14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft has released a new Office visual update that gets the productivity suite ready for Windows 11, though the same UI refresh is also available for those still running Windows 10.
Currently offered only to Office insiders running beta builds, the new interface update embraces everything you get in terms of looks in Windows 11, including Fluent Design with rounded corners, and Microsoft says the overhaul is based on user feedback.
“This Office visual refresh is based on feedback from customers who asked for a more natural and consistent experience within and between your applications, specifically on Windows. With this update, we deliver an intuitive, coherent, and familiar user interface, using the Fluent Design principles, across all your applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Access, Project, Publisher, and Visio. We aligned this visual refresh with the design of Windows 11 to provide seamless experiences on your PC,” the company explains.
Additional polishing still needed
Needless to say, it’s important to keep in mind this Office overhaul is still in its early days, so you could still come across visual glitches here and there.
For example, Microsoft says the ribbon and the document canvas have been its main two areas of focus, so there’s a chance some other parts may not align with this design update. Some animations on Windows 11 also require additional polishing, and Microsoft explains that the Mica background effect isn’t yet available, though it should be coming in a future update.
The document title could also appear misaligned within the title bar, and the preview gallery for data types and Shapes has a visual color bug in the dark grey theme.
There’s no ETA as to when the new visual update for Microsoft Office would become available for all users, but for now, if you want to try it out, just join the Office Insider program in the beta build.