Change to Light View in Outlook: Steps for Every Version

To change Outlook to a light view, open its appearance or theme settings and choose Light, or turn off Dark mode. The exact path depends on whether you use new Outlook, classic Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, or the mobile app; the steps below cover each. This changes the app’s colors, not the layout or size of your messages.

What You’ll Need

Access to the Outlook app or website where you want to change the appearance. Outlook settings may be separate on your computer, browser, and phone.
If the light setting is controlled by your device, you may need permission to change the device’s appearance setting. You can usually choose Light directly in Outlook instead.

Step-by-Step

Identify which Outlook you are using. Outlook’s appearance controls differ between its versions. New Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web have a Settings panel with a General section. Classic Outlook for Windows has a File tab and Outlook Options. Outlook for Mac has its own Settings window. If you are unsure, look at the upper-left corner: a File tab is a strong sign you are using classic Outlook for Windows; a Settings gear is common in new Outlook and the web version.
Change new Outlook for Windows or Outlook on the web. Select the Settings gear near the top-right corner. Choose General, then Appearance. If you see a Dark mode switch, turn it off. If the page instead offers a theme or mode selector, choose Light. Close the Settings panel when finished. The change may apply immediately; if it does not, refresh the browser or close and reopen the app. In Outlook on the web, refresh the page after changing the setting if parts of the interface still appear dark.
Change classic Outlook for Windows. Select File > Options > General. Under Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office, open the Office Theme menu and select White. In some Microsoft 365 builds, you can reach the same theme menu from File > Office Account > Office Theme. Choose White for a light interface. Choose Colorful if you prefer a light background with Office’s colored accents. Select OK if the Options window shows that button, then return to your inbox.
Lighten a message that remains dark in classic Outlook. The Office theme and the background of an individual email can behave separately, especially when dark mode is enabled. Open a message and look for Switch Background on the message toolbar or ribbon. Select it to change the message-reading background. The button’s location and availability can vary by Outlook build and by whether the message is open or shown in the reading pane. This message-level control does not necessarily change the rest of Outlook.
Change Outlook for Mac. In Outlook, open Outlook in the macOS menu bar and select Settings (called Preferences in some older releases). Open General and find Appearance or the theme options. Select Light, if offered. Some releases follow macOS appearance instead of offering an independent Outlook choice. In that case, open Apple menu > System Settings > Appearance and select Light. This affects other apps that follow the Mac’s appearance too.
Change Outlook on a phone or tablet. Open Outlook and tap your profile picture or initials, then tap the Settings gear. Look for Appearance or Theme and select Light, if that choice is available. On some app versions, the setting follows the device instead. For an iPhone or iPad, open Settings > Display & Brightness > Light. On Android, open the device’s Settings and look under Display for a light or dark theme option; the exact label varies by manufacturer and Android version.
Check the result in more than one area. Return to the inbox, open a message, and check the calendar or another Outlook section if you use it. If the inbox is light but one message stays dark, use the message-level background control or check whether that message has dark formatting. If Outlook reverts after a restart, review the troubleshooting steps below, especially the system-theme setting.

Common Mistakes

Changing the wrong Outlook installation. A setting changed in Outlook on the web does not automatically change classic Outlook on your PC or the Outlook app on your phone. Repeat the steps in each version where you want a light appearance.
Confusing Light with a layout choice. Outlook also lets you adjust the reading pane, message density, and conversation view. Those settings change how mail is arranged, not whether the interface uses a light or dark color scheme.
Choosing a system-controlled theme and expecting it to stay light. If Outlook is set to follow Windows, macOS, or a phone’s appearance, a device schedule or automatic dark-mode change can switch Outlook back later. Select Light inside Outlook when possible, or change the device setting.
Expecting every email to have a white background. The app theme affects Outlook’s controls and surrounding interface. An email may have its own background color, and some dark-mode reading controls only affect the currently open message.
Looking for the same menu in every version. A Settings gear is not the same as the File > Options route in classic Outlook. Confirm which app you opened before following a path.

Tips

Use White for the clearest light theme in classic Outlook. The Colorful Office theme is also light, but adds colored accents. If you want the Outlook interface to look as plain and bright as possible, White is usually the more direct choice.
Keep message readability in mind. A light interface does not rewrite the formatting of incoming mail. If a message has pale text, a colored background, or unusual contrast, try opening it in a separate window or using the message background control if available.
Check both the inbox and a message. The navigation pane, message list, reading area, and composing window can display differently. Test a received message and a new message before assuming every part of Outlook has changed.
Consider whether you want a permanent or scheduled change. Selecting Light directly in Outlook is best if you want it to remain light. If you prefer Outlook to switch along with your computer at night, use the system theme, but remember that automatic device settings may change the appearance again.
Update only if the controls are missing. Outlook interfaces change over time, and work or school administrators can limit some settings. If a menu described here is absent, check for Office or app updates and confirm that you are using the intended Outlook version.

Troubleshooting

Outlook still looks dark after selecting Light. First confirm that you changed the setting in the same Outlook app you are viewing. Then close and reopen Outlook, or refresh Outlook on the web. In classic Outlook, check the Office Theme menu again. In new Outlook or the web version, revisit Settings > General > Appearance and verify that Dark mode is off or Light is selected.

It changes back after you close Outlook. Look for an option such as Use system setting or a Dark mode switch that is tied to the device. Choose Light directly in Outlook if available. Otherwise, set Windows or macOS to Light and check whether an automatic schedule or battery-saving mode is switching the device appearance. On a managed work computer, an organization policy may also control Office themes.

Only the reading pane or an email stays dark. In classic Outlook, open the message and check for Switch Background. If the control is unavailable, the message may have its own colors, or your Outlook release may not offer that control in the current view. Check another message: if only one is dark, the cause is likely its formatting rather than Outlook’s overall theme. Avoid changing the Office theme repeatedly if the rest of the interface is already light.

The setting is missing or named differently. Confirm whether you are in new Outlook, classic Outlook, the browser, or the mobile app. New Outlook and web settings can move as Microsoft updates the interface, and Mac or mobile options may depend on the app release. Install available updates, reopen Settings, and search for Appearance, Theme, or Dark mode. If Outlook is managed by an employer or school and the choice remains unavailable, contact the organization’s support team.

Outlook is light, but some icons or panels are still colored. A light theme does not make every element white. Accent colors, selected items, links, and status indicators can keep their normal colors. Check that the main background and message list are light; colored controls alone do not mean the theme failed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Light view the same as turning off Dark mode?
Usually, yes: selecting Light or switching Dark mode off gives Outlook a light appearance. In some versions, the Light theme and the Dark mode switch are presented as separate controls, so check both if the interface remains dark.

Will changing Outlook to Light affect Word or Excel?
In classic Outlook for Windows, the Office Theme is shared with other Office apps in many Microsoft 365 installations, so changing it may also affect Word and Excel. New Outlook, Outlook on the web, and mobile appearance settings are generally specific to that app or service.

Can I make Outlook light while keeping Windows dark?
Yes, if your Outlook version offers an independent Light theme or Dark mode switch. Select Light in Outlook rather than Use system setting. If the version only follows Windows, Outlook may match the system appearance and you may need to change Windows to Light.

Why is one email dark after I changed the theme?
The message may have its own background formatting, or classic Outlook may be displaying it with a dark reading background. Try the message’s Switch Background control if available and compare with another email. The overall theme does not remove colors that a sender included in a message.

Does this change apply to every device using my account?
Not necessarily. Outlook’s appearance choices can be stored per app, browser, or device. Set the light appearance separately in each version you use, and check the device theme if an app follows system settings.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.