Dark Teal & Dark Blue (Complete Guide)

While this may look like a small UI update on the surface, it actually brings meaningful improvements in accessibility, user experience, and native theming capabilities.

If your organization has been waiting for first-party dark themes instead of relying on custom PowerShell-based solutions, this update is worth your attention.

What’s New in SharePoint Dark Themes?

Microsoft is adding two out-of-the-box, multi-color dark themes designed specifically for modern SharePoint sites:

Dark Teal
Dark Blue

These are Microsoft-designed themes, not previews or experimental features. They are built to align with Microsoft’s Fluent design language and accessibility standards.

Why This Matters

Until now, SharePoint users who preferred dark visuals had limited native options. Many organizations either:

Created custom themes using PowerShell
Avoided dark themes altogether due to accessibility concerns

With this update, Microsoft removes that complexity by offering official, accessible dark themes that work seamlessly across modern SharePoint experiences.

Updated Rollout Timeline (December 2025 Update)

Microsoft recently revised the rollout schedule to ensure a smoother release.

Targeted Release

Start: Early January 2026
Completion: January 2026

General Availability (Worldwide, GCC, GCC High, DoD)

Start: Early February 2026
Completion: February 2026

This update applies to all SharePoint Online environments, including regulated clouds.

Who Will See This Change?

Affected users:

SharePoint Site Owners
SharePoint Administrators

Service:

SharePoint Online

Once the rollout reaches your tenant, the new themes will automatically appear as selectable options.

What Exactly Changes on the Site?

When a site owner applies Dark Teal or Dark Blue, the theme is consistently reflected across the site:

Site header and navigation
Footer area
Section backgrounds
Text web parts
Design Ideas layouts

Importantly, this is purely a visual enhancement. There is no impact on site structure, content, permissions, or functionality.

How to Apply the New Dark Themes

No admin deployment is required.

After rollout:

Go to Site Settings
Select Change the look
Choose Dark Teal or Dark Blue
Apply and save

That’s it. No PowerShell scripts, no tenant-level configuration.

Accessibility and Visual Comfort

These new dark themes are not just about aesthetics. Microsoft has designed them with:

Proper color contrast
Readable typography
Reduced eye strain in low-light environments
Compliance with Microsoft accessibility standards

This makes them especially useful for users who spend long hours working in SharePoint, including developers, analysts, and content authors.

Impact on Existing Themes and Customizations

This update is non-disruptive.

Existing custom themes remain unchanged
Existing Microsoft light themes continue to work
Custom web parts and extensions are unaffected

PowerShell Consideration

If your tenant previously used PowerShell to hide default Microsoft themes, that configuration will still apply.

The following command remains effective:

Set-SPOHideDefaultThemes

Admins retain full control over whether Microsoft-provided themes are visible.

Compliance and Security Considerations

No compliance risks identified by Microsoft
No data handling or security impact
Safe to adopt across regulated environments

Organizations can proceed without additional approvals or governance changes.

What Admins and Site Owners Should Do

Before Rollout

No action required

After Rollout

Inform site owners about the new dark themes
Encourage teams to explore them for better visual comfort
Test themes on communication sites and hub sites

Why This Update Is Important

This release signals a broader trend:

Microsoft is investing more in native SharePoint UX
Accessibility is becoming a default, not an afterthought
Organizations can reduce reliance on custom theming solutions

For many tenants, Dark Teal and Dark Blue will be “good enough” out of the box, eliminating the need for maintenance-heavy custom themes.

Final Thoughts

The new Microsoft dark themes for SharePoint may seem subtle, but they solve a long-standing gap in native theming. With zero setup, built-in accessibility, and consistent design, this update enhances everyday SharePoint usage without introducing risk or complexity.

If you manage or build SharePoint sites, this is one of those updates that quietly improves user satisfaction — and those are often the most valuable ones.

Microsoft Dark Themes for SharePoint Sites