How to turn on Dark Mode in PowerPoint

PPT Productivity addin for PowerPoint is now compatible with Microsoft Office Dark Mode!

Dark mode is a popular feature that changes the appearance of your applications to a darker color scheme. It can help reduce eye strain, save battery life, and improve contrast. Many people prefer dark mode over the default light mode, especially when working in low-light conditions.

In this blog post, we will show you how to turn on Dark Mode in PowerPoint. We will also cover some common issues and troubleshooting tips for using PowerPoint dark mode.

How to enable dark mode in PowerPoint on Windows

If you are using Windows 10, Windows 11 or Microsoft 365, you can enable dark mode in PowerPoint by following these steps:

1. Open PowerPoint and click on the File menu at the top left corner.

2. Click on Account and then select Black/Dark Grey from the Office Theme dropdown menu (refer to the screenshot below for guidance). Note that this setting will apply dark mode to all Office applications, including PowerPoint.

3. Click on OK and restart PowerPoint for the changes to take effect.

Once you have enabled Dark Mode for PowerPoint, the PPT Productivity ribbon and toolbars will also automatically apply the Dark Mode settings.

Alternatively you can turn on Dark mode via your computer settings. To do this:

1. Open the Settings app by clicking on the Start menu and then the gear icon, or press Windows + I on your keyboard to open your settings menu
2. Click on Personalization, which is the second option from the top.
3. On the left sidebar, click on Colors.
4. Under 'Choose your color', select Dark. This will apply Dark Mode to your windows and apps.

Note, you will need to ensure your apps are set to System Colors to enable Dark mode to be activated in your Microsoft apps, including PowerPoint, via settings

To set your apps to System Settings to allow Dark mode to be activated when set via Personalization in Settings, use the following steps.

1. Open PowerPoint and click on the File menu at the top left corner.
2. Click on Account and then select Use System Settings from the Office Theme dropdown menu. This will apply the dark mode to all Office applications, including PowerPoint, if dark has been chosen in as the default in Settings.
3. Click on OK and restart PowerPoint for the changes to take effect.

How to enable dark mode in PowerPoint on Mac

If you are using a Mac, you can enable dark mode in PowerPoint by changing your system theme to dark. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click on the Apple menu at the top left corner and select System Preferences.
2. Click on General and then select Dark from the Appearance dropdown menu. This will apply the dark mode to your entire system, including Office applications.
3. Restart PowerPoint for the changes to take effect.

Troubleshooting tips for using dark mode in PowerPoint

While Dark Mode can offer many benefits, it can also cause some issues or inconveniences when using PowerPoint. Here are some common problems and solutions for using Dark Mode in PowerPoint:

• Problem: You've set Dark mode via Windows Settings, but PowerPoint is still appearing in a light mode
  • Solution: It may be that your Account preferences are set to White or Custom mode. To resolve, Go to File, Account, then select Use System Settings from the Office Theme dropdown menu
• Problem: The slides are still white or light-colored even when dark mode is enabled.
  • Solution: Dark mode only affects the interface of PowerPoint, not the content of your slides. To change the background color of your slides, you need to edit the slide master or apply a different theme or design. You can also use the Format Background option to customize the background color of each slide individually.
• Problem: The text or images on the slides are hard to read or see when Dark Mode is enabled.
  • Solution: Dark Mode can affect the contrast and visibility of your text or images, especially if they are already dark-colored. To improve readability and clarity, you need to adjust the font color, size, style, or effects of your text. You can also use the Format Picture option to edit the brightness, contrast, transparency, or color of your images.
• Problem: The charts or graphs on the slides are distorted or inaccurate when dark mode is enabled.
  • Solution: Dark Mode can change the appearance of your charts or graphs, especially if they use colors that are similar to the background. To fix this, you need to change the chart type, layout, style, or colors of your charts or graphs. You can also use the Format Chart option to customize various aspects of your charts or graphs.