The quickest way to change your page color back to white

Open your Word document. Go to the Design tab (or Page Layout if you use an older version of Word). Click Page Color in the toolbar. Select White from the color palette, or choose No Color to return to the default. The page will change immediately.

If you cannot find the Design tab, you may be using Word 2010 or earlier. In those versions, go to Page Layout > Page Color instead. The steps are the same from there.

The page color change applies only to the document you have open right now. It does not change the color of other documents or your default template.

Key Takeaways

  • The Design tab (or Page Layout in older Word versions) holds the Page Color button you need to click.
  • Selecting White or No Color from the dropdown will return your page to its standard appearance.
  • Page color changes only affect the current document, not your template or other files.
  • The change takes effect immediately and does not require you to save the document first.
  • If your page still appears dark after selecting white, check whether you have a background image or fill applied instead of a solid color.

Where to find Page Color in different Word versions

Word 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365 all use the Design tab. Open your document, look at the ribbon at the top, and click the word Design. The Page Color button sits near the left side of that tab, usually grouped with other page formatting options.

Word 2013 and Word 2010 use Page Layout instead of Design. The Page Color button is in the same position within that tab. If you see a tab labeled Page Layout but no Design tab, you are using one of these older versions.

Word for Mac (2016 and later) also has a Design tab. The Page Color button works the same way. If you use an older Mac version, look under the Page Layout menu at the top of the screen instead of in a ribbon.

What to do if Page Color is grayed out or missing

If the Page Color button appears grayed out, you may have a table selected or your cursor may be inside a text box. Click somewhere outside any table or box first, then try again. Page Color applies to the whole page, not to individual cells or shapes.

If you cannot find Page Color at all, check whether you are in a special view mode. Switch to Print Layout view by going to the View tab and clicking Print Layout. Page Color only works in Print Layout view, not in Outline or Web Layout view.

Some older versions of Word do not have a Page Color feature. If you are using Word 2007 or earlier and cannot find the option, you can achieve a similar effect by inserting a full-page rectangle shape and filling it with color, though this is more complicated and not recommended.

Choosing a color other than white

When you click Page Color, a palette appears with preset colors. Click any color to apply it to your page. If you want a specific shade, click More Colors at the bottom of the palette. A dialog box opens where you can enter exact color values or pick from a larger spectrum.

Keep in mind that page color is meant for on-screen viewing. If you print the document, most printers will not print the page color — they will print on white paper instead. To include color in a printed document, you need to add a background image or use a colored shape instead.

Removing a background image instead of page color

If your page appears dark but changing the page color to white does not fix it, you may have a background image applied instead. Go to Design > Page Color and look for a dropdown arrow next to it. Click that arrow and select No Fill. If that does not work, the background may be an image inserted as a shape.

To remove a background image, go to Design > Watermark (or Page Layout > Watermark in older versions) and select Remove Watermark. Watermarks are a common way to add background images to Word documents. If the page is still dark after this step, try selecting all content with Ctrl+A and checking whether a shape or image is behind the text.

Saving your changes

Word automatically saves page color changes to your document. You do not need to do anything extra. The next time you open the file, the page will still be white (or whatever color you chose).

If you want to make white the default color for all new documents you create, you can modify your template. Save your current document as a template, then set it as your default. However, this is an advanced step and not necessary for most users. Simply changing the page color in each document as you create it is the standard approach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the page color print when I print my document?

No. Most printers ignore page color and print on white paper. If you need color in your printed output, insert a colored shape or background image instead of using the page color feature. Test print a sample page first to see how it looks.

Can I make different pages different colors in the same document?

Not directly with the Page Color button — that applies to the entire document. To color individual pages, insert a full-page rectangle shape on each page and fill it with the color you want. This is more work but gives you page-by-page control.

I changed the page color but it only affected one section. Why?

Your document may have section breaks. Page Color applies to the current section only if your document is divided into sections. To change all pages, make sure you have not created section breaks, or apply the color change to each section separately.

What if I cannot see the Design tab at all?

You may be in a view mode that hides the ribbon. Click the View tab and select Print Layout. If the ribbon is still hidden, right-click the top of the window and choose to show the ribbon. You should then see all tabs including Design.