Microsoft forces modern design on all model-driven apps from April 2026
Reviewed by Helen Jones
Starting with the 2026 Wave 1 release, Microsoft will make the new Fluent-based look mandatory for every model-driven app. Makers will no longer be able to revert to the classic interface. The change brings a floating command bar, infinite-scroll grid, updated Fluent controls, and limited header color options. Classic theming will stop working except for narrow header overrides. Wave 2 navigation updates stay in preview and require separate opt-in. Dark mode and some older customizations remain unsupported.
Before this change, makers who disliked the default model-driven appearance could keep the classic look or apply limited custom themes. That option disappears in April 2026. The shift removes the last visual safety net for teams that chose model-driven apps for their built-in forms and views. Anyone who already struggles with layout and theming now faces a design system they cannot turn off, while canvas apps remain fully under maker control.
Analysis
If you have any model-driven apps in flight, decide now whether you will accept the enforced Fluent styling or switch the work back to canvas before the deadline. Do the audit this week and document the decision so you are not surprised when the toggle disappears.
Source note
Pulse published by Collab365 Spaces, reviewed by Helen Jones on . Cite as "Microsoft forces modern design on all model-driven apps from April 2026", Collab365 Spaces. 1 source referenced.