Office Insiders can try out the mica blur effect in Microsoft Word on Windows 11
Microsoft is gradually rolling out the mica blur effect for Word to Beta Channel Office Insiders.
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What you need to know
Microsoft’s mica blur effect is one step closer to rolling out in Microsoft Word. Mica is the new blur effect available inWindows 11. An Office Insider in the Beta Channel spotted the new style of blurring in Microsoft Word andshared a screenshot on Reddit.
Mica is an effect similar to the acrylic blur, but it’s less resource-intensive because it samples from a PC’s wallpaper rather than any apps behind an active window. The effect is seen on several apps on Windows 11, including the File Explorer and the Settings app.
Here’s Microsoft’s description of mica from asupport document(emphasis added):
Mica is an opaque, dynamic material that incorporates theme and desktop wallpaper to paint the background of long-lived windows such as apps and settings. You can apply mica to your application backdrop to delight users and create visual hierarchy, aiding productivity, by increasing clarity about which window is in focus. Mica is specifically designed for app performance as it only samples the desktop wallpaper once to create its visualization.
It appears that the mica effect is rolling out gradually, even to Insiders. Some Insiders have not seen it even after receiving the most recent update to Word.
If you’d like to check out the mica blur in Word and other preview features in Office, follow our guide onhow to enroll in the Office Insider program.
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Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He’s covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean’s journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.
