Page color is a document-wide setting: it fills every page, sits behind text and images, and is hidden in print until you turn it on. To color a single page, you need a shape behind the text instead.
Methods in this guide:
- Change the page color
- Use custom colors and fill effects
- Remove the background color
- Print the document with its background color
- Color just one page
Changing the page background color
Use this when every page in the document should have the same background.
- Go to Design > Page Color.
- Choose a color under Theme Colors or Standard Colors.
Result: Every page in the document turns that color. Hover over a color first to preview it.
Microsoft’s steps are in Add, change, or delete the background color in Word.
Using custom colors and fill effects
Use this when you need an exact brand color, or a gradient, texture, pattern or picture.
For a custom color:
- Go to Design > Page Color > More Colors.
- On the Custom tab, enter RGB or HEX values, or pick a color.
- Click OK.
For a gradient, texture, pattern or picture (Windows):
- Go to Design > Page Color > Fill Effects.
- Open the Gradient, Texture, Pattern or Picture tab.
- Choose your options and click OK.
Result: The effect fills each page. Microsoft notes that textures and patterns are tiled to fill the page.
Tip: Keep background colors light so text stays readable. For a faint “DRAFT” or logo behind the text, a watermark (Design > Watermark) is usually a better fit.
Removing the background color
Use this when you want plain white pages again.
- Go to Design > Page Color.
- Choose No Color.
Result: The background returns to the default. Fill effects are removed too.
Printing a document with its background color
Use this when the color shows on screen but not on paper.
On Windows:
- Go to File > Options.
- Select Display.
- Under Printing options, select Print background colors and images.
- Click OK, then print with File > Print.
On Mac:
- Go to Word > Preferences.
- Under Output and Sharing, select Print.
- Under Print Options, select Print background colors and images.
These paths come from Microsoft’s Print background color or image page.
Note: Most printers leave a white margin around the edge of the sheet, so the color won’t reach the paper’s edge.
Coloring only one page
Use this when a single page, such as a cover, needs a different background. This is the approach in our short video:
- Go to the page you want to color.
- Go to Insert > Shapes and choose a Rectangle.
- Drag the rectangle over the whole page.
- On Shape Format, set Shape Fill to your color.
- Set Shape Outline to No Outline.
- Go to Shape Format > Wrap Text and choose Behind Text.
Result: Only that page has a colored background, and you can still type on top of it.
Tip: Type the page width and height in the Size boxes on Shape Format so the rectangle covers the page exactly.
Comparing the methods
| Method | Best for | Works on |
|---|---|---|
| Design > Page Color | Same color on every page | Windows, Mac, web (Layout tab) |
| More Colors | Exact brand colors | Windows, Mac, web |
| Fill Effects | Gradients, textures, patterns, pictures | Windows |
| Rectangle behind text | One page with a different background | Windows, Mac |
| Print background colors and images | Getting the color onto paper | Windows, Mac |
Platform differences
- Windows: Design > Page Color, including Fill Effects.
- Mac: Design > Page Color with theme, standard and custom colors. The print setting is under Word > Preferences > Print.
- Word for the web: Layout > Page Color, with More Colors and No Color.
Troubleshooting page background color
- The color doesn’t show on screen: some views, such as Draft, don’t display page color. Switch to View > Print Layout.
- The color doesn’t print: turn on Print background colors and images, as shown above.
- The page looks dark but Page Color is set to No Color: that’s Dark Mode, which only affects the screen. Microsoft explains this in Dark Mode in Word.
- You want a faded logo or DRAFT label, not a solid color: use a watermark instead; see how to add a watermark in Word.
- The colored rectangle moved to another page: it’s anchored to a paragraph. Select it and use Position to fix it on the page, or check its anchor.
- The color disappears after converting the file: check the exported file. See how to convert Word to PDF for export options.
To change other page settings, see how to change margins in Word, or browse the Microsoft Word guides.