Alongside new features and changes, Office 2016 is also improving the personalization themes. In the new version of Office, the software maker is bringing a new default “Colorful” theme, which are identical to the latest version of suite for Android, Mac, iOS, and the Office Mobile apps, with colors that matches Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and the other applications.

In addition to the colorful theme, there is a new dark theme for those users who like to match the dark theme for Windows 10, and for those who loved the white theme in Office 2013, Microsoft is also making it available in Office 2016.

How to change Office 2016 theme modes

Use these steps to switch between the available color schemes for Office:

  • Open an Office app (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)
  • Create a new blank document.
  • Click on File.
  • Click on Options.
  • In the General tap, under “Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office”, you’ll see the “Office Theme” option, and from the drop down menu, you can choose from the default “Colorful”, which will match the app its characteristic color. “Dark Gray”, which corresponds to the dark theme, and “White”, which is the same theme you used to use in Office 2013.

Furthermore, you are going to notice that above “Office Theme” you can find the “Office Background”, which allows you to change graffiti that appear as background in the top-right corner of the apps. Identical to Office 2013, the new version comes with sixteen different background you can choose from, including: No background, Calligraphy, Circles and Stripes, Circuit, Clouds, Doodle Circles, Doodle Diamonds, Geometry, Lunchbox, School Supplies, Spring, Starts, Straws, Tree Rings, and Underwater.

Open an Office app (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Create a new blank document.

Click on File.

Click on Options.

In the General tap, under “Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office”, you’ll see the “Office Theme” option, and from the drop down menu, you can choose from the default “Colorful”, which will match the app its characteristic color. “Dark Gray”, which corresponds to the dark theme, and “White”, which is the same theme you used to use in Office 2013.

Once you have made your configuration changes, simply click OK to save the settings.