Change Background color Theme Office 2013

Anonymous
2013-01-12T15:28:57+00:00

Has anyone come up with how to Change the Color on the Office 2013 Them from "gray".  Microsoft has really not been user friendly with Windows 8 or Office 2013 in enabling the user to change their environment.

I think Microsoft does not read these forum questions.  Otherwise, some of the technical people would be contacting their customers to gain feedback.

I am extremely disappointed in the Office 13 and Win8 programs. 

Anyone got any ideas?

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Anonymous
2013-01-13T13:21:44+00:00

​

Hi,

Thanks for posting in Microsoft Community. It is unfortunate that you are unable to locate the option in Office 2013 to change the theme of applications. Let me help you with the issue.

For the Office 2013 (RTM) version you may follow the below steps:

  1. Go to the File tab
  2. Click on Options
  3. Choose the General tab on the left
  4. Find the ‘O ffice Theme’ dropdown item
  5. Choose between White, Light Gray, and Dark Gray.

If you have Office 2013 preview version installed, then you have an option to change the background color by clicking on File, Options, General and under the group 'Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office', you may choose the background you wish to change to and click ok.

If you are using preview version of Office then you have a Smiley on the top right hand side of the application, you may click on it and send in your feedback.

I hope the above steps help. If you need any further assistance reply and we will be glad to assist you.

Thank you.

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  1. Brian Tillman [Outlook MVP 2007-2019] 25,915 Reputation points
    2014-02-14T21:01:34+00:00

    Most of us are not "tin-pot idiot subcontractors", but other people just like yourself who use Outlook and help as we can.  Naturally, we can't do anything about the product design.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T17:08:03+00:00

    It no good posting out gripes here as this part of the site IS NOT MONTORED BYMS just some tin pot idiot sub-contractors that don't give a toss and post really stupid unhelpful replies to our real problems

    Customer Feed back link

    http://support.microsoft.com/common/survey.aspx?scid=sw;en;1076

    The more we use the above link and complain and make bad or nasty comments then the sooner MS will get the message.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T16:26:41+00:00

    I’m using Windows 7, so not sure if instructions would be the same on a Win8 system.

    Yes and no...

    They got rid of the "Advanced Appearance Settings" win Win8

    So you need to apply the settings in Win7, and then copy the registry settings to Win8 PC

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\Desktop\Colors

    I went through that already.  I don't consider that as a fix.

    On that other thread, looks like they won't even fix that in Office 2013 SP1.

    http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/office/forum/office_2013_release-outlook/outlook-2013-themes/31372645-f409-4794-b404-f30e85bb934a?page=13&tm=1392395154007

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-02-14T16:14:52+00:00

    I just installed Office 2013 yesterday and was also dismayed by the default color schemes.  So I quickly changed the Office Theme to Dark Gray, and then changed my overall "windows" color to one that was more comfortable on the eyes.  An earlier poster in this thread also made this suggestion, but it's worth repeating because the default schemes are so incredibly poor:

    Right Click Desktop/Personalize/Window Color/Advanced Appearance Settings/Click in Window Text Box/Pull Down Color 1 (next to Item: Window)/Select "Other"/Click around in the color box until the "color" window shows a color that is pleasing to your eyes (use the slider on the right side of this box to lighten or darken the color)/Add to Custom Colors/OK (you'll now see your chosen color in the Window Text Box)/Apply/OK/Save Changes.  This will cause the windows in all your programs to be shaded in your chosen color, creating a needed contrast.  (Your window color does not impact printing.)

    This is a solution I can live with when many hours are spent looking at my computer screen.

    Can also launch this process through Start/Control Panel/Personalization rather than right clicking your Desktop.

    I’m using Windows 7, so not sure if instructions would be the same on a Win8 system.

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