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Microsoft Outlook does not use one dark-mode switch across every version. The correct setting depends on whether you use new Outlook for Windows, classic Outlook, Outlook.com, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac.
Use the version check below before following the instructions. Choosing the wrong path is the most common reason the dark-mode setting appears to be missing.
Identify your Outlook version first
| What you see | Which Outlook it is | Where to change the appearance |
|---|---|---|
| A Settings button in the upper-right corner, with Home, View, and Help on the ribbon | New Outlook for Windows | Settings > General > Appearance |
| A File tab | Classic Outlook for Windows | File > Office Account |
| Outlook in a browser at outlook.live.com | Outlook.com, normally for a personal Microsoft account | Settings > General > Appearance |
| Outlook in a browser at outlook.office.com or outlook.office365.com | Outlook on the web, normally for a work or school account | Settings > General > Appearance |
| Outlook running on macOS | Outlook for Mac | Outlook > Preferences > General > Appearance |
In classic Outlook, verify the installed version with File > Office Account. If Office Account is not available, select File > Help. In new Outlook, select Settings > General > About Outlook; the version information appears on the right.
Turn dark mode on in new Outlook for Windows
- Select Settings in the upper-right corner.
- Open General > Appearance.
- Under Dark mode, select Dark.
- Select Save.
This changes the Outlook interface to a dark appearance. The reading pane and message editor can still be made light independently.
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Turn dark mode off in new Outlook for Windows
- Open Settings.
- Go to General > Appearance.
- Under Dark mode, select Light or Use system settings.
- Select Save.
Choose Light if Outlook should remain light even when Windows is using a dark theme. Choose Use system settings if Outlook should follow Windows.
Keep the reading pane and composer light
If you want Outlook’s menus and folders dark but prefer a white message area, select View > Light Reading Pane.
To brighten only the message currently open, select Turn on the lights at the top of the reading pane. If you cannot see that control, select More first. Outlook then shows the message’s original formatting.
To change only the compose window, open or create a message and use the Message toolbar. Select Toggle light background or Toggle dark background.
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Turn dark mode on in classic Outlook for Windows
- Select the File tab.
- Select Office Account.
- Open the Office Theme menu.
- Select Black.
- Select the back arrow at the top to return to Outlook.
The Black Office theme enables dark mode. It is not limited to Outlook: the theme also changes the appearance of other Microsoft 365 desktop applications, such as Word and Excel.
Switch an individual message between light and dark
While reading a message, use the sun button to show a white message background or the moon button to show a black message background. While composing, use the dark-mode button on the Message toolbar to switch the compose window between white and black.
Keep message backgrounds white in classic Outlook
You can keep the Outlook interface dark while forcing message backgrounds to stay white:
- Select File > Options.
- Stay on the General page.
- Under Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office, make sure Office Theme is set to Black.
- Select Never change the message background color.
- Select OK.
When this option is enabled, the controls for switching a message background between light and dark are disabled. Clear the option if you want those message-level buttons back.
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Turn dark mode on or off in Outlook.com and Outlook on the web
The browser versions use the same main appearance path:
- Select Settings, usually the gear button in the upper-right corner.
- Go to General > Appearance.
- To enable dark mode, choose Dark under Dark mode.
- To disable it, choose Light or Use system settings.
- Select Save.
To view one message with its original, brighter formatting, open it and select Turn on the lights. Select More first if the control is hidden.
Turn dark mode on or off in Outlook for Mac
Outlook for Mac has its own appearance setting, so it does not have to follow macOS.
- In the macOS menu bar, select Outlook > Preferences.
- Open General > Appearance.
- Choose one of these options:
- Light — Outlook stays light regardless of macOS.
- Dark — Outlook stays dark regardless of macOS.
- System — Outlook follows the current macOS appearance.
If you select System, change macOS itself through Apple menu > System Settings > Appearance > Dark. On older macOS releases, open Apple menu > System Preferences > General instead.
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Selecting Light or Dark overrides the macOS setting for Outlook. A separate Microsoft 365 option called Turn off Dark Mode, found under an app’s Preferences > General > Personalize area, applies only to that current Microsoft 365 app; it is not a global Outlook-and-Office switch.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to do if the setting is missing
- You cannot find Settings: If the Windows app has a File tab instead, you are using classic Outlook. Start with File > Office Account.
- You cannot find Office Account: In classic Outlook, select File > Help to identify the version and edition.
- The Try the new Outlook switch is missing: Microsoft lists several possible causes: an administrator hid the switch, the account is unsupported, the installation is a one-time-purchase or standalone edition, or the work or school account does not support new Outlook.
- Outlook changed after an update: New Outlook became generally available in August 2024, and Microsoft has been moving some classic Outlook users to new Outlook. Personal-account rollouts began for certain users in October 2024, while certain Business-plan Current Channel rollouts began in January 2025.
- Only the message colors look wrong: Dark mode does not permanently rewrite an email’s original colors. In new Outlook or Outlook on the web, use Turn on the lights. In classic Outlook, use the sun or moon button.
FAQ
Does dark mode change the emails I send?
No. Dark mode mainly changes Outlook’s interface. The compose window has its own light and dark background control, and recipients may see your message according to their own email app and settings.
Why does File > Options > General not work for me?
That is the classic Outlook for Windows path. New Outlook for Windows and Outlook in a browser use Settings > General > Appearance instead. Outlook for Mac uses Outlook > Preferences > General > Appearance.
Can I make Outlook dark but keep messages white?
Yes. In new Outlook, select View > Light Reading Pane and use the compose window’s Toggle light background control when needed. In classic Outlook, enable File > Options > General > Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office > Office Theme: Black > Never change the message background color.
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Does the Black Office theme affect Word and Excel?
Yes. In classic Outlook, selecting Black under Office Theme changes the theme across Microsoft 365 desktop applications, not just Outlook.
Should I choose Light or Use system settings to turn dark mode off?
Choose Light to keep Outlook light permanently. Choose Use system settings if Outlook should follow the light or dark appearance selected in Windows or the relevant system setting.
The Bottom Line
Use Settings > General > Appearance in new Outlook, Outlook.com, and Outlook on the web. Use File > Office Account > Office Theme > Black in classic Outlook for Windows. On a Mac, use Outlook > Preferences > General > Appearance, then choose Light, Dark, or System.
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