Microsoft Teams dark theme and fewer animations

Updated 2026-11-02

Quick answerIn Microsoft Teams, open Settings and more next to your profile picture, then Settings, Appearance. Under Theme choose Dark, High contrast or Follow operating system theme, and you can keep meetings and calls always dark. The old Turn off animations switch is missing in the new Teams, according to users on Microsoft Q&A.

Desktop

  1. Select Settings and more (…) next to your profile picture.
  2. Select Settings, then Appearance.
  3. Under Theme pick Dark or Follow operating system theme.
  4. Turn on Always use dark theme for meetings and calls if you want.

Good to know

  • Reduced motion set in your operating system is the best remaining way to cut Teams animations.
  • Migraine Mode adds what the site lacks: dimming, a soft-green tint, smart dark mode, frozen GIFs and blocked autoplay, all with one switch.

FAQ

Where is Turn off animations in new Teams?

Users on Microsoft Q&A report it no longer appears under General, Accessibility or Appearance in the new Teams client.

Can Teams meetings stay dark when the app is light?

Yes. Microsoft documents the Always use dark theme for meetings and calls option.

Sources

  • Microsoft Support: Customize the appearance in Microsoft Teams. Link
  • Microsoft Q&A: Turn off animations setting missing in new Microsoft Teams (follows the OS setting). Link
  • W3C. Understanding WCAG 2.2 Success Criterion 2.3.3: Animation from Interactions. Link

Not a medical device and not medical advice. Migraine Mode is a screen-comfort tool: it does not diagnose, treat, cure or prevent migraine or any other condition, and it does not replace a doctor. Its settings are based on studies of light, colour, flicker, patterns and motion; the extension itself has not been clinically tested. When to see a doctor.