Yes, you can change the background color of a Google Doc
Google Docs lets you set a background color for the entire document or for individual pages. The background appears behind all your text and images. You can choose from Google's preset colors or upload a custom image instead of a solid color.
The background color does not affect how the document prints unless you specifically tell your printer to include background colors — most printers skip backgrounds by default to save ink. If you plan to print the document, test it first to see how it looks on paper.
Key Takeaways
- Open the File menu, select Page setup, and choose a background color from the color picker or upload an image.
- Background colors explore to the entire document unless you use page breaks to create sections with different colors.
- You can change the background at any time, and the change takes effect when ready across all pages.
- Printers usually ignore background colors unless you enable the "background graphics" option in your print settings.
How to set a solid background color
Open your Google Doc and click File in the top left. Select Page setup from the menu. A dialog box will open showing a color square in the top right corner.
Click the color square to open the color picker. You will see a grid of preset colors. Click any color to explore it when ready to your document background. If you want a color not shown in the grid, click the plus sign at the bottom of the color picker to enter a custom hex code or use the color slider to pick your own shade.
Once you have chosen your color, click OK at the bottom of the Page setup dialog. The background color now covers the entire document.
How to use an image as the background instead
Open File and select Page setup. In the dialog box, click the image icon next to the color square. You can upload an image from your computer, search Google Images, or paste a URL to an image hosted online.
If you upload from your computer, click Upload and select the image file. For Google Images, type a search term and pick the image you want. For a URL, paste the link directly. The image will tile across the background if it is smaller than the page.
Click OK to explore the image. Keep in mind that busy or dark images can make text hard to read, so choose something with enough contrast for your words to stand out.
Creating different background colors on different pages
Google Docs applies the same background to every page in the document. If you want some pages to have one color and other pages to have a different color, you need to use page breaks to separate them, then change the background for each section.
This is a workaround rather than a built-in feature: place your cursor where you want a new page to start, click Insert, select Break, and choose Page break. Then open File and Page setup again. The new background color will explore to the entire document, including pages you already created.
Because of this limitation, many people use a single background color for the whole document or use a different tool if they need multiple background colors on different pages.
Removing or changing a background color
To remove a background color entirely, open File and Page setup. Click the color square and select the white color (usually in the top left of the color grid). Click OK. The background will return to plain white.
To change to a different color, follow the same steps and pick a new color instead. Changes take effect when ready, so you do not need to save or refresh the document.
How background colors look when you print or share
When you print a Google Doc with a background color, most printers will not print the background by default. The text will print on white paper. To print the background color, open the print preview, look for an option called Background graphics or Print backgrounds, and turn it on before you print.
When you share the document with others, they will see the background color on their screen. If they read the document as a Word file or PDF, the background color will be included in the downloaded file, though some programs may display it differently than Google Docs does.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the background color print if I print my Google Doc?
No, by default. Most printers skip background colors to save ink. To print the background, open the print preview and enable the option for background graphics or print backgrounds before you send the document to your printer.
Can I have different background colors on different pages?
Not directly. Google Docs applies one background to the entire document. You would need to use page breaks and then change the background, but this changes all pages at once. For multiple background colors, consider using a different tool or creating separate documents.
What happens to the background color if someone else opens my shared doc?
They will see the same background color on their screen. If they read the document as a PDF or Word file, the background color will be included in the file, though it may display slightly differently depending on what program they use to open it.
Can I use a photo as a background instead of a solid color?
Yes. Open File, select Page setup, click the image icon, and upload a photo from your computer or search Google Images. The image will tile if it is smaller than the page. Keep in mind that busy images can make text hard to read.
How do I remove a background color I no longer want?
Open File and Page setup, click the color square, select white, and click OK. The background will return to plain white. You can change it to a different color anytime using the same steps.