Open the document and find the page color tool

To change the background color of your Google Docs document, open the file you want to edit. At the top of the page, click the File menu, then select Page setup. A box will appear with several options — the one you need is Page color, shown as a paint bucket icon.

Click on the paint bucket icon to open the color picker. You'll see a grid of preset colors, or you can click the plus sign to enter a custom color code if you know the hex value you want. The color picker will stay open until you close it or select a color.

Key Takeaways

  • Page color is found in File > Page setup, not in the toolbar or formatting menu.
  • The color you choose applies to the entire document, not to individual pages or sections.
  • You can use preset colors or enter a custom hex code for a specific shade.
  • Changing the background color does not affect how the document prints unless you adjust your printer settings.
  • Collaborators will see the same background color you set, and they can change it if they have editing permission.

Choosing from preset colors or creating a custom color

Google Docs offers a row of common colors at the top of the color picker — white, light gray, yellow, orange, red, pink, purple, blue, light blue, green, and light green. Click any of these to apply it immediately to your document background.

If none of the presets match what you want, look for the custom option (usually shown as a plus sign or labeled "Custom"). Click it to enter a hex color code. You can also use the color slider to adjust brightness and saturation if you prefer to build the color visually rather than type a code. Once you've selected or entered your color, click the checkmark or confirmation button to apply it.

Understanding what changes and what stays the same

The background color applies to every page in your document. You cannot set different colors for different pages or sections — the entire document will have one background color from start to finish.

The text color and formatting remain unchanged. If your text was black before, it stays black after you change the background. If you need to adjust text color for readability (for example, if you choose a dark background), you'll need to select the text and change its color separately using the text color tool in the toolbar. This gives you full control over the contrast between your text and the page background.

How background color affects printing

By default, Google Docs will not print the background color. When you print or download the document as a PDF, the page will appear white unless you change your printer settings. This is a built-in safety feature to save ink and toner.

To print the background color, open the print dialog by going to File > Print, then look for an option called Background graphics or Background colors and images. Check that box before you print. The exact name and location of this setting depends on your printer and browser, but most modern printers have it somewhere in the advanced options.

Removing or changing the background color later

To remove the background color and return to white, go back to File > Page setup, click the paint bucket icon, and select white from the preset colors. You can change the color as many times as you want — there's no limit to how often you can edit it.

If you're working in a shared document, anyone with editing permission can change the background color. The change will be visible to all collaborators immediately. If you want to prevent others from changing it, you'll need to restrict editing permissions through the Share settings by changing who has editor access.

Troubleshooting: the background color won't change

If you've clicked the color but the background hasn't changed, refresh the page. Sometimes the change takes a moment to load, especially if you're working on a slower connection or if the document is very large.

If the color still hasn't changed after refreshing, check whether you're in Suggesting mode rather than Editing mode. In Suggesting mode, your changes appear as suggestions and don't take effect until someone approves them. Look at the top right of the document — if you see a pencil icon with a checkmark, click it and select Editing to switch modes and make your change permanent.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a background image instead of a solid color?

Google Docs does not support background images through the Page setup menu. You can only set a solid color. If you need an image background, you could insert an image on the first page and position it behind the text, but this is a workaround and doesn't apply to the whole document the way a page color does.

Will my collaborators see the background color I set?

Yes. Everyone viewing or editing the document will see the background color you chose. If someone else with editing permission changes it, you'll see their color instead.

Does the background color show up in the Google Docs mobile app?

Yes, the background color appears on both the web version and the mobile app. You can change it from either platform, and the change syncs across all devices immediately.

What if I want different background colors for different sections?

Google Docs doesn't allow section-specific background colors. The color applies to the entire document. If you need different colors for different parts, you could create separate documents and link them, or use text highlighting on individual paragraphs as an alternative.