How to enable Microsoft Teams dark mode
Microsoft Teams is one of the most popular mainstream communication tools that you’ll use in the workplace. It’s particularly popular with remote teams.
Much like Slack, Skype, and Facebook Messenger, its default UI features a light theme i.e., a white background with purple accents. Much like every other app that’s blinding to use with a white background, Microsoft Teams is no easier on the eyes with its default theme.
Microsoft Teams dark mode
Microsoft Teams has a dark mode. It is available on macOS, Windows 10, the web app, iOS, and Android. On all these platforms, the dark mode can be enabled independently of the theme the OS is running. This means that you can run Windows 10, macOS, your browser, iOS, and Android in the light theme if you like, but still use Microsoft Teams in dark mode.
1. Microsoft Teams dark mode – macOS/Windows 10/web
To enable the Microsoft Teams dark mode, follow these steps.
- Open Microsoft Teams.
- Click your profile icon at the top right.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Go to the General tab.
- Under the Theme tab, select Dark.
- The Microsoft Teams theme will be updated.
Note: Microsoft Teams also has a high-contrast theme. These themes normally help users with vision impairments but you can try it out if you want since it too is dark.
2. Microsoft Teams dark mode – iOS/Android
To change the theme on Microsoft Teams on your phone, follow these steps.
- Open Microsoft Teams on your phone.
- Tap your profile icon at the top left (on any tab) to open the navigation drawer.
- Select Settings in the navigation drawer.
- Tap Appearance.
- Select Dark to switch to the Microsoft Teams dark theme.
- When prompted, tap the Close app button and restart Microsoft Teams.
Note: Microsoft Teams does not have a high-contrast theme on iOS and Android however, both operating systems have a system-wide high contrast setting that you can use.
Conclusion
Microsoft Teams’ dark theme is very well done; all screens from the video/audio call to the individual apps, app tabs, channels, and one-on-one chats conform to it. You will almost never find a screen that is blindingly white however, there are exceptions. The one exception is the Files tab. Specifically, if you open a file, (document, image, spreadsheet, presentation) in Microsoft Teams, it’s going to open with a white background. Basically, the file view in Microsoft Teams does not have a dark theme. The UI elements will still be dark but an image will load with a white background as will documents and other file types.
