Why Microsoft Word Is Black on Your PC (And How to Fix It)

It’s called dark mode and you may like it

Does Microsoft Word always appear in a black theme when you launch it on your PC? We’ll explain why that happens and what you can do to disable it.

If you’re back to using Microsoft Word after a long break, don’t be surprised to find the entire user interface and document area in black. But why? That’s because Word now natively supports dark mode.

Dark mode is aesthetically pleasing and reduces eye strain. However, if you prefer Word’s classic appearance or don’t like the dark theme during the daytime, you can switch back to light mode. This tutorial will show you how.

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft 365 Version of Word

There are a couple of approaches to disabling dark mode in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. You can turn off the black theme for the entire user interface. Or, you can switch background colors for the document area only.

Alternatively, selectUse system settingif you want Word to sync its theme with thecolor scheme in Windows. Or, chooseDark Grayfor a non-intensive version of dark mode.

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft Store and Online Versions of Word

If you use the Microsoft Store version of Word, you must follow different steps to disable the dark theme or the black page color. The same applies to Word Online.

Is Microsoft Word Still Showing Up in Black? Try These Fixes

If Microsoft Word shows up in black despite disabling dark mode, or if you use an older version of the application from Microsoft Office 2019 or earlier, here are several fixes you should try. They also apply to Office apps like PowerPoint and Excel.

Microsoft Word, including other applications on your computer, can render in black if you have a system-wide high-contrast theme active. To disable it:

If the entire Microsoft Word interface suddenly goes dark and you can’t make out anything, your graphics drivers might have crashed. To test:

If that helps, but the driver continues to crash, visit your graphics card manufacturer’s website—NVIDIA,AMD,Intel, etc.—to update it to its latest version.

By default, Microsoft 365 apps usehardware acceleration to improve performance. However, the feature can have a detrimental effect on some PC configurations. Disable hardware acceleration for Word and check if the application interface renders correctly.

Newer Microsoft Office updates come with bug fixes and stability enhancements. If the Word interface intermittently crashes to a black window:

Note: If you use the Microsoft Store version of Word, open the Microsoft Store, selectLibrary, and apply any pending updates forOffice. If the problem occurs with Word Online, try updating your web browser.

Microsoft Word works best on newer versions of Windows. To install pending operating system updates:

If Word’s rendering problems persist, you could be dealing with a corrupt Microsoft Office installation. Removing and reinstalling it might help.

Restart your computer, and then download and reinstall Microsoft Office from theOffice websiteor theMicrosoft Store.

Give Word’s Dark Mode a Chance

Although it’s easy to go back to Word’s familiar white, gray, and blue color scheme, dark mode in Word is well-implemented and a treat to use, especially when putting in the hours late at night. Give it a chance; you might end up liking it. If dark mode is not why Word appears in black, the above solutions should help.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

Welcome to Help Desk Geek- a blog full of tech tips from trusted tech experts. We have thousands of articles and guides to help you troubleshoot any issue. Our articles have been read over 150 million times since we launched in 2008.

HomeAbout UsEditorial StandardsContact UsTerms of Use

Why Microsoft Word Is Black on Your PC (And How to Fix It)#

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft 365 Version of Word#

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft Store and Online Versions of Word#

Is Microsoft Word Still Showing Up in Black? Try These Fixes#

Give Word’s Dark Mode a Chance#

Why Microsoft Word Is Black on Your PC (And How to Fix It)

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft 365 Version of Word

Turn Off Dark Mode in the Microsoft Store and Online Versions of Word

Is Microsoft Word Still Showing Up in Black? Try These Fixes

Give Word’s Dark Mode a Chance