Excel for Windows is Getting Proper Dark Mode Support

Microsoft is finally giving Excel for Windows a proper dark mode. With a new update that’s now rolling out to testers on the Beta Channel, the spreadsheet app now displays dark sheets and cells.

As of today, Excel for Windows in dark mode still shows white cells while the rest of the UI is dark. “Dark Mode has been a highly-requested feature in our Feedback portal and we’re happy to deliver,” wrote Sharon Mehta, a Product Manager on the Excel team.

In addition to reducing eye strain, this improved dark mode can also reduce energy consumption on PCs with OLED screens. Microsoft said that Officers Insiders on the Beta Channel will need to be running the version 2502 (Build 18508.20000) of the app, but this update isn’t available for me yet as of this writing.

On X, the Microsoft 365 Insider team also confirmed today that the Excel web app is also getting dark mode support. The Word web app already has a dark mode, just like the desktop version, but Excel and PowerPoint don’t.

Hi Michael! We understand the importance of this feature and are actively working on bringing it to Excel Online as well. Stay tuned for updates!

— Microsoft 365 Insider (@Msft365Insider) January 14, 2025

If you use Windows 11 and Windows 10 regularly, you’re probably aware that the system-wide dark mode still leaves many legacy items in white. It’s probably going to be years before Windows 11 also gets a fully fleshed-out dark mode, if that ever happens.