Here’s the issue I’m facing with Microsoft Excel on my Mac:
When the Excel app window is small, the top bar (the one with Save, Undo, Save As, Search, etc.) appears in green, and everything is clearly visible.
But when I maximize the Excel window, the same top bar turns white, and the icons/text become almost invisible because there’s no contrast. This problem started recently, it wasn’t happening before.
MacBook Air 13″, macOS 26.1
After testing on my Ver 16.103, I have found that if you have dark mode turned off (in Excel Settings), this happens.
If you enable dark mode, it doesn't appear to do the same thing. Perhaps a bug? Or perhaps a feature?
Bugs can be reported to Apple here:
There’s a feedback link in the help menu of MS apps (it requires enabling ‘connected experiences’, so I don’t use it personally).
What’s the best way to make sure this issue gets noticed by either Apple or Microsoft? I want to escalate it so it can be fixed as soon as possible. Who should I reach out to, and what’s the most effective approach? I’m sure others might be facing the same problem too.
It probably is. It's cat & mouse catch-up. Apple modifies its code and 3rd party developers have to modify theirs to maintain compatibility. Sometimes 3rd party developers don't quite keep up. So, technically, it could be said that both are at fault.
Curious to know your thoughts: with both macOS and Microsoft releasing major updates recently, does this look like an issue from one side, or could the combination of both updates be causing the problem?
This is what I see when NOT in full screen mode. And I see the same as the OP in Full screen mode.
Sorry, still not seeing the issue and not sure what I'm missing. You mention 'mouse up to see the black background menu Baar, so I turned on the setting to automatically hide the menu bar. Still, in full screen light mode I can see the buttons that the OP cannot:
The only notable difference that I see is my AutoSave toggle is gray instead of the OP's green, which I suspect is because I do not have Microsoft's online features enabled in Word's privacy settings (indicated by the message that says that if I try to enable the toggle).
Based on more testing, I'm going to label this a bug. Twice now, after closing Excel then re-opening a spreadsheet (Not in maximized view) I found the top bar white or gray. The moment I clicked Excel 'Preferences' the menu bar immediately turned green.
So do I. Both in Safemode as well as in normal boot mode as I have now tested.
@neuroanatomist Your example above appears to me to be showing the same problem in light mode. Where the Green color menu is missing and is white (in the area where you show Autosave). Until you mouse up to see the black background menu bar.
Yes, I have the same excel version.
There is no issue in dark mode. When my os mode is in light, it is causing this issue
If they’re calling this a “feature,” it’s a pretty poorly thought-out on
Yes 26.1
There is no issue in the dark mode. I face this in light mode.
Yes. Running Tahoe 26.1. I suppose I could try it in safemode to see if perhaps it's something the OP and myself might have installed that is getting in the way if I get the time. Otherwise maybe the OP could try that to test.
My screenshot below is in Light theme (System Settings > Appearance; I usually use Dark theme but changed it because the OP’s screenshot is Light). I don’t see the issue. Are you referring to another ‘dark mode’ setting? There have been multiple graphical bugs in Tahoe, are you running 26.1?
After testing on my Ver 16.103, I have found that if you have dark mode turned off (in Excel Settings), this happens.
If you enable dark mode, it doesn't appear to do the same thing. Perhaps a bug? Or perhaps a feature?
Are you running the current version of MS Excel (16.103)?
I cannot replicate that issue with the current Excel and macOS 26.1.
Microsoft Excel top bar loses contrast when maximized
