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How to Turn On Dark Mode in Microsoft Outlook?

December 4, 2023
By chaitanya

Ever felt a sharp sting in your eyes while working late into the night on your computer? The culprit? The bright white background of Outlook, which can cause eye strain, headaches, and even disrupt sleep.

Enter dark mode, a soothing solution that transforms Outlook into an eye-friendly haven. By switching to dark mode, you’ll bid farewell to eye fatigue and embrace a more comfortable computing experience.

Imagine effortlessly reading emails, replying to messages, and managing your inbox without the hassle of eye strain or headaches. Dark mode can make this a reality. It not only reduces eye strain but also improves sleep quality by reducing the emission of blue light, a sleep-disrupting factor.

Take control of your digital well-being. Enable dark mode in Outlook and experience the benefits of a comfortable, eye-friendly email experience.

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Outline

What is Dark Mode in Outlook?

Dark mode in Outlook is a display setting that replaces the standard white background with a darker color scheme, typically a deep gray or black. This change in background color aims to reduce eye strain, particularly in low-light environments, by decreasing the intensity of the contrast between the text and the background. Additionally, dark mode can potentially improve sleep quality by reducing the emission of blue light, which is known to suppress melatonin production, a hormone that regulates sleep-wake cycles.

What are the Benefits of Dark Mode?

Dark mode in Outlook offers a range of benefits that can enhance your overall user experience and promote digital well-being. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key advantages:

Reduced Eye Strain: Dark mode’s darker background significantly reduces the intensity of the contrast between the text and the background, minimizing glare and alleviating eye strain. This is particularly beneficial during prolonged periods of screen time or in low-light environments.
Improved Sleep Quality: Dark mode’s darker background significantly reduces the intensity of the contrast between the text and the background, minimizing glare and alleviating eye strain. This is particularly beneficial during prolonged periods of screen time or in low-light environments.
Increased Battery Life: On OLED displays, dark mode can potentially extend battery life by turning off individual pixels that are not displaying content. This conservation of power can be particularly noticeable on mobile devices.
Improved Accessibility: Dark mode can enhance accessibility for users with visual impairments, such as light sensitivity or cataracts, by providing a more comfortable viewing experience with reduced glare and contrast.
Aesthetics and Personalization: Dark mode offers a more aesthetically pleasing and modern look to the Outlook interface, allowing users to personalize their viewing experience according to their preferences.

Dark mode in Outlook offers a multitude of benefits, including reduced eye strain, improved sleep quality, enhanced visual comfort, potential battery life savings, and accessibility enhancements. These benefits make dark mode a valuable tool for improving the overall user experience and promoting digital well-being.

How to Change Outlook Theme to Dark Theme on Different Platforms?

Switching to dark mode in Outlook is a straightforward process that can be easily accomplished across various platforms. Whether you’re using Outlook on your Windows PC, macOS device, web browser, or mobile device, the steps to enable dark mode are simple and consistent.

Now, let’s delve into the specific steps for enabling dark mode on different platforms:

1. Enable Dark mode in Outlook on Windows

If you are using Outlook on your Windows PC or laptop, you can change the theme from colorful or white to dark. Please note that Outlook is a part of Office apps. Hence, when you make changes to Outlook, the change will be reflected in all Office apps. This means when you enable dark mode in Outlook, all Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will have dark mode enabled. Here are the steps to follow.

Launch Outlook on your Windows computer and click the “File” tab located in the top-left corner of the main window.
In the left-hand pane of the File tab, locate the “Office Account” section and click on the “Office Account” option.

Within the Office Account section, you’ll find a section titled “Office Theme.” Click on the drop-down menu next to “Office Theme” to reveal various theme options.
From the available theme options, select “Black” to enable dark mode in Outlook. This will switch the overall background color of Outlook to a dark gray or black scheme, reducing glare and contrast.

Once you’ve selected the “Black” theme, click the back arrow in the top-left corner of the window to return to the main Outlook interface. Dark mode should now be applied throughout Outlook.

2. Enable Dark Mode in Outlook on Mac

If you are a Mac user, there is no option available in Outlook app to turn on the desired dark mode. However, you can enable Mac’s native dark mode which will turn all apps including Outlook appear in dark mode. Here are the steps to follow.

Locate the Outlook application icon on your Mac and double-click it to launch the program.
Click on the Outlook menu in the top left corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select Preferences.

In the Preferences window, click on the General tab located at the top of the window.

Under the Appearance section, locate the Theme drop-down menu. Click on the arrow next to the drop-down menu and select Dark from the available options.
Once you have selected the Dark theme, you can close the Preferences window by clicking on the red circle in the top left corner of the window.

Outlook will now be in dark mode.

3. Enable Dark Mode in Outlook on iPhone

Open the Outlook app on your iPhone.
Tap the hamburger(Horizontal three lines) or Home icon menu in the top left corner of the screen.
Tap on Settings from the menu that appears.
Tap on Appearance from the Settings menu.

Select the Dark theme from the Appearance options.

Outlook on your iPhone will now be in dark mode.

4. Enable Dark Mode in Outlook on Mobile

There are many who use Outlook app from their smartphones to check the emails in their inbox as well as send emails instantly. The steps to enable dark mode in Outlook are the same for Android and iOS users. Here are the steps to follow.

Open the Outlook app on your mobile device.
Tap the hamburger(Horizontal three lines) or Home icon menu in the top left corner of the screen.
Tap on Settings from the menu that appears.
Tap on Appearance in the preferences section from the Settings menu.

Select Dark from the Theme options.

Outlook on your mobile device will now be in dark mode.

5. Enable Dark Mode in Outlook on Web

Instead of using Outlook app on your computer or mobile phone, you can access Outlook online as well from Outlook.com. The official website of Outlook offers you the option to turn the web experience dark. Here are the steps to follow.

To open Outlook on Web, Go to https://login.microsoftonline.com/ and sign in to your account.
In the top right corner, click on the Settings gear icon.

Select View settings from the drop-down menu.
Click on the General tab.
Under Appearance, select the Dark mode radio button.

Click on the Save button.

Outlook Web will now be in dark mode.

Enable Dark Mode in Outlook – FAQs

1. Does Dark Mode affect the appearance of emails in Outlook?

Ans: Dark Mode primarily affects the Outlook interface, but the appearance of emails can also be adjusted. If you’re using the latest versions, emails may be displayed in a dark background when Dark Mode is enabled. However, the way emails are displayed can depend on various factors, including the sender’s settings.

2. Can I schedule Dark Mode in Outlook?

Ans: Outlook doesn’t have a built-in feature to schedule Dark Mode. However, you can manually switch between Dark and Light Modes as needed.

3. Are there any known issues with Dark Mode in Outlook?

Ans: While Dark Mode generally works well, some users may experience formatting issues with emails that are not designed for dark backgrounds. Additionally, updates to the application might address any existing bugs or improve the Dark Mode experience. Always keep your Outlook app up to date to benefit from the latest enhancements and bug fixes.

4. How do I disable Dark Mode in Outlook if I don’t like it?

Ans: If you want to revert to the light theme, follow the same steps to access the “Office Theme” dropdown and choose “Colorful” or “White” to disable Dark Mode.

5. Can I customize the appearance of dark mode in Outlook?

Ans: Outlook may have limited customization options for dark mode. Check the settings to see if there are any additional options for adjusting the appearance.

Conclusion

In conclusion, dark mode in Outlook offers a multitude of advantages that enhance the overall user experience and promote digital well-being. If you’re looking for ways to reduce eye strain, improve sleep, and create a more comfortable computing environment, enabling dark mode in Outlook is a simple yet effective step towards achieving these goals. Embrace the benefits of dark mode and experience a more enjoyable and eye-friendly email experience.