Microsoft Office Apps Are Getting New Icons

The icons for all of Microsoft’s 365 apps are getting a fresh coat of paint, and it’s a subtle but significant change that makes me uncomfortable to look at. This isn’t just about making the apps look a little prettier; it’s a reflection of how Copilot and AI are invading the apps.

The core 10 Office apps haven’t seen a major icon redesign since 2018, and I’d argue that they didn’t make me feel this weird when they changed. The previous redesign focused on a connected look across devices and platforms, so you’d think of them as one of many apps, instead of individual apps.

The new designs are meant to look more modern, but not in a square, flat, and simple way that we keep seeing from companies. Instead, it took the design and made it look more 3D and changed the color. For example, the Word icon used to have four horizontal bars, but the new version only uses three, which shows how much creativity went into this.

The fluid shapes are the key feature, moving away from the old bold, solid forms. I’m glad that the sharp edges are out and are replaced by smooth folds and curves. I am sure some people would think these icons are more approachable and look like they’re in motion in a good way. If you look at how the icons look now and this change, you’ll see an immediate difference.

It is fitting that the primary source of inspiration for changing the core Office icons was the Copilot icon itself. Copilot has been forced on users and integrated itself into Microsoft 365. It makes sense that Windows would force it onto the look as well.

I do like that the color palette is now a lot more colorful. The gradients are no longer subtle; they’re more vibrant and feature exaggerated transitions that somehow manage to look brighter and more dynamic while also improving contrast and accessibility. To me, that’s a great balance, and it makes the icons stand out.

The CVP of Design and Research for Microsoft 365, Jon Friedman, said the new icons they are “gateways to entire experiences.” It makes me happy that I left Windows for Linux because the Word, Note, and Excel changes in particular make me uncomfortable. It could be because the letter icon is so low, or the whole design, but this isn’t something I’d want to see every day. It’s a bit surprising the company didn’t just add a Copilot stamp on the icons and called it a day, as that would match the AI been shoved into these apps.

The new icons will be coming to you across all your devices, like desktop, web, and mobile, in the coming weeks.