How to Change the Page Color in Word

To change the page color in Microsoft Word, go to the Design tab, click Page Color in the Page Background group, and pick a color. Word applies it to every page in the document. The color shows on screen straight away, but it won’t print until you turn on Print background colors and images in Word’s options. Below are the full steps, how to use gradients and pictures, how to color just one page, and how to remove it again.

How to change the page color

1. Open your document and click the Design tab on the ribbon.
2. In the Page Background group on the far right, click Page Color.
3. Hover over the colors to preview them on your page, then click the one you want.
4. For a shade that isn’t shown, click More Colors. The Custom tab lets you enter exact RGB or hex values to match a brand color.

The color fills each page edge to edge, including the margins. Your text color doesn’t change, so if you pick a dark page color, select your text and change the font color to white or another light color on the Home tab.

Use a gradient, texture, pattern, or picture

1. Go to Design > Page Color > Fill Effects.
2. Choose a tab:
   • Gradient blends one or two colors, with a choice of directions.
   • Texture offers backgrounds such as paper, marble, or canvas.
   • Pattern uses stripes, dots, or grids in two colors.
   • Picture fills the page with an image from your computer.
3. Click OK.

A picture used this way is tiled to fill the page. To place a single image behind the text instead, see how to place a picture anywhere in Word, or use a picture watermark as described in how to add a watermark in Word.

Print the page color

Word leaves background colors out when printing by default, to save ink. To include them:

1. Click File > Options.
2. Select Display.
3. Under Printing options, tick Print background colors and images.
4. Click OK.

On a Mac, go to Word > Settings > Print (called Preferences in older versions) and tick Print background colors and images.

Most home printers can’t print to the very edge of the paper, so you’ll usually see a thin white border. If the color is missing from a PDF you create, turn on the same setting and save the PDF again.

Color only one page

Page Color always applies to the whole document. To color a single page, such as a cover:

1. Go to that page and click Insert > Shapes, then choose a rectangle.
2. Drag to draw it across the whole page.
3. On the Shape Format tab, set Shape Fill to the color you want and Shape Outline to No Outline.
4. Click Wrap Text and choose Behind Text, so you can type over it.

The shape stays on that page and prints without changing any settings, because it’s a normal object rather than a background.

Remove the page color

Go to Design > Page Color and choose No Color. Your pages go back to white.

Page color vs. dark mode

Page color is part of the document. Anyone who opens the file sees it. Dark mode only changes how Word looks on your screen, and the document stays white for everyone else. If you want a dark background for comfortable reading rather than design, use dark mode instead. See how to enable dark mode in Microsoft Word.

Other ways to style a page

• Page borders: Design > Page Borders adds a line or art border around each page. See how to add a border in Word.
• Themes: Design > Themes changes fonts and the theme colors that appear in the Page Color menu. See how to change the theme in Word.
• Templates: if you use the same page color often, save the document as a template. See how to make your own template in Word.

Troubleshooting

I don’t see the color on screen

Page color shows in Print Layout view. Click View > Print Layout. It doesn’t appear in Draft view.

Page Color is greyed out

The document may be in Compatibility Mode or protected. Check the title bar for “Compatibility Mode” and use File > Info > Convert, or turn off editing restrictions under Review > Restrict Editing.

The color looks different when printed

Screens and printers show color differently. Print a test page and adjust the color with More Colors if needed.

Frequently asked questions

Can I change the page color in Word on a Mac?

Yes. It’s in the same place: Design > Page Color.

Will the page color show when I email the document?

Yes. The color is saved in the file, so it appears when someone else opens it in Word.

Does page color make the file larger?

A solid color adds almost nothing. A picture background adds roughly the size of the image.

Summary

Go to Design > Page Color and pick a color or Fill Effects. To print it, tick Print background colors and images in File > Options > Display. To color just one page, use a rectangle shape behind the text.

Related: change the automatic font color in Word.