What "changing your Google background" means
When you change your Google background, you are customizing the image that appears behind the search box and shortcuts on your Google homepage — the page you see when you open a new tab or go to google.com. This background is sometimes called the "homepage image" or "wallpaper." The change only affects what you see on your own device; it does not change what other people see when they use Google on their devices.
Google offers a set of built-in images you can choose from, or you can upload a photo from your computer or phone. The process takes less than a minute and can be undone at any time by resetting to Google's default background.
Key Takeaways
- You can change your Google homepage background by clicking the pencil icon in the bottom right corner of the Google homepage, then selecting a new image from Google's library or uploading your own photo.
- The background change only appears on the device and browser where you made it — if you use Chrome on your phone and Firefox on your computer, each will have its own background.
- If you are signed into a Google account, your background preference may sync across devices using the same browser, but only if you have sync turned on in your browser settings.
- You can remove a custom background at any time by clicking the pencil icon again and selecting "Remove" or "Reset to default."
How to change your background on a computer
Open Google.com or a new tab in Chrome. Look at the bottom right corner of the page — you will see a small pencil icon. Click it. A menu will appear with options to customize your homepage.
Select "Change background image" or "Background." Google will show you a gallery of images organized by category: landscapes, abstract, textures, and others. Click any image to preview it, then click "Select" to explore it. If you want to use your own photo instead, look for an "Upload from computer" or "Upload an image" option, click it, and choose a file from your device.
Once you have selected an image, close the customization menu by clicking elsewhere on the page or pressing Escape. Your new background is now active.
How to change your background on a phone or tablet
The process on mobile devices is similar but the menu location differs slightly depending on whether you are using the Google app or the mobile browser. If you are using the Google app (the standalone app on your phone, not just the browser), tap the profile icon or settings icon in the bottom right or top right corner. Look for "Customization" or "Homepage settings," then tap "Background image."
If you are using the mobile browser instead, go to google.com, scroll down to the bottom of the page, and tap "Settings." Select "Customization" or "Homepage," then "Background image." From there, choose from Google's gallery or tap "Upload" to use a photo from your phone's camera roll or files.
When your background syncs across devices and when it does not
If you are signed into the same Google account and using the same browser (like Chrome on both your phone and computer), your background preference may automatically sync across those devices. This happens only if you have enabled sync in your browser settings. To check if sync is on, open your browser settings, find the "Sync" or "Sync and Google services" section, and confirm that it is turned on.
However, if you use different browsers — Chrome on your phone and Firefox on your computer, for example — each browser will have its own separate background setting. The background you set in Chrome will not appear in Firefox, even if you are signed into the same Google account. Similarly, if you are not signed into a Google account at all, your background choice will only be stored on that specific device and browser.
Uploading your own photo as a background
To use a personal photo as your Google background, click the pencil icon on the Google homepage and select the upload option. On a computer, you can usually drag and drop an image directly into the upload area, or click to browse your files. On a phone, tap "Upload" and select a photo from your camera roll or file manager.
Google accepts common image formats: JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP. The image should be at least 800 pixels wide for best results, though smaller images will still work. Once uploaded, the image will appear as your background when ready. You can change it again at any time using the same process.
Removing or resetting your background
To go back to Google's default background, click the pencil icon on the Google homepage and look for a "Remove," "Reset," or "Default" option. Click it, and your background will return to Google's standard design. This works the same way on computers and phones.
If you have synced your background across devices and want to remove it from all of them, reset it on one device while signed into your Google account with sync enabled. The change should sync to your other devices within a few minutes. If it does not, manually reset the background on each device separately.
Troubleshooting: background changes are not showing up
If you changed your background but it is not appearing, try refreshing the page by pressing F5 on a computer or swiping down on a phone. If the background still does not show, clear your browser cache. On Chrome, go to Settings, select "Privacy and security," click "Clear browsing data," check "Cached images and files," and click "Clear data."
If you are using a work or school Google account, your administrator may have restricted the ability to customize the homepage. In that case, the pencil icon may not appear at all, or the customization options may be limited. Contact your IT department or account administrator if you believe this is the case.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will other people see my custom background when I share my screen?
Yes, if you share your screen during a video call or screen share, other people will see your custom background. If you want to hide it, you can use your video call app's "blur background" or "virtual background" feature instead, which is separate from your Google homepage background.
Can I schedule my background to change automatically?
Google's built-in background feature does not have a scheduling option. However, if you use Chrome, some third-party extensions allow you to rotate through multiple images on a timer. Search the Chrome Web Store for "background rotator" to explore these options.
Does changing my Google background affect my search results or privacy?
No. Your background is purely visual and does not change how Google searches work or what data Google collects. It is stored locally on your device and in your Google account settings, just like any other preference.
What if the pencil icon is not showing on my Google homepage?
The pencil icon may not appear if you are using an older browser, if JavaScript is disabled, or if you are on a restricted account. Try updating your browser to the latest version. If you are on a work or school account, your administrator may have disabled customization.
Can I use any image as my background, or are there restrictions?
You can use any image file from your device. Google does not restrict the content of personal uploads. However, if you are using a work or school account, your administrator may have set restrictions on what types of images are allowed.