Office Insiders on macOS can now try dark canvas mode on Word

The new dark mode for Word on macOS brings a lot more darkness to your screen.

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What you need to know

Microsoft Word has had a dark mode for years on macOS, but Office Insiders can now test out a mode that’s even darker (viaOnMSFT). The latest Insider version of Word for macOS has an option for a dark canvas that makes the pages of your documents match the dark background of the rest of the app. This is a much truer dark mode, but it can take some getting used to.

The new dark canvas option first appeared intesting on the Windows version of Wordin February. Now, Insiders on macOS get to test it out as well. You can set Word to dark mode on macOS separately from changing the theme settings on macOS.

Enabling the new dark mode only takes a few steps within Word:

Using the new dark mode can take some getting used to. It effectively inverts the text and page colors of your documents. Any text that’s not black is left untouched, so you can still make sure your documents are as colorful as you’d like.

If you’re on Windows and want to try out the new dark theme, known as black theme on Windows, use our guide onhow to change the color theme of Office apps. You may also need toenroll in the Office Insider program.

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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.