Microsoft to do how to change theme

Change Microsoft To Do’s theme in Settings > General > Theme on Windows and the web, and in Profile picture or menu > Settings > Theme on mobile. If you open the wrong menu, the app may stay on the device default or show a different look on another device. Start with the app’s own theme control, then check whether the app is following the system theme.

How to change the theme

What you’ll need

• A signed-in Microsoft account
• The current Microsoft To Do app or web page open on the device you want to change
• Access to the device appearance setting if To Do is set to use the system theme
• A second device, if you want to confirm whether the change syncs

Change the theme in Microsoft To Do

1. Open Microsoft To Do and go to Settings > General > Theme on Windows or the web, or Profile picture or menu > Settings > Theme on mobile.
2. Select Light or Dark if both choices appear.
3. Refresh the page or reopen the app if the colors do not update right away.
4. Check the same account on another device if you expect the change to carry over.

If the theme changes on the web but not on a phone, the mobile app is usually tied to a different account, a different app build, or a different theme path. Check the app’s own settings first, then confirm which Microsoft account is signed in.

📊 Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12 and later preserves font settings across theme changes. Source: Microsoft.

How do I switch Microsoft To Do between light and dark mode?

Use the Microsoft To Do theme control, then pick Light or Dark. If the app follows the device theme, switch the device itself to light or dark first, then reopen To Do so it can pick up the new appearance.

Light and dark mode on Windows

1. Open Settings > General > Theme in Microsoft To Do.
2. Choose Light or Dark if the app offers those options.
3. If the app appears tied to Windows, open Windows Settings > Personalization > Colors.
4. Set the Windows mode to Light or Dark, then return to To Do and refresh.

Windows theme settings matter because many Microsoft apps can follow the operating system’s appearance. Visual Studio is a clear example: its color theme dropdown includes Dark, Light, and Use system setting, so the app may mirror Windows instead of using its own separate appearance control. Visual Studio can also synchronize settings across account environments.

Light and dark mode on web and mobile

1. On the web, open To Do and check Settings > General > Theme.
2. On mobile, open Profile picture or menu > Settings > Theme.
3. Choose Light or Dark if those options appear.
4. Reload the web page or close and reopen the app to confirm the new look.

Microsoft Forms and Outlook use different appearance structures, so the menu name in To Do may not match what you see elsewhere in Microsoft 365. Outlook theme controls sit in Settings > General > Appearance, and Outlook Copilot themes are available in new Outlook for Windows, web, iOS, Android, Outlook.com, and latest Outlook for Mac. Microsoft Forms uses the Styles pane, where themes come from a gallery. (Microsoft Support)

Does Microsoft To Do follow my system theme?

It can, depending on the app build and platform. If To Do is set to use the system appearance, the app should track the device’s light or dark mode rather than keep a separate theme choice. That is why changing Windows appearance can affect how To Do looks after you reopen it.

Use the device theme as the starting point

1. Open the device theme settings first: on Windows, go to Settings > Personalization > Colors.
2. Pick Light or Dark for the device.
3. Return to Microsoft To Do and refresh or reopen it.
4. Check whether To Do now matches the device theme.

If the app stays unchanged, the theme may be set inside To Do rather than inherited from Windows. That is common in Microsoft apps: Visual Studio offers a dedicated theme dropdown, while Outlook places appearance in a different settings area and Forms keeps theme tools in the Styles pane.

Why can’t I find theme options in Microsoft To Do?

Missing appearance controls usually mean you are in the wrong menu, the app has not loaded the current account state, or that build does not expose the same options on every platform. Compare the screen you are on with the device-specific path, then check whether the app is signed in with the account you expect.

Check the account and app view first

1. Open Microsoft To Do and confirm the account shown in the profile area.
2. Go to the app’s settings screen and look for General and Theme.
3. If you are on the web, refresh the browser page once.
4. If you are on mobile, force-close and reopen the app, then check the settings path again.

A common mistake is searching for a color gallery like the one in Microsoft Forms. Forms theme choices sit in the Styles pane and can also use a background image or a custom background color with a hex value field. Microsoft To Do does not present itself that way, so do not expect a Forms-style gallery.

Which theme path applies in Microsoft To Do?

This table shows the path to check first, what to do if the option is absent, and whether the choice should carry across devices. Use it as a quick filter before you troubleshoot deeper.

What should I do if the theme setting doesn’t sync?

First, make sure each device is signed in to the same Microsoft account, then compare the local theme path on each platform. If one device shows a separate To Do theme and another follows the system theme, the settings will not look identical even when the account is the same.

Fallback checklist

1. Check the Microsoft account shown in To Do on every device.
2. Open the theme path again on each platform and confirm the same choice.
3. Refresh the web page or reopen the app after each change.
4. Compare the device appearance setting on Windows if To Do appears to track the system theme.
5. If the app still differs, note which platform is missing the control and use that as the starting point for further troubleshooting.

If your Windows app is dark but the web app stays light after a change, that points to a platform difference, not a single global switch. Check the web path directly and compare it with Outlook’s Settings > General > Appearance and Visual Studio’s theme dropdown so you can see how Microsoft apps handle appearance differently.

Common mistakes

• Looking for a custom palette in Microsoft To Do when only light and dark are available on that build.
• Changing Windows appearance and assuming every Microsoft app will match immediately.
• Using a different Microsoft account on the phone, browser, or PC.
• Checking the wrong app section, such as a Forms-style gallery or Outlook’s Appearance page.
• Expecting the same menu label on every platform.

Microsoft To Do may or may not follow the system theme, so the safest path is to check the app setting first and the device setting second. If the app exposes only light and dark mode, that is the extent of its built-in choice; there is no sign here of a custom color editor like the one in Microsoft Forms.

Frequently asked questions

Where are theme settings in Microsoft To Do?

On Windows and the web, look in Settings > General > Theme. On mobile, check Profile picture or menu > Settings > Theme. If that path is missing, confirm you are on the current app or page and that you are signed in to the intended Microsoft account.

Can I use a custom color theme in Microsoft To Do?

Do not count on it. The supported choices called out here are light and dark mode, while other Microsoft apps offer broader appearance tools: Outlook uses Settings > General > Appearance, and Microsoft Forms lets you pick from a theme gallery in the Styles pane or set a custom background color.

Is Microsoft To Do theme available on web and mobile?

Yes, but the path can differ. On the web, check Settings > General > Theme. On mobile, look for Profile picture or menu > Settings > Theme. If one platform does not show the control, refresh the page or reopen the app and compare the signed-in account.