Microsoft Rolling Out New Updates for Office UI

Last Updated on December 3, 2021 by Anu Joy

Microsoft Office sports some subtle changes in the new update rolling out to all Office 365 and Office 2021 users. Microsoft had previously announced the visual update earlier this year.

Subtle but Notable Changes

The Office ribbon bar now sports softer and rounder edges. The buttons for Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint also have some subtle design changes, keeping with the soft and flowy theme. Moreover, Office will reflect the dark or light theme that you set for Windows.

The quick access toolbar is hidden by default with the new update. To undo this, you will have to right-click the ribbon or click the Ribbon Display Options icon. Then you can choose Show Quick Access Toolbar.

The Coming Soon Feature

If you don’t like change, no matter how subtle, you can simply switch it off using the Coming Soon feature. And not to worry if you change your mind, you can also switch it back on. The Coming Soon pane is located at the top right corner of the app, and can be accessed by simply clicking the megaphone icon.

However, this feature is not available for Access, Project, Publisher, or Visio. It will be available for the aforementioned apps only if you turn on visual refresh in Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote. Confusingly, although Outlook does support the Coming Soon feature, it cannot be used to toggle visual refresh on or off. You can turn it on via Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote.

When will the Update be Available?

Current Channel users on Windows 10 with version 2110 and build 14527.20226 and later have already received the update. If, by any chance, you still don’t see it, just restart any Office app. An easy way to check if you have the update is to check for the megaphone icon in the top right corner. All Windows 11 users will automatically get the update.

What to Expect in Future Updates

• Mica background effect for Windows 11 users.
• Updates for the File menu.
• Options to better support theming.

Bigger Update in the Works

The new design updates are in line with the look and feel of Windows 11. The visual refresh isn’t a drastic change, it’s more of a subtle update to match the aesthetics of the Windows 11 OS. However, Microsoft had promised drastic changes to its Office UI. You can expect these changes to take a couple of years to roll out.