Outlook 2019 Pro Plus dark mode

wearepariah 21

Follow on from
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/682178/office-2019-pro-plus-dark-mode.html
Which says that non-VLK copies of Office 2019 ProPlus should have Dark Mode available for Word, OneNote 2016 and Outlook.

I am using Office Pro Plus 2019 C2R Version 2209 (Build 15629.20156) and do not have the option for dark reading mode in Outlook. I have checked Word, and this view mode is enabled/working (happy times), however it is not available in Outlook - the sun/moon icons are not showing.

Accepted answer

ChristyZhang-MSFT 23,901 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-10-13T08:55:06.383+00:00

Hi @wearepariah ,

Thanks for your reply!

Based on my test and research, i found that dark mode is only available if you have a Microsoft 365 subscription and i didn't find any articles mentioned Office 2019 with dark mode. So if you want to enjoy the feature, i'm afraid that you need to use Outlook 365.

References:
Change the look and feel of Office
Dark Mode in Outlook

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wearepariah 21 Reputation points

2022-10-13T09:20:24.827+00:00

Hi @ChristyZhang-MSFT ,

Thanks for your research! Appreciate the assist.

It was stated by @Emily Hua-MSFT in https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/682178/office-2019-pro-plus-dark-mode.html that 'Dark Reading Mode is available for Office 365 subscribers and non-volume licensing Office 2019 customers currently, it means these users can try this feature on Word, OneNote 2016, Outlook. (Please note, this feature is not available for all Office apps, such as Excel, PowerPoint.)'

Which is what led me to believe that it should be present on my copy of C2R Outlook 2019. As per that answer, dark reading mode is present in my copies of Word and OneNote, it's just Outlook that doesn't seem to match. Given the other two apps match with complete darkness, it seems less unlikely to have been stated in error?

ChristyZhang-MSFT 23,901 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-10-14T08:11:04.453+00:00

Hi @wearepariah ,

Thanks for your reply!

Of course, the official documents are more authoritative at present, but according to my research and search again, I have not found any official documents about the dark mode of Outlook 2019. So I'm afraid we can only get a better user experience in Outlook 365 at the moment.
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1 additional answer

Dillon Silzer 57,441 Reputation points

2022-10-11T04:27:22.477+00:00

Hi @wearepariah

A suggestion is to use Black or Dark Grey theme in Outlook (if this helps you):

1) Go to File in the top left of Outlook

2) Go to Options

3) Check Office Theme

If this is helpful please accept answer.
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wearepariah 21 Reputation points

2022-10-11T05:05:47.867+00:00

Hi @Dillon Silzer ,

Thanks for the suggestion, I am already on Black mode for colours, but the reading mode on the emails is still bright white. The background of the message text 'should' be available to be changed (at least based on that previous thread) via a sun/moon button near the reply/forward?

ChristyZhang-MSFT 23,901 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2022-10-11T07:59:21.277+00:00

Hi @wearepariah ,

What about enabling "Never change the message background color" option and then disabling it?

wearepariah 21 Reputation points

2022-10-11T21:44:00.863+00:00

Hi @ChristyZhang-MSFT ,

Thanks for the suggestion, I have tried this more times than I care to count unfortunately :(
On/Off with that setting, complete uninstall of Office and Reinstall, Wipe drive and reinstall Windows, followed by install Office.
I have tried turning that setting on/off again just for good measure, and having the same problem.

Is it possible I am missing something? That there's some setting on my profile causing it? Some other, unrelated setting blocking things?
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Outlook 2019 Pro Plus dark mode

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