Changing your Teams & Office Theme, Layout & Scale (Bright Light Sensitivity & Visual Impairment Options)

This FAQ provides directions on how to change the theme and layout of your Teams Client, Office 365 setup and desktop. These settings affect accessibility for those with visual impairments.

Changing Your Teams Client Theme from Light to Dark & High Contrast Modes

Open your Teams Client Select your Profile Icon in the top right-hand corner

Once in your profile select Settings

Select the General Tab Navigate to the “Theme” Selection area.

Select “Dark” Mode

Your Teams client is now set to Dark Mode. Close the Settings Window.

Now your Teams client will be set to Dark Mode. This Theme is more easily usable in high light environments or for those that have white/bright light sensitivities.

High Contract Mode For Visibility Impairment

Follow the Steps above to access Setting and then Themes

Select High Contrast Mode

This mode will cause all text to be more easily readable for those with:

Issues with Bright/white lights

Colour blindness

High Contrast Mode – Office 2013/16/365 & Windows 7 / 10

While on your windows desktop press the following Key combination at the same time: Left Alt, Left Shift & Print Screen You will be given a prompt to change your desktop into High Contrast mode.

This affects your Office products such as Word & Excel.

Your Outlook will also update to this Theme.

And additionally, your Desktop / File explorer will be updated.

To return to your original setup simply press the same key combination: Left Shift, Left Alt & Print Screen

Changing your Teams Layout Open your Teams Client Select your Profile Icon in the top right-hand corner

Once in your profile select Settings Navigate to Layout Options

Under the Layout Options if you Select “List” your teams view will change to the image below.

This view allows you to access all teams and channels that you are a member of. If you click on a Teams Icon it will expand to show all channels within it that you have permission to access.

If you prefer a more simplified view you can Select the “Grid” Layout

This will show all of your Teams in a simplified view.

If you then select a team it will only show that teams channels & tabs