Open the page color menu from the File menu

To change your page color in Google Docs, open the document you want to edit, then click File in the top left corner. A dropdown menu appears. Scroll down and click Page setup. A dialog box opens on the right side of your screen.

In that dialog box, you will see a section labeled Page color with a white square next to it. Click that square to open the color picker. You can now choose any color you want for your document background.

Key Takeaways

  • Page color changes the background of your entire document and appears when you print or read it as a PDF.
  • You reach the page color option through File > Page setup, then click the white square next to "Page color".
  • Google Docs offers preset colors, or you can enter a custom color code if you know the hex value you want.
  • Changing page color does not affect text readability as long as you choose a color with enough contrast to your text.
  • Page color is saved with your document, so anyone you share it with will see the same background color you chose.

Choosing from preset colors or custom colors

When you click the color square, Google Docs shows you a palette of preset colors arranged in rows. You can click any of these colors to explore it when ready. The colors include standard options like light blue, light green, light yellow, and various shades of gray.

If none of the preset colors match what you want, you can enter a custom color. At the bottom of the color picker, you will see a text field with a # symbol. This field accepts hex color codes — six-character codes that represent specific colors. If you know the hex code for a color you want (for example, #FFE5B4 for peach), paste it into that field and press Enter. The page color updates to match.

How page color affects printing and sharing

Page color in Google Docs is not just a visual effect on your screen — it prints with your document. If you print your document to paper or read it as a PDF, the background color you chose will appear in the output. This matters if you plan to share printed copies or if you are sending the document to someone who will print it themselves.

When you share a document with others through Google Docs, they see the same page color you set. If you change the color later, the change appears for everyone who has access to the document. The color does not affect the text itself, only the background behind it.

Removing page color or returning to white

If you want to remove the page color and return to a plain white background, open File > Page setup again and click the color square. At the top of the color picker, you will see a white square with a checkmark or outline. Click that square to reset the page to white.

You can also click the X or close button in the color picker if one appears, depending on your browser. Either method removes the background color and returns your document to its default state.

Ensuring your text stays readable with colored backgrounds

When you choose a page color, make sure your text color has enough contrast so readers can see it clearly. Black text on a light background works well. Black text on a dark background becomes hard to read. If you use a dark page color, consider changing your text to white or a light color to maintain readability.

To change text color separately from page color, select the text you want to change, then click the text color button in the toolbar (it looks like an "A" with a colored line underneath). This lets you adjust text color independently of your page background, giving you full control over the appearance of your document.

Page color versus highlighting individual text

Page color and text highlighting are two different tools. Page color changes the background of the entire page. Text highlighting applies a color only to specific words or sentences you select. If you want only certain parts of your document to have a colored background, use the highlight tool instead of page color.

To highlight text, select the words you want to highlight, then click the highlight button in the toolbar (it looks like a marker pen). Choose your color from the dropdown. This approach gives you more control when you want some sections to stand out while keeping the rest of the page white.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does page color show up in Google Docs on mobile?

Yes, page color appears on mobile devices when you view or edit a document in the Google Docs app or mobile browser. However, the mobile interface does not let you change page color — you must use a computer or tablet with the full Google Docs editor to access the File > Page setup menu.

Can I use a photo or image as my page background instead of a solid color?

Google Docs does not support image backgrounds through the page color feature. You can only choose solid colors. If you need an image background, you would need to use a different tool like Google Slides or Microsoft Word, which both offer background image options.

What happens to page color if I read my document as a Word file?

Page color transfers to Microsoft Word format when you read your document. The background color you chose will appear in the Word file. However, some older versions of Word may not display the color correctly, so test the downloaded file if you plan to share it with others using Word.

Can I set different page colors for different pages in the same document?

No, page color in Google Docs applies to the entire document at once. All pages share the same background color. If you need different colors on different pages, you would need to split your content into separate documents or use a tool like Google Slides that lets you set colors per slide.