Microsoft 365 Gets New Icons: Microsoft is rolling out redesigned icons for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps in 2025, marking the first major visual refresh since 2018. The new design embraces fluid shapes, vibrant colors, and Microsoft’s Fluent design language, creating a more modern and intuitive visual experience across desktop, web, and mobile platforms.
Curves Replace Angular Edges
The new icons abandon static, angular designs for soft, flowing shapes. Microsoft describes the aesthetic as “fluid forms” with “vibrant colours”—Word remains blue and Excel stays green, but the shapes now fold, bend, and appear more accessible. The design shift aims for functional clarity, helping users quickly identify which apps belong together and which serve independent purposes.
First leaked on Reddit and in internal builds during spring 2025, the finalized icons represent a significant departure from the flat color areas and rigid geometry that dominated since the 2018 redesign.
| Design Element | Old Icons | New Icons |
|---|---|---|
| Shapes | Angular, static | Curved, fluid |
| Color Approach | Flat, solid | Vibrant, dimensional |
| Design Language | Pre-Fluent | Fluent principles |
| Visual Style | Rigid geometry | Organic, flowing |
| Integration Focus | Standalone apps | System-wide consistency |
Two Decades of Visual Evolution
Microsoft published a timeline showcasing Office icon evolution from 2001 to 2025. The 2001 icons featured angular shapes, bold colors, and volumetric effects. Subsequent redesigns moved through blocky 3D icons, minimalist flat designs, and now arrive at the organic, flowing shapes characterizing the 2025 refresh.
This latest iteration reflects more than aesthetic preference—it signals Microsoft’s recognition that visual design communicates software philosophy and user experience expectations.
Explore Microsoft 365 updates and discover more tech design insights at Tech2Sports.
Copilot Integration Drives Design
The redesign isn’t purely cosmetic. Microsoft aims to emphasize AI’s role in daily workflows through visual language that reflects Copilot’s deep Office integration. The icons now serve as visual brands for transformed software logic where AI assistance is fundamental rather than supplementary.
This design philosophy recognizes that user interface elements communicate product identity and capability. As Copilot becomes central to Office experiences, icons needed updating to reflect this fundamental shift in how people interact with productivity tools.
Phased Rollout Continues
The new icons are appearing in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, though not universally yet. Depending on app version, geographic region, and update channel, many users still see the old design. Microsoft is implementing changes gradually across web, desktop, and mobile platforms to ensure smooth transitions without disrupting workflows.
This phased approach allows Microsoft to gather feedback, address compatibility issues, and refine implementations before full deployment. Users can expect complete rollout throughout late 2025 and early 2026 as updates propagate through various channels.
The redesign represents Microsoft’s commitment to visual consistency and modern design principles while acknowledging that Office tools remain productivity cornerstones for billions of users worldwide.
FAQs
When will all Microsoft 365 apps get the new icons?
Microsoft is rolling out new icons gradually through late 2025 and into 2026 across web, desktop, and mobile platforms.
Do the new icons change how Microsoft 365 apps function?
No, the redesign is visual only—app functionality remains unchanged, though icons reflect deeper Copilot AI integration.
