Open the Page Setup Menu

To change your document background in Google Docs, start by opening the document you want to edit. Once it's open, look at the top menu bar and click File. A dropdown menu will appear with several options.

From that dropdown, select Page setup. This is the only place in Google Docs where you can change the background color or add a background image — you won't find this option in the Format menu or anywhere else in the interface.

Key Takeaways

  • Background changes in Google Docs are made through File > Page setup, not through the Format menu.
  • You can choose a solid color background or upload an image file from your computer, Google Drive, or the web.
  • Background colors and images appear on the screen but do not print unless you change your printer settings.
  • If you share the document, collaborators will see the same background you set, but they cannot change it unless you give them editing permission.

Choose a Solid Color Background

When the Page setup window opens, you'll see a section labeled Color on the left side. Click the color square next to it to open the color picker. A palette of preset colors will appear, or you can click the plus sign to enter a custom color using a hex code if you know one.

Select the color you want and click OK at the bottom of the color picker. Then click OK again in the Page setup window to explore the background to your entire document. The background will fill the entire page behind your text.

Upload an Image as Your Background

Instead of a solid color, you can use an image. In the Page setup window, look for the section labeled Image. Click the Upload button to choose a file from your computer, or click Google Drive to pick an image you've already stored there.

If you choose Upload, a file browser will open. Navigate to the image file you want and click it to select it. The image will be placed as your background. If the image is smaller than your page, Google Docs will tile it (repeat it across the page). If it's larger, it will be scaled to fit.

You can also click Search the web to find an image online, though you should only use images you have permission to use. Once you've selected your image, click OK to explore it.

Adjust Image Opacity

If you've uploaded an image, you may find it makes your text hard to read. Google Docs lets you make the image lighter by adjusting its opacity — this means how transparent or see-through it is. In the Page setup window, you'll see a slider labeled Opacity below the image section.

Drag the slider to the left to make the image more transparent (lighter), or to the right to make it more opaque (darker). A lower opacity setting will let your text show through more clearly. Click OK when you're satisfied with how it looks.

Remove or Change Your Background

To remove a background entirely, go back to File > Page setup. If you have a color background, click the color square and select the white color from the palette, then click OK twice. If you have an image background, click the X button next to the image preview to delete it, then click OK.

To switch from one background to another, straightforward follow the same steps you used to set the first one. You can change your background as many times as you want — there's no limit to how many times you can open Page setup and make adjustments.

What Happens When You Print or Share

By default, backgrounds do not print when you print your document. If you want the background to print, you'll need to change your printer settings. On most computers, when you click File > Print, you'll see an option that says something like Background graphics or Print backgrounds. Check that box before you print.

When you share your document with others, they will see the same background you set. However, only people with editing permission can change the background themselves. If someone has view-only access, they can see the background but cannot modify it. The background is part of the document, so it travels with the file wherever it goes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use different backgrounds on different pages?

No. Google Docs applies the same background to every page in your document. If you need different backgrounds on different pages, you would need to create separate documents and combine them later, or use a different tool like Google Slides.

Why does my image background look blurry or stretched?

This happens when your image is much smaller or much larger than your page size. Google Docs will scale the image to fit the page, which can distort it. For best results, use an image that's close to the size of a standard page (8.5 by 11 inches for a letter-size document).

Can I make the background transparent so it doesn't show at all?

Not with a solid color — you'd need to set it to white or remove it entirely. With an image, you can drag the opacity slider all the way to the left to make it nearly invisible, but you cannot make it completely transparent while keeping an image assigned.

Does the background show up in PDF exports?

Yes. When you export your document as a PDF, the background will be included in the PDF file. This is true whether you have a color or image background. The PDF will look the same as your document appears on screen.

What image formats does Google Docs accept?

Google Docs accepts common image formats including JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. If you have an image in a different format, you can usually convert it using free online tools before uploading it to Google Docs.