Office 2016 - Enable Black theme and keep it from disappearing

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  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #21

    Welp, I found a "fix" - given that you don't care about having any Office updates from the last 3 years. Per user "dacrone" in another thread (permalink to message):

    Close all office programs
    Open an Elevated Command Prompt at:*
    "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun"

    Run command:
    OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.4201.1006

    Then once it is done, disable updates in File > Account. Once I downgraded build versions I had the Black option. I set that then updated to newest version again and it disappeared again... I don't know why it does that. So, I downgraded again and it was back. Just sticking with this version unless security becomes a major issue (only home use anyway).
    Even though this was posted way back in August 2016, this fix still works - it's just a matter of whether you're OK using an old version of Office '16. Personally, I am, so it's what I decided to do. The process took about 7-8 minutes for me. (Also, can confirm, if you update back to the current version, it unfortunately forces itself back to the dark gray theme.)
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #22

    Hi chris2113,

    Finally great news! For some reason I can't get CMD prompt to follow your instructions, even running as

    administrator! Any insight?
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #23

    Hmm... If you navigate to the "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun" folder, is the OfficeC2RClient.exe file definitely there? And when you open the command prompt, are you changing the directory to the one mentioned above? Easiest way I know is just to use the command:
    cd
    "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun"
    including the quotes (since there are spaces in the directory name).
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #24

    Hi Chris2113,

    Appreciate you getting back to me. Kindly check out the 2 attachments. Can't instruct proper cmd.......

    Thanks much!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Office 2016 - Enable Black theme and keep it from disappearing-capture.png   Office 2016 - Enable Black theme and keep it from disappearing-capture2.png  
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #25

    Looks like you're missing the cd before the directory name. The whole command to change the directory should be exactly:
    cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun"

    Then you should be able to run the next command just fine:
    OfficeC2RClient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.4201.1006

    Alternatively, you could do it all in one single command (without changing the directory first) by giving it the full path of OfficeC2RClient.exe like this (note that this is all one long line, even if it wraps to a second line due to length):
    "C:\Program Files\Common Files\microsoft shared\ClickToRun\OfficeC2RClient.exe" /update user updatetoversion=16.0.4201.1006
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #26

    Hi Chris,

    Successful! Thanks very much for your help! Really appreciate it!! Be well :)

    - - - Updated - - -

    Hi Chris,

    By the way I disabled updates both ways 1. Not to update when windows does & 2. on the account home

    page DISABLE UPDATES. Usually after confirming to disable it will say "Office will not update" but as you can

    see on the attachment it still says updates are available. I disabled it 3x's. I just don't want it to update. I tried

    checking the registry w/no luck. Apologies, Thanks Chris!
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Office 2016 - Enable Black theme and keep it from disappearing-capture1.png  
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6
    Windows 10
       #27

    Mike Lee said:
    By the way I disabled updates both ways 1. Not to update when windows does & 2. on the account home page DISABLE UPDATES. Usually after confirming to disable it will say "Office will not update" but as you can see on the attachment it still says updates are available. I disabled it 3x's. I just don't want it to update. I tried checking the registry w/no luck. Apologies, Thanks Chris!

    Hi Mike - sorry I didn't see this sooner! I was actually having the same issue, but thankfully, so far so good (no forced updates). I'm not sure at what point it changed, but now, when I go to File > Account, it says "This product will not be updated." I imagine it happened after I restarted my computer, since it definitely wouldn't change while I was actually in Office telling it not to update. Hopefully the same happens (or has already happened) for you!
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 7
    windows 10
       #28

    chris2113 said:
    Hi Mike - sorry I didn't see this sooner! I was actually having the same issue, but thankfully, so far so good (no forced updates). I'm not sure at what point it changed, but now, when I go to File > Account, it says "This product will not be updated." I imagine it happened after I restarted my computer, since it definitely wouldn't change while I was actually in Office telling it not to update. Hopefully the same happens (or has already happened) for you!
    Hi Chris,

    Oh no worries! I actually figured it out by disabling updates in current version then implementing your

    instructions afterwards. All is well now! No more updates! Awesome! Thanks for everything Chris!
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 1
    windows 10
       #29

    I made an account just to say thank you! Pointing out that office can be downgraded helped a lot. I did not go with the old version, but rather one from the beginning of 2019 when I know for sure the black theme could be set up with the registry trick. Succesfully running version 1812 (Build 11126.20188) with the black theme now. I might try updating in the future as even with the new version it would be black with one of my email accounts, but impossible with the other... who knows what happened there - new versions seem to refer to some account specific settings for themes rather than the registry. Where to find that, no idea and don't wanna mess with it now, but if someone does maybe this info helps. Interestingly, removing the black themed email in new office updates and readding it also readded the black theme - might be stored somewhere online.
      My Computer


 

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