Support Dark Mode in Reading Pane
Please make the preview pane appear dark in dark mode. The current implementation hurts the eyes and is woefully inconsistent with the rest of the application appearance.

Thanks for the feedback! We are working on this.
Current Dark Mode support: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/release-notes-office-for-mac
127 comments
-
Anonymous commented
Stressful for the eyes to have two oppositely contrasting colors. Can't turn OFF dark mode only for the Outlook. Sad.
-
Brandon commented
Love the new dark mode setting. However it would be great if there was a way to have the 'dark mode' setting applied to the body of the email as well, instead of the white background.
-
Adrian commented
I recently updated Outlook to the newest software that includes support for dark mode on Mac. Black text on a dark grey background is unreadable! Plus why the white sidepanels? Why make it contrasty by putting black screens beside white screens. How about some customability, or the an option to turn it off in the app. Hoping for an update, or looking for new software.
-
Anonymous commented
"Dark Mode" is easily one of the worst features I have ever used on any piece of technology. It is nearly impossible to see various buttons, switch from calendar to inbox and back, and so much more. I mean come on -- whose idea was it to put black type on a dark gray background? You can't read anything in preview mode for emails! Again, this is truly a worthless feature and, frankly, makes it significantly more difficult to work. Why would Microsoft ever release this feature without providing a way to turn it off, without make it more readable, and so much more. Honestly, just turn it off for everyone, start over, and release a decent version of this at a later date.
-
Emory Craft commented
I recently updated Outlook to the newest software that includes support for dark mode on Mac. I’m very unsatisfied with this look on Outlook. The sidebar on the far left is white and so are the days of the week in-between the emails. I would much rather the sidebar be the same color as the tool bar across the top, the dark gray/ black color. And the days of the week maybe a light gray if they need to be a contrasting color to the rest of the window. Please change these things. I don’t want to turn off dark mode but this outlook is almost painful to look at because its so “cringy”!
-
Landon Thalman commented
Dark mode with a bright white reading pane. POINTLESS!!! Should have waited to released the update when it was actually finished and useful.
-
Leonel Salgado commented
Por favor reviertan el modo obscuro a claro, lastima mucho los ojos y la visibilidad es nula prácticamente.
-
Thomas commented
the dark mode is very good, but it is a problem the area to read the mail this white, this contrasts in a very ugly way, and I feel that it damages my sight, and more when I am in dark environments.
-
Anonymous commented
While you're working on that, please do the same for the composition window - and tell your Excel colleagues to also do it for Excel spreadsheets.
MS Teams has had a dark mode for awhile - and they seem to have done a more complete job. -
Anonymous commented
I agree, it hurts the eyes and there are emails that I cannot even read the subject line unless I hover over it. It is not working
-
TJ commented
please fix this asap what a pain. i am using lights off app till you get it fixed
-
Anonymous commented
Dark mode is a colossal step backward, it is much more difficult to read which in turn affects my eyes more than usual. Users should have the option of toggling between light and dark mode, it's borderline ridiculous that you cannot.
-
Heath commented
I can't read the information boxes above the email such as "mark as junk". The Settings panel shows up white on light grey. Font coloring needs to be reassessed.
-
SK commented
Maybe it could make sense to make the "darkness" adjustable for the reading area? Or like adding transparency...
-
Anonymous commented
The inconsistency between the light mode in messages and dark mode in everything else kills the reading experience. Either have it turned off or have everything in dark mode. A quick check of Apple Mail already does this. Maybe it's time to switch to back to Apple Mail app.
-
Jason commented
Allow users to toggle back and forth between regular mode and dark move, with the click of a button!
-
Ted Johnson commented
No Prefer white background as it was
-
Anonymous commented
I want go back to light mode !
Only reading box is acceptable for my eyes. -
Anonymous commented
it's really hard to read with this kind of blue fonts! Just copy what spark and apple mail app does.
-
James Layton commented
It feels like a bug that this wasn't implemented. It cannot be used as it currently stands, which makes the effort you imparted to do the first bit to no avail. As a developer I'd be gutted, nobody likes shelf ware.