How to Change Background Color on Google Docs Step-by-Step Guide

Google Docs is a popular online word processing tool that allows users to create and edit documents. While Google Docs offers a wide range of features, one feature that many users may not be aware of is the ability to change the background color of a document. This can be a useful feature when creating documents for different purposes or to add a personal touch to your work.

Changing the background color on Google Docs is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. In this step-by-step guide, we will walk you through the process of changing the background color on Google Docs, so you can customize your documents to your liking.

To change the background color on Google Docs, you will first need to open the document you want to edit. Once you have the document open, click on the “File” tab in the top left corner of the screen. From the drop-down menu, select “Page setup.” This will open a new window with a range of options for customizing your document.

In the “Page setup” window, you will see a section labeled “Page color.” Click on the color palette icon next to this section to open the color picker. Here, you can choose from a wide range of colors or enter a specific color code if you have one in mind. Once you have selected your desired background color, click “OK” to apply the changes.

After clicking “OK,” you will be taken back to the main document screen, and you will see that the background color of your document has changed. You can now continue editing your document with the new background color. If you decide you want to change the background color again in the future, simply follow these same steps to access the “Page setup” window and make your desired changes.

What is Google Docs?

Google Docs is a free web-based application provided by Google that allows users to create, edit, and store documents online. It is part of the Google Drive suite of productivity tools and can be accessed through a web browser or mobile app.

With Google Docs, users can create various types of documents, including text documents, spreadsheets, presentations, forms, and drawings. These documents can be easily shared with others, allowing for real-time collaboration and editing.

One of the key features of Google Docs is its ability to save documents automatically to the cloud, eliminating the need for manual saving. This ensures that users never lose their work and can access their documents from any device with an internet connection.

Google Docs also offers a range of formatting and editing tools, allowing users to customize the appearance of their documents. This includes the ability to change the background color, font style, and size, as well as add images, tables, and hyperlinks.

Overall, Google Docs is a versatile and user-friendly tool that provides a convenient way to create and collaborate on documents online. Whether you’re working on a school project, business report, or personal document, Google Docs offers a reliable and accessible platform for all your document needs.

Why Change Background Color?

Changing the background color in Google Docs can be a useful way to enhance the visual appeal of your documents, make them easier to read, or match them with a specific theme or branding. By changing the background color, you can create a more engaging and professional-looking document.

Here are a few reasons why you might want to change the background color in Google Docs:

• Visual appeal: Changing the background color can help make your document more visually appealing and stand out from others. It allows you to add a personal touch and make your document more unique.
• Readability: By choosing a background color that contrasts well with the text color, you can improve the readability of your document. This is particularly important if you have a lot of text or if you want to make sure your document is accessible to people with visual impairments.
• Theming: Changing the background color can help you match your document with a specific theme or branding. Whether you want to create a professional-looking report or a fun and colorful presentation, changing the background color can help you achieve the desired look and feel.

Overall, changing the background color in Google Docs is a simple yet effective way to make your documents more visually appealing, readable, and aligned with your desired theme or branding.

Step 1: Accessing Google Docs

To change the background color on Google Docs, you will need to access the Google Docs website. Here are the steps to access Google Docs:

1. Open a web browser and go to the Google homepage.
2. In the search bar, type “Google Docs” and press Enter.
3. Click on the first search result, which should be the official Google Docs website.
4. If you are not already signed in to your Google account, click on the “Sign In” button at the top right corner of the page and enter your login credentials.
5. Once signed in, you will be redirected to the Google Docs homepage.

Now that you have accessed Google Docs, you can proceed to the next step to learn how to change the background color.

Creating a New Document

Creating a new document in Google Docs is a simple process that allows you to start working on a blank canvas. Follow the steps below to create a new document:

1. Open Google Docs by visiting the Google Docs website and signing in to your Google account.
2. Once you are signed in, click on the “Blank” template to create a new document with no pre-existing content.
3. A new blank document will open, with a white background, ready for you to start typing and formatting your content.
4. Use the toolbar at the top of the page to customize the appearance of your document, including font styles, sizes, colors, and more.
5. To change the background color of your document, click on the “File” tab in the menu bar, then select “Page setup”.
6. In the “Page setup” dialog box, click on the “Page color” dropdown menu and select the desired background color for your document.
7. Once you have selected the background color, click “OK” to apply the changes.

By following these steps, you can easily create a new document in Google Docs and customize its background color to suit your preferences.

Opening an Existing Document

To change the background color of a document in Google Docs, you first need to open the document you want to edit. Here are the steps to open an existing document:

1. Go to docs.google.com in your web browser.
2. Sign in to your Google account if you haven’t already.
3. Click on the document you want to open from the list of documents.

If you have a lot of documents and can’t find the one you’re looking for, you can use the search bar at the top of the page to search for the document by its title or keywords.

Once you have opened the document, you can proceed to change the background color by following the steps outlined in the rest of this guide.

Step 2: Formatting Options

Once you have opened your Google Docs document, you can start formatting the background color. Here are the different options you can choose from:

• Default Color: This is the default background color of your document. It is usually white, but you can change it to any color you prefer.
• Custom Color: If you want to use a specific color for the background, you can select the “Custom” option. This will open a color picker where you can choose any color you like.
• Image: If you want to use an image as the background of your document, you can select the “Image” option. This will allow you to upload an image from your computer or choose one from Google Drive.

To access these formatting options, you need to go to the “Format” menu at the top of the Google Docs interface. From there, select “Page Color” and choose the option that suits your needs.

It’s important to note that the background color or image you choose will apply to the entire document. If you want to change the background color of a specific section or paragraph, you can use the “Highlight” option instead.

Now that you know the different formatting options for the background color in Google Docs, you can proceed to the next step and start customizing the look of your document.

Accessing the Format Menu

To change the background color in Google Docs, you need to access the Format menu. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open your document in Google Docs.
2. Click on the “Format” tab in the top menu.
3. A dropdown menu will appear. Scroll down and select the “Document” option.
4. A sidebar will open on the right side of the screen with various formatting options.
5. Scroll down in the sidebar until you find the “Page background” section.
6. Click on the color swatch next to “Page background” to open the color picker.
7. A color palette will appear. You can choose a color from the palette or enter a specific color code in the text box.
8. Once you have selected the desired background color, click “Apply” to save the changes.

By following these steps, you can easily change the background color of your Google Docs document to suit your preferences or match your branding.

Selecting the Page Background

To change the background color of your Google Docs document, you can follow these steps:

1. Open the Google Docs document you want to edit.
2. Click on the “Format” tab in the menu bar.
3. Select “Page Color” from the dropdown menu.
4. A color palette will appear, allowing you to choose a background color.
5. Click on the desired color to apply it as the background color of your document.
6. If you want to use a custom color, click on “Custom” at the bottom of the color palette.
7. Enter the hexadecimal code or select a color from the custom color picker.
8. Click “OK” to apply the custom color as the background color of your document.

You can also remove the background color by selecting “Page Color” from the “Format” tab and choosing “No Color” from the color palette.

Changing the background color of your Google Docs document can help you personalize it and make it more visually appealing. Whether you want to use a standard color or a custom one, the process is simple and allows you to create documents that stand out.

Step 3: Choosing a Background Color

Once you have opened your Google Docs document, you can easily change the background color to give it a more personalized touch. Here’s how you can choose a background color:

1. Click on the “Format” tab at the top of the page.
2. From the drop-down menu, select “Page Color.”
3. A color palette will appear, showing a range of colors you can choose from.
4. Hover your mouse over the colors to see a preview of how they will look as the background color.
5. Click on the color you want to use as the background for your document.

Note: If you want to use a custom color, click on “Custom” at the bottom of the color palette. This will open a color picker where you can enter the exact color code or choose a color from the spectrum.

Tip: Experiment with different background colors to find the one that suits your document best. Keep in mind that choosing a light color may make the text harder to read, so make sure the contrast is sufficient.

Changing the background color of your Google Docs document can help make it more visually appealing and easier to read. It’s a simple yet effective way to customize your document and make it stand out.

Using the Color Palette

Changing the background color in Google Docs is a simple process that can be done using the color palette. The color palette provides a wide range of colors to choose from, allowing you to customize the background of your document to your liking.

To change the background color using the color palette, follow these steps:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Select the portion of the document where you want to change the background color. This can be a single word, a sentence, a paragraph, or the entire document.
3. Click on the “Format” tab in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
4. In the dropdown menu, click on “Paragraph styles” and then select “Background” from the options.
5. A color palette will appear, showing a variety of colors to choose from.
6. Click on the color you want to use as the background color for the selected portion of the document.
7. The background color will change immediately, reflecting the color you selected from the palette.

It’s important to note that changing the background color using the color palette will only affect the selected portion of the document. If you want to change the background color for the entire document, make sure to select the entire document before following the steps above.

Using the color palette in Google Docs is a quick and easy way to customize the background color of your document. Whether you want to make your document stand out or simply prefer a different background color, the color palette provides a range of options to choose from.

Entering a Custom Color Code

If you want to use a specific color that is not available in the default color palette of Google Docs, you can enter a custom color code. This allows you to use any color you desire by specifying its hexadecimal code.

Follow these steps to enter a custom color code:

1. Select the text or object whose background color you want to change.
2. Click on the “Format” menu at the top of the screen.
3. Hover over the “Text” or “Paragraph” option, depending on whether you want to change the background color of text or a paragraph.
4. A sub-menu will appear. Click on the “Background” option.
5. A color palette will appear. At the bottom of the palette, click on the “Custom” option.
6. A dialog box will open, allowing you to enter a custom color code.
7. Enter the hexadecimal code for the color you want to use. The code should start with a “#” symbol followed by a combination of six letters or numbers.
8. Click “Apply” to change the background color to the custom color code you entered.

Once you have entered a custom color code, Google Docs will remember it and add it to the color palette for future use. This allows you to easily access and apply the custom color to other elements in your document.

Using custom color codes gives you the flexibility to create a unique and personalized look for your Google Docs. Whether you want to match your branding or simply prefer a specific shade, entering a custom color code allows you to have full control over the background color of your text and paragraphs.

Hexadecimal Code	Color
#FF0000	Red
#00FF00	Green
#0000FF	Blue

Experiment with different color codes to find the perfect background color for your Google Docs. You can also use online color pickers and generators to help you choose and generate custom color codes.

Note: Keep in mind that the custom color code feature is available in Google Docs, but may not be available in other Google Workspace applications or in other word processing software.

Step 4: Applying the Background Color

Now that you have chosen the desired background color for your Google Docs document, it’s time to apply it. Follow the steps below to change the background color:

1. Open your Google Docs document.
2. Select the portion of the document where you want to apply the background color. This can be a single word, a sentence, a paragraph, or the entire document.
3. Click on the “Format” tab at the top of the screen.
4. In the dropdown menu that appears, click on “Paragraph styles”.
5. A sidebar will open on the right side of the screen. Click on the “Text” tab.
6. Scroll down until you find the “Background color” section.
7. Click on the color box next to “Background color”.
8. A color picker will appear, allowing you to choose a new background color. You can either select a color from the palette or enter a specific color code.
9. Once you have chosen the desired color, click “Apply” to apply the background color to the selected portion of the document.

By following these steps, you can easily change the background color of your Google Docs document. Whether you want to add a splash of color or create a more visually appealing document, changing the background color can help you achieve the desired effect.