Enhance your Teams experience with new accent color

Key insights

• Accent color personalization is a new feature in Microsoft Teams that lets users choose from ten preset colors to customize the look of their user interface.


• The accent color changes the appearance of key UI elements, including thread highlights, notification counts, hyperlinks, and participant names, providing a more personalized experience.


• This feature is available on Desktop, Mac, and Web platforms, rolling out from late July 2025 and expected to finish by late August 2025.


• The selected accent color is set under Settings > Appearance; it is device-specific and does not automatically sync across different devices.


• The update is cosmetic only, with no impact on Teams’ core functions or performance, and requires no action from administrators as it will be enabled by default for all users.


• This enhancement aims to improve user comfort, visual clarity, and personal identity in Teams while supporting consistency even when users join other tenants as guests.

Microsoft Teams Unveils Accent Color Personalization

Microsoft Teams is rolling out a new accent color personalization feature, designed to give users more control over the appearance of their Teams environment. The feature allows individuals to choose from ten preset accent colors, which will be reflected across various user interface elements. According to the latest update from the 365 Message Center Show, this enhancement is set to reach Desktop, Mac, and Web platforms beginning in late July 2025, with full deployment anticipated by the end of August 2025.

This update aims to make Teams not only more visually appealing but also more practical, particularly for those who manage multiple tenants. By allowing a customized look, users gain a stronger sense of identity and differentiation within their workspace.

How Accent Colors Change the Teams Experience

The core of this technology lies in its ability to modify the look and feel of Microsoft Teams without altering its underlying functionality. Once a user selects an accent color through Settings > Appearance, their choice becomes visible throughout their Teams interface. This includes chat reply bubbles, thread highlights, notification counters, hyperlinks, and participant names.

Importantly, the chosen color remains consistent even when users join other tenants as guests, providing a seamless personal branding experience. However, it's key to note that the accent color selection is device-specific. If a user switches devices, they will need to set their preferred accent color again, which introduces both flexibility and a minor inconvenience for those who frequently move between devices.

Advantages and User Impact

The introduction of accent color options brings several notable benefits. First, it enhances personalization, allowing individuals to tailor their Teams environment to their preferences and visual comfort. This can make distinguishing between active tenants or different workspaces much easier, especially for consultants or users managing multiple accounts.

Moreover, this update does not compromise performance or stability, as it is purely cosmetic. Businesses can adopt the feature without concern that it will disrupt workflows or require additional administrative oversight. Therefore, organizations benefit from a more engaging and individualized platform while avoiding technical complications.

Technical Details and Limitations

Users can access the new color palette via the Settings > Appearance menu within Teams. The ten available colors range from the familiar muted light blue to more vibrant tones such as red, pink, teal, yellow, and gray. These choices are intended to suit a wide range of aesthetic preferences and use cases.

However, there are tradeoffs to consider. While the feature is enabled by default and requires no admin intervention, its device-specific nature means that settings do not sync across computers or mobile devices. This may pose a challenge for users who frequently work on multiple machines, as they must manually adjust their accent color on each device.

Broader Implications and Rollout Timeline

The rollout of accent color personalization is scheduled to begin in late July 2025 and should be available to all users by the end of August 2025. Microsoft has emphasized that no action is needed from IT administrators, as the feature will be enabled automatically for all eligible users.

This development reflects Microsoft’s ongoing commitment to enhancing user engagement and satisfaction by aligning with current expectations for software customization. As digital workplaces become more dynamic, features like these play a crucial role in improving the daily experience for end users, even if the changes are largely aesthetic.

Challenges and Future Considerations

While the accent color feature marks a positive step toward greater personalization, balancing visual customization with usability remains a challenge. Too many color options or inconsistent experiences across devices could potentially confuse users rather than help them. Additionally, as accent colors begin to influence other connected applications, questions arise about the best way to maintain a cohesive visual identity across the broader Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

Despite these challenges, the accent color update stands out as a thoughtful enhancement that respects user individuality while maintaining the reliability and simplicity that organizations expect from Microsoft Teams.

Keywords

Teams accent colors new Teams features Microsoft Teams customization Teams update 365mcs Quick Take MC1115312 enhance Teams experience