How to Change Back­ground Col­or in Google Docs

Google Docs doesn’t make a big deal out of changing your background color—but if you don’t know where to look, it can be frustrating. Whether you’re trying to give your document a splash of personality, make it easier on the eyes, or prep it for printing, here’s how to do it in a few simple steps.

Step-by-Step: Change the Background Color in Google Docs

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on File in the top menu.
3. Scroll down and select Page setup.
4. In the pop-up window, look for the Page color option.
5. Click the dropdown and choose your desired color.
6. Hit OK to apply it.

That’s it—your document now has a new background color.

Want It to Apply to Every New Doc?

If you want every new document to use the same background color:

• Follow the same steps above.
• After choosing your background color, click Set as default in the Page setup window.

Now, every new doc you open will use that color unless you change it again.

Bonus Tip: Background Color for Specific Sections

Google Docs doesn’t let you set different background colors for different sections of a page by default. But there’s a workaround:

• Insert a table (1×1 cell) or a text box using Drawing > New.
• Fill that shape with your chosen background color.
• Type your content inside it.

It’s not perfect, but it works if you just need a colored section or callout.

Wrapping Up

Changing the background color in Google Docs is fast once you know where to go. It’s a small touch that can make a big difference, especially for presentations, printouts, or personalized notes.

Got other Google Docs tricks you want to learn? Drop them in the comments.