How to Change the Background Page Color in Google Docs

By default, every new document you create in Google Docs starts as a stark, bright white page, mimicking a standard piece of physical printer paper. While this is perfect for traditional essays and corporate reports, there are times when you might want a different aesthetic. Perhaps you are creating a digital flyer, a stylized resume, or simply want a softer background color, like dark grey or sepia, to reduce eye strain while writing a long novel. Google Docs allows you to completely change the underlying page color with just a few clicks.

How to Change the Page Color

The setting to change the background color is tucked away in the main document formatting menu.

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Look at the main menu bar at the very top of the screen and click on File.
3. In the dropdown menu that appears, scroll down near the bottom and click on Page setup.
4. A new “Page setup” dialogue box will appear in the center of your screen.
5. In the bottom left corner of this box, look for the section labelled Page color.
6. Click the small circle showing the current color (which is likely white).
7. A color palette will open. You can select one of the predefined colors by clicking it.
8. If you want a specific custom color (perhaps to match a corporate brand or school color), click the “+” (Plus) icon under the “Custom” heading. This allows you to use a color picker tool or enter a specific hex color code (e.g., #FF5733).
9. Once you have selected your desired color, click the blue OK button at the bottom of the dialogue box.

Your entire document, including all pages, will instantly change to the new background color.

Important Considerations Before Changing Page Color

While changing the page color is easy, there are a few important things to keep in mind regarding how Google Docs handles this feature:

• It Affects the Whole Document: You cannot currently change the color of just one specific page. The setting applies universally to every page within that single Google Doc.
• Printing Issues: If you intend to physically print the document, be cautious. Changing the page color will instruct your printer to physically print that color across the entire sheet of paper. Printing a document with a dark blue background will consume a massive amount of printer ink.
• Text Contrast: If you change the background to a dark color, remember that your text defaults to black. You will need to manually highlight your text and change the font color to white or a light shade so it remains readable against the new dark background.