Office 2013 Backgrounds and Themes: How to Customize

Office 2013 lets you change the look of its apps with a background pattern and an Office theme that adjusts interface colors. These settings affect the ribbon and other interface areas, not the design of your documents or slides. You can set them from an Office app’s Account or Options page.

What You’ll Need

• A desktop installation of an Office 2013 application, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
• Access to the Microsoft account or work account used to activate Office, if you need to sign in or check your installation.
• A few minutes to try the available background and theme choices. The built-in options do not require a separate download.

Step-by-Step

1. Open an Office 2013 app. Start Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or another desktop Office 2013 program. The settings are shared across the Office applications in the same installation, so you do not have to customize each app separately in most cases.
2. Open the Account page. In Word, for example, click File and then Account. In some Office 2013 apps, the relevant options are under File > Office Account or are presented differently. If you do not see Account, use File > Options and look for the personalization controls under General.
3. Choose an Office Background. On the Account page, find the Office Background drop-down. Click it and select a pattern, such as Circles and Stripes or Calligraphy, if that option is available in your installation. Choose No Background for a plain interface. The pattern decorates the top-right area of Office windows; it does not add an image to your document.
4. Select an Office Theme. Open the Office Theme drop-down on the same page. Office 2013 commonly offers White, Light Gray, and Dark Gray, though the choices can vary by edition or updates. Select one to preview or apply it. The theme changes the application’s interface colors, including areas such as the ribbon; it does not recolor the contents of your files.
5. Check the result in the app. Return to the document or workbook and look at the ribbon and window chrome. Some versions apply the selection immediately; if the display does not refresh, close and reopen the app. Check another Office app to see whether the shared preference has carried across.
6. Adjust the choice if needed. Go back to the Account page or personalization options and try another background or theme. If you prefer a cleaner view, use No Background and choose the interface color that is easiest to read. Close and reopen the other Office apps to check the final appearance.
7. Confirm whether the setting is managed. If the controls are missing, disabled, or keep reverting, the installation may be controlled by a workplace administrator or policy. Avoid changing Windows settings or editing the registry to force a theme. Ask your IT administrator whether personalization is restricted.

Common Mistakes

• Confusing an Office theme with a document theme. Office Theme changes the application interface. In Word, document themes are on the Design tab and change document fonts, colors, and effects. In PowerPoint, presentation themes are also selected on the Design tab.
• Expecting a background pattern to fill the window. Office Background patterns are subtle decorations in the application interface, not wallpapers or page backgrounds.
• Looking in the wrong place. The ribbon’s Design tab controls document or presentation appearance. For the Office app interface, check File > Account or File > Options.
• Assuming a choice applies to every computer. These settings apply to the Office installation and user profile you are using. They may not transfer to another computer or account.
• Expecting unavailable themes to appear after an update. Options depend on your Office 2013 edition, updates, and organizational settings. Do not assume a missing color option can be added through a normal Office menu.

Tips

• Try a theme with a sample document open, so you can judge ribbon contrast while working.
• Choose No Background if patterns distract you or make the corner of the window look cluttered.
• Change one setting at a time. That makes it easier to identify which choice improved readability.
• If you use multiple Office apps, verify the appearance in each one. Individual app layouts differ even when the theme preference is shared.
• Keep in mind that changing the Office interface does not change how a file looks to someone else. To change a document’s design, use the design controls inside that document’s app.

Troubleshooting

The Account page is missing: Open File > Options and check General for personalization settings. You can also try another Office 2013 desktop app. Menu labels can differ between editions and installed updates.

The selection does not seem to apply: Reopen the Account page and check the displayed selection. Close all Office apps, then start one again. If Office is still updating or repairing, let that process finish before trying again.

The controls are grayed out or changes revert: Your organization may manage Office settings, or you may be using a restricted installation. Contact the person who manages your work or school software. Do not use registry edits or unofficial utilities to bypass those controls.

The pattern or color looks different in another app: Check that app’s Account or Options page and reopen it. The window layout can make the same interface choice look slightly different, and not every edition exposes identical options.

You meant to change a file’s appearance: Use the document’s own design features instead. In Word, check the Design tab for themes and page formatting; in PowerPoint, use Design to choose a presentation theme. These affect file content, unlike the Office interface theme.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do Office 2013 backgrounds change the background of my document?
No. Office Background changes decoration in the application window. Use the document’s page color or design settings to change a document itself.

Can I use my own picture as an Office 2013 background?
The built-in Office Background menu offers preset patterns, not a general option to upload a personal picture. You can use a picture as a document or slide background through the app’s design controls instead.

Will changing the Office Theme change my files?
No. It changes the Office interface, not the saved formatting of documents, spreadsheets, or presentations.

Can I make Word, Excel, and PowerPoint look different from one another?
The Office theme and background are generally shared preferences for the Office installation, rather than independent settings for each app. App layouts can still differ.

Why do I only see some theme choices?
The available choices can depend on your Office 2013 edition, updates, and any settings managed by an organization. Use the options shown in your installation or ask your administrator if they are restricted.

Can I reset the appearance?
Return to the Account or personalization page and choose a different theme and background, such as White and No Background when those options are available.

Related

• OnePlus 13s vs Redmi Turbo 5: Specs & Price
• AI Business Case with Measurable ROI
• Can Satellites Spot Ocean Plastic? Reality Check