How do I change the page color in Google Docs?

Go to File > Page setup, click the 'Page color' dropdown, and pick a color from the palette. You can also click the 'Custom' option to enter a hex color code. Click 'OK' to apply the color to your entire document. This works on both desktop and the Google Docs mobile app.

Can you change the page color in Google Docs?

Yes, Google Docs supports changing the page background color. Go to File > Page setup > Page color and choose any color you want. You can use preset colors, custom hex codes, or even make the page transparent. Note that the color applies to the entire document — Google Docs does not support per-page colors natively.

How do I make Google Docs pages different colors?

Google Docs does not natively support different page colors within the same document. The page color setting under File > Page setup applies to all pages. As a workaround, you can: (1) Insert colored shapes or text boxes as full-page backgrounds on individual pages using Insert > Drawing > New, or (2) Create separate documents for each color and combine them later using a PDF editor like PDF Agile.

Will the page color print when I print my Google Doc?

By default, Google Docs does NOT print the page background color — it saves ink. To print the page color, go to File > Print (Ctrl+P), expand 'More settings', and check the box for 'Background graphics'. On some browsers, you may also need to enable 'Background colors and images' in your browser's print dialog. Test on one page first to confirm it works.

Why can't I see the page color option in Google Docs?

If the Page color option is grayed out or missing, check that: (1) You're in 'Pages' mode, not 'Pageless' mode (File > Page setup > Pages tab); (2) You have edit permissions on the document (Viewers cannot change page settings); (3) You're using a computer browser — the mobile app has limited page setup options. Switching from Pageless to Pages mode usually fixes this.

How to Change Page Color in Google Docs: Step-by-Step Guide

How to Change Page Color in Google Docs (3 Steps)

Yes, you can change the page color in Google Docs — it takes less than 10 seconds. Here's how:

Step 1: Open Page Setup

Click File in the top menu bar
Select Page setup from the dropdown (near the bottom)
A dialog box will open with margin, orientation, and color options

Step 2: Choose Your Page Color

Click the Page color dropdown — you'll see a palette of preset colors
Click any color to preview it as your document background
Want a specific shade? Click the + icon (Custom) under the palette
Enter a hex color code (e.g., #FFF8E7 for warm cream, #E8F4FD for light blue)

Step 3: Apply and Confirm

Click OK or Set as default (if you want this color for all future documents)
Your entire document now has the new page background color
The change applies to all pages in the document — Google Docs doesn't support per-page colors

How to Make Different Pages Different Colors (Workaround)

Google Docs applies one page color to the entire document — there's no built-in way to make page 1 blue and page 2 green. But you can fake it with these workarounds:

Method 1: Full-Page Colored Shape (Best for Single Pages)

Click Insert > Drawing > New
Click the Shape icon, choose Rectangle
Draw a rectangle, click the paint bucket to fill it with your color
Set the shape to transparent border (border color > Transparent)
Click Save and Close
Click the inserted drawing, select Behind text from the text wrapping menu
Drag the corners to cover the entire page

Repeat for each page you want a different color. The drawing stays locked to that page even when you add text above it.

Method 2: Separate Documents + PDF Merge (Best for Multiple Pages)

Create each page as a separate Google Doc with its own page color
Download each as PDF (File > Download > PDF Document)
Use PDF Agile to merge all PDFs into one document — drag and drop, arrange order, click merge
This gives you a single PDF with different colored pages, ready to print or share

PDF Agile is free and handles the merging in seconds. Download PDF Agile free for Windows — no sign-up, no watermark.

How to Print the Page Color (It's Off by Default)

Here's what surprises most people: Google Docs does not print the page background color by default. If you change the page to light blue and hit print, you'll get a white page. Here's how to fix it:

Enable background printing in Google Docs:

Press Ctrl+P (or File > Print)
In the print preview window, click More settings at the bottom
Scroll down and check the box for "Background graphics"
The preview should now show your colored background
Click Print

If it still doesn't print with color:

In Chrome: In the print dialog, click More settings > Options > Background colors and images
In Firefox: Print dialog > Print backgrounds checkbox
Alternative: Download as PDF first (File > Download > PDF), then print the PDF — background colors usually preserve better in PDFs

Ink warning: Printing a full-page colored background uses a lot of ink. A single page with a solid color background can use 10-20x more ink than a normal text page. For large documents, consider printing without backgrounds and only enabling color for the final version.

Why Can't I Change the Page Color? (Troubleshooting)

If the page color option is grayed out or not working, check these common causes:

1. You're in Pageless Mode

Google Docs has two modes: Pages (traditional) and Pageless (continuous scroll). Page color only works in Pages mode. To switch: File > Page setup > Pages tab > Select "Pages".

2. You Don't Have Edit Access

If you're a "Viewer" or "Commenter" on a shared document, the Page setup menu is read-only. Request edit access from the document owner.

3. You're on Mobile

The Google Docs mobile app (iOS/Android) has limited formatting options. Page color changes require the desktop web version. On mobile, open docs.google.com in your phone's browser and switch to "Desktop site" mode as a temporary workaround.

4. Google Workspace Admin Restrictions

If you're using a school or work Google account, your admin may have restricted certain formatting features. Contact your IT department or try with a personal Gmail account to confirm.

Tips for Choosing the Right Page Color

For reading: Light cream (#FFF8E7) or light gray (#F5F5F5) reduces eye strain better than pure white
For presentations: Match your brand color at 10-15% opacity for a subtle watermark effect
For coloring pages: White or off-white is best — colored backgrounds interfere with crayon and marker colors
For printing: Lighter colors use less ink. A 5% tint looks nearly white on screen but technically saves no ink — stick with white for print-heavy docs
Pro tip: Set your preferred color as default (File > Page setup > Set as default) so every new document starts with it

You might also like:

Manage Your Google Docs PDFs with PDF Agile

Merge Google Docs with different page colors into one PDF, adjust margins, or convert back to editable format — all free, no watermark.

Download Free for Windows

Free forever · No credit card · No watermark