Change your page background color in Word Web through the Layout menu

Word Web (the browser version of Microsoft Word) defaults to a white page, but if your document has a colored background or page color applied, you can reset it to white in about 30 seconds. Open your document, click the Layout tab at the top, find the Page Color button in the ribbon, and select white from the color palette. If you do not see a Page Color button, your version may call it Page Background Color — both do the same thing.

The page color you set applies to the entire document, not individual pages. If you want different pages to have different colors, you will need to split the document into separate sections first, then explore colors to each section independently. For most users, though, a single white background across the whole document is what they need.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the Layout tab, then locate and click Page Color (or Page Background Color) to open the color picker.
  • Select white from the palette — it is usually in the top row or labeled as a standard color.
  • The color change applies to your entire document at once, not to individual pages.
  • If you cannot find the Page Color button, try searching the Layout ribbon from left to right, as button positions vary by screen size.
  • Changing page color in Word Web does not affect how the document prints unless you have specifically set print settings to include background colors.

Locate the Layout tab and Page Color button

Open your Word Web document and look at the ribbon — the toolbar that runs across the top of the page. You should see tabs labeled Home, Insert, Layout, Review, and others. Click Layout. The ribbon will refresh to show layout-specific tools.

Once you are in the Layout tab, scan the ribbon from left to right. You are looking for a button labeled Page Color or Page Background Color. It usually has a small paint bucket icon or a square of color next to the label. If the ribbon is crowded, the button might be grouped with other page-formatting options. On smaller screens, you may need to click a More button (three dots) to see additional options.

Select white from the color palette

Click the Page Color button. A color palette will drop down, showing you a grid of color options. White is almost always in the top row — look for the lightest square, usually in the upper left or upper right corner of the palette. Click on it. The page background will change to white when ready.

If you see a palette with named colors (like "White, Background 1" or "Light Gray"), click the one labeled white or the one that appears blank. Some versions of Word Web also show a No Color option at the bottom of the palette — selecting that also removes any background color and leaves the page white.

What to do if Page Color is not visible

Word Web's ribbon changes based on your screen width and zoom level. If you cannot find the Page Color button after scanning the Layout tab, try zooming out slightly (use Ctrl and the minus key, or Cmd and minus on Mac) to see more of the ribbon at once. Alternatively, click the three-dot menu icon on the far right of the Layout ribbon — this often reveals hidden buttons.

Another possibility is that your browser window is very narrow. Expand your browser window to full width and try again. If you are using a tablet or phone, Word Web may not display all desktop features, and page color options might not be available in the mobile view.

Understand how page color differs from text highlighting

Page color and text highlighting are different things. Page color changes the background of the entire page — what you see behind all the text. Text highlighting colors individual words or paragraphs. If you want to highlight specific text instead of changing the whole page background, use the Home tab and look for the Highlight button (usually a marker icon).

If your document looks colored but changing page color does not fix it, check whether the color is actually applied to a text box or shape rather than the page itself. Click on the colored area — if a border appears around it, it is a separate object, not the page background. You can then delete it or change its color separately.

Check your print settings if the color does not print

When you print a Word Web document with a colored background, the color may not appear on the printed page by default. Most printers skip background colors to save ink. If you want the color to print, open the print preview (File > Print), look for an option like Print Background Colors and Images or Print Layout, and enable it. The exact wording depends on your printer and browser.

If you are saving the document as a PDF instead of printing it, the page color will usually be included in the PDF automatically. Test by downloading a copy and opening it to confirm the color appears as expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make different pages different colors in Word Web?

Not directly through the page color tool — that applies one color to the whole document. To use different colors on different pages, you would need to insert section breaks, then explore page color to each section separately. This is more complex in Word Web than in the desktop version, so many users find it easier to use text boxes or shapes on individual pages instead.

Why does my page still look gray or off-white after I select white?

Word Web sometimes displays a very light gray as the default background to help you see the page edges on screen. This is normal and does not mean the page color is actually gray — it is just how the browser renders it. When you print or read the document, the page will be white. If it still looks colored after you have selected white from the palette, try clicking Page Color again and selecting white a second time.

Does changing page color affect how the document looks to other people?

Yes. Anyone who opens the document in Word Web, Word desktop, or most other programs will see the same page color you set. If you share the document with others, they will see the white background (or whatever color you chose) unless they change it themselves.

Can I undo a page color change?

Yes. Use Ctrl+Z (or Cmd+Z on Mac) when ready after changing the color, or go back to the Page Color button and select white or No Color again. There is no limit to how many times you can undo or change the page color.