Microsoft updated the Outlook app’s user interface to make it look sleeker and modern. By default, it uses light or dark themes based on your system settings. While functional, looking at the same light or dark UI makes using Outlook a bit boring. Thankfully, you can easily change the Outlook theme to make it more colorful. Adding a bit of color gives the UI character and makes it more engaging to use.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you how to change the theme and color in the new Outlook app and even use classic themes for a touch of nostalgia. Let’s get started.
Before You Begin
- These steps apply specifically to the new Outlook app and are not for the classic Outlook (old) version.
- If you still using old Outlook, enable the new Outlook UI before proceeding.
How to Change the Theme in the New Outlook App
- Press the “Windows key” to open the Start menu.
- Search and open “Outlook (new)“.
- Click the “Settings” icon on the top-right corner.
- Go to the “General” tab on the left sidebar.
- Click the “Appearance” tab in the middle panel.
- Select the Theme or Color under the “Modern themes” section.
- Turn ON the “Use colorful app icons” toggle under the “Navigation bar” section.
- Click the “Save” button.
- With that, you’ve changed the theme in the new Outlook app.
Detailed Steps (With Screenshots)
First, open the new Outlook app. To do that, search for “Outlook (new)” in the Start menu and click the “Open” button.
Once the Outlook window opens, click the “Settings” icon (looks like a gear or cog) on the top-right corner to open the Outlook settings.
Go to the “General” and then to the “Appearance” tab in the Outlook settings window. This is where you can change the colors and theme of the new Outlook app.
On the right panel, select the theme of your choice under the “Modern Themes” section. This will automatically set a wallpaper inside the Outlook app and apply the theme-appropriate colors. If you don’t want to set a wallpaper, you also select a color under the “Color” section instead.
If you are feeling nostalgic, you can use the Outlook classic theme. To do that, expand the “Classic” tab under the “Themes” section and select the classic theme of your choice.
(Optional) Next, scroll down to the “Navigation bar” section and turn ON the “Use colorful app icons” toggle. That way, you will see colorful icons on the left sidebar. Disabling this option shows the regular gray/white wireframe icons.
Finally, click the “Save” button to save the theming changes.
With that, you’ve changed the theme in the new Outlook app. If you have any questions or need help, comment below. I’ll be happy to help.
