Changing Interface Color in PowerPoint 365 for Windows

When PowerPoint 365 for Windows is launched, you see Backstage view, as shown in Figure 1. Notice the bright orange section on the left side of this view.

Figure 1: PowerPoint Backstage view

Yes, you can change the bright orange to something else and end up with a different-looking PowerPoint program interface. We show you how to change the interface color in this tutorial.

Follow these steps to learn more:

1. Create a new presentation, or open an existing presentation, as shown in Figure 2. Notice the bright orange Ribbon area. Doesn’t this bright orange color hurt your eyes? Fortunately, PowerPoint 365 offers you with three more color options for the interface.
2. 
   Figure 2: PowerPoint 365 for Windows interface
2. Choose the File menu to bring up Backstage view, as shown in Figure 3. Now, select Options (highlighted in green within Figure 3).
3. 
   Figure 3: Options within Backstage view
3. This brings up the PowerPoint Options dialog box, as shown in Figure 4. Make sure that the General option is selected within the sidebar (highlighted in blue within Figure 4). On the right side of the dialog box, locate the Office Theme option (highlighted in red within Figure 4) within the Personalize your copy of Microsoft Office section.
4. 
   Figure 4: PowerPoint Options dialog box
4. Note that Colorful is the option selected within the Office Theme selection box (refer Figure 4); this is the default option. Now, click the downward pointing arrow within this box to bring up a drop-down list, as shown in Figure 5.
5. 
   Figure 5: Office Theme drop-down list
6. Here you'll find four color choices:
7. Colorful (default)
   Dark Gray
   Black
   White
8. With the Colorful option chosen, you end up with bright orange Ribbon area within your PowerPoint interface, as shown in Figure 2, earlier on this page. Choose another color option such as Dark Gray and click the OK button. We changed the interface color to Dark Gray (see Figure 6).
9. 
   Figure 6: Interface color changed to Dark Gray
10. Note that any changes you make to the interface color in PowerPoint 365 also apply to any other Office 365 applications installed on your computer such as Word and Excel.
5. Now select the Black color option within the Office Theme drop-down list (refer to Figure 5, shown earlier on this page), and click the OK button. This causes the interface color to change to black, as you can see in Figure 7. Notice that the Status Bar and other highlighted areas now sport a darker gray color.
6. 
   Figure 7: Interface color changed to Black
6. Now, select the White color option within the Office Theme drop-down list (refer to Figure 5, shown earlier on this page), and click the OK button. This causes the interface color to change to bright white, as you can see in Figure 8. Notice the bright white Ribbon area and the bright orange Status Bar.
7. 
   Figure 8: Interface color changed to White

When you change the interface color, notice that the bright orange section on the left side of the Backstage view also changes. Figure 9 shows the Backstage view with Black selected as the interface color (compare with Figure 1).

Figure 9: Backstage view displaying changed interface color