writing an email, click the sun/moon icon at the top of the message to flip just that message to a light background. In Settings → General → Appearance, untick Dark mode for messages (where available) to keep all messages light.
• Classic Outlook: in File → Options → General, tick Never change the message background colour. Or click the sun icon at the top of any open message.
• Classic Outlook: in File → Options → General, tick Never change the message background colour. Or click the sun icon at the top of any open message.
4. Outlook on your phone
1. Tap your profile picture (top left), then the Settings cog.
2. Tap Appearance.
3. Choose Dark, Light or System default.
2. Tap Appearance.
3. Choose Dark, Light or System default.
5. Mac
New Outlook for Mac follows macOS: System Settings → Appearance → Dark. Inside Outlook, Outlook → Settings → General → Appearance lets you override it.
6. Turn dark mode off
Follow the same steps and choose Light. In classic Outlook, choose Colorful or White as the Office theme.
Troubleshooting
Some emails look odd in dark mode. Email designed with fixed white backgrounds or images with white edges doesn't adapt well. Click the sun icon to view that message in light mode.
Classic Outlook is dark but new Outlook isn't (or vice versa). They're separate apps with separate settings. Set each one, or choose Use system setting in both.
Dark mode made the text harder to read. Try the Dark Gray theme in classic Outlook, increase the text size, or keep the message background white (section 3).
Wrapping up
Pick Use system setting in Outlook and let Windows handle the schedule — light during the day, dark at night. If white-on-black email bothers you, flip just the message with the sun icon.
