How to Get Dark Mode on Word Mac

Are you tired of staring at bright screens that strain your eyes? Do you find it challenging to work with documents in Word on your Mac in a dimly lit environment? If so, you’re not alone. Many people prefer to use dark mode on their devices to reduce eye strain and improve their overall user experience. In this blog post, we will discuss how you can get dark mode on Word for Mac, giving you a more comfortable and visually appealing environment to work in.

Video Tutorial:

Why You Need to Get Dark Mode on Word Mac

There are several reasons why you might want to get dark mode on Word for your Mac. Let’s explore a few of them:

1. Reduced Eye Strain: Working with bright screens, especially in low light conditions, can strain your eyes and cause discomfort. Dark mode in Word Mac can help reduce eye strain by using darker backgrounds and less intense colors.

2. Better Focus: Dark mode can create a more immersive and distraction-free environment. With a darker background, you can focus more on the content you are working on instead of being distracted by the interface.

3. Aesthetically Pleasing: Dark mode can also give your Word documents a modern and sleek look. The combination of dark backgrounds and lighter text can make your documents visually appealing and stand out.

4. Extended Battery Life: If you are working on a laptop, using dark mode can save battery life. OLED screens, in particular, require less power to display darker colors, resulting in increased battery efficiency.

Now that we understand the benefits of dark mode in Word Mac, let’s explore the different methods you can use to achieve it.

Method 1: Using Word’s Built-in Dark Mode

Word for Mac offers a built-in dark mode feature that allows you to change the interface color scheme. Follow these steps to enable dark mode:

1. Open Word on your Mac.
2. Click on the "Word" menu located in the top-left corner of the screen.
3. Select "Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
4. In the Preferences window, click on the "General" tab.
5. Under the "Personalize" section, locate the "Office Theme" dropdown menu.
6. Click on the dropdown menu and select "Dark Gray."
7. The interface will now switch to dark mode, providing you with a darker background.

Pros Cons
1. Improved visibility 1. Limited color options
2. Easier on the eyes 2. May require adjustment

Method 2: Using Accessibility Settings

If the built-in dark mode in Word isn’t sufficient for your needs, you can try using accessibility settings to achieve a true dark mode experience. Here’s how:

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of the screen.
2. Select "System Preferences" from the dropdown menu.
3. In the System Preferences window, click on "Accessibility."
4. Navigate to the "Display" tab.
5. Check the box next to "Invert colors."
6. Word will now appear in dark mode, with inverted colors.
7. If you find the inverted colors too extreme, you can enable "Smart Invert" instead, which intelligently preserves some colors.

Pros Cons
1. Complete dark mode 1. Some colors may appear different
2. Works across all apps 2. Inverted images may look strange

Method 3: Via Third-Party Apps

If you’re looking for more customization options and advanced features, third-party apps can help you achieve a tailored dark mode experience. One popular app for achieving dark mode on Mac is NightOwl. Here’s how you can use it with Word:

1. Download and install the NightOwl app from the Mac App Store.
2. Open the NightOwl app.
3. In the NightOwl menu bar icon, click on the moon icon to activate dark mode.
4. Launch Word, and the interface will now appear in dark mode.

Pros Cons
1. Extensive customization options 1. Requires installing a third-party app
2. Granular control over dark mode 2. App compatibility may vary

Method 4: Using Dark Mode Keyboard Shortcut

If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to toggle dark mode on and off in Word Mac, you can create a custom keyboard shortcut using Automator. Here’s how:

1. Press Command + Space to open Spotlight Search.
2. Type "Automator" and press Enter to launch the Automator app.
3. In the Automator app, select "New Document."
4. Choose "Quick Action" as the type of document.
5. In the workflow, search for "Run AppleScript" and drag it into the workflow area.
6. Replace the default AppleScript with the following script:
"`
tell application "System Events"
tell appearance preferences
set dark mode to not dark mode
end tell
end tell
"`
7. Save the workflow with a name like "Toggle Dark Mode."
8. Open System Preferences and navigate to "Keyboard" > "Shortcuts."
9. Select "Services" from the left sidebar and locate the "Toggle Dark Mode" service.
10. Assign a custom keyboard shortcut to the service.
11. Launch Word and use the keyboard shortcut to toggle dark mode on and off.