Light Mode and Dark Mode

Excel can show a dark grey interface instead of white, which is easier on the eyes in a dim room.

Module 1 · Getting Started · Easy · 5 Minutes read

Easier on the Eyes

Dark mode changes the ribbon, menus and background to dark grey. The cells themselves can stay white, or go dark too, depending on the setting you pick.

Open Options — File ▸ Options ▸ General
Pick a theme — Colorful, Dark Grey, Black, White
Restart not needed — It applies at once

How to do it

File ▸ Options ▸ General ▸ Office Theme ▸ choose Black or Dark Gray

Black theme also darkens the worksheet cells. Dark Gray keeps the cells white, which prints predictably.

Item	What it does
Colorful	The default green ribbon
Dark Gray	Dark chrome, white cells
Black	Dark chrome and dark cells
White	Plain white throughout

The Four Themes

File ▸ Options ▸ General ▸ Office Theme

Theme	Ribbon	Cells	Good for
Colorful	Green	White	Default
Dark Gray	Dark	White	Dim rooms
Black	Dark	Dark	Night work
White	White	White	Bright rooms
Use system setting	Follows Windows	Follows Windows	Consistency

Result: Your choice

The theme travels with your Office account, not with the file. Colleagues see their own.

Do this

Pick Dark Gray if you want dark chrome but white cells
Use Black for working at night
Remember it does not affect what others see

Avoid

Expecting the theme to change how the file looks for others
Choosing Black then being surprised the cells are dark
Thinking it affects printing

📌 The theme is a Windows setting for Office, not a file setting. Nobody else sees your choice.

Practice

Try each of the four themes.
Compare Dark Gray with Black.
Set the one you prefer.

Quick quiz: You set Excel to the Black theme. What do your colleagues see when you send them the file?

The same black theme
Whatever theme they have chosen themselves
A warning about the theme

Show answer

File ▸ Options ▸ General ▸ Office Theme (your Office, not the file) — The Office theme belongs to your installation, not to any workbook.

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