To change the background color of a Google Doc, click File > Page setup, open the Page color menu, choose a color, and click OK. The whole document background changes for everyone who opens it. To change the color of the text instead, select it and use the Text color button (the underlined A) in the toolbar.
Quick Answer
File > Page setup > Page color > pick a color > OK.
Change the Page Color
- Open the document on a computer.
- Click File > Page setup.
- Click the Page color box and choose a color, or click Custom to enter a hex code.
- Click OK. To use this color for all new documents, click Set as default first.
This works in both the Pages and Pageless formats.
Other Color Changes
| What to color | How |
|---|---|
| Text | Select text > Text color (A) |
| Highlight behind text | Select text > Highlight color (marker) |
| A paragraph’s background | Format > Paragraph styles > Borders and shading > Background color |
| Table cells | Click a cell > Table properties > Cell background color |
| Header area | See changing header color in Google Docs |
If menus disappear, see how to get the toolbar back.
Troubleshooting
- Color doesn’t print: Some printers and print settings skip backgrounds. Check your print dialog, or download as PDF first.
- Text hard to read: Use light page colors with dark text, or the reverse.
- Want dark mode, not a colored page? Dark mode is available in the mobile app (Settings > Theme); on a computer, use your browser or system dark mode.
- Layering images too? See overlaying pictures in Google Docs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change page color in the phone app?
Yes, on most versions: tap ⋮ > Page setup > Page color.
Does page color carry over when I download as Word?
Generally yes; check the file after downloading.
Summary
- File > Page setup.
- Choose a Page color.
- Click OK, or Set as default for new docs.
- Use Text color for text instead.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.