How to Change Color of Google Doc: Complete Guide

Learning how to change color of Google Doc elements can transform your documents from plain to professional. Whether you want to modify text color, highlight sections, or customize the background, Google Docs offers multiple coloring options. This comprehensive guide will walk you through all the methods for changing colors in Google Docs, including text, highlights, page backgrounds, and more. By the end, you’ll be able to create visually appealing documents that stand out.

Table of Contents

• Changing Text Color in Google Docs
• Changing Highlight Color
• Changing Page Background Color
• Changing Table Cell Colors
• Pro Tips for Color Usage
• Conclusion

Changing Text Color in Google Docs

One of the most common color changes users need is modifying text color. Here’s how to do it:

Method 1: Using the Toolbar

1. Select the text you want to modify
2. Click the Text color button (A with color bar) in the toolbar
3. Choose from the preset colors or click Custom for more options
4. Your selected text will immediately change color

Method 2: Using the Format Menu

1. Highlight your text
2. Go to Format > Text > Color
3. Select your desired color

Pro tip: For frequently used colors, consider creating a style with your preferred color to apply it quickly throughout your document.

Changing Highlight Color in Google Docs

Highlighting text helps important information stand out. Here’s how to change highlight colors:

1. Select the text you want to highlight
2. Click the Highlight color button (pen with color bar) in the toolbar
3. Choose from the available colors or select Custom for more options
4. To remove highlighting, select the text and choose None

Note: Unlike text color, highlight color options are more limited in Google Docs. The custom color picker only offers a selection of preset highlight colors.

Changing Page Background Color

To change the entire page’s background color in Google Docs:

1. Go to File > Page setup
2. In the dialog box, click the Page color selector
3. Choose your desired color from the palette
4. Click OK to apply the change

Important: Page background colors won’t appear when printing unless you specifically enable background colors in print settings.

Custom Page Colors

For colors not in the default palette:

1. In Page setup, click Custom under Page color
2. Use the color picker or enter a hex code
3. Click OK to confirm

Changing Table Cell Colors

Tables often need color differentiation for better readability:

Changing Cell Background Color

1. Click inside the table cell you want to modify
2. Right-click and select Table properties
3. Go to the Cell background color section
4. Choose your color and click OK

Changing Table Border Color

1. Select your table
2. Right-click and choose Table properties
3. Adjust the Border color option
4. Set the border width to make the color visible

Pro Tips for Color Usage in Google Docs

To make the most of colors in your documents:

• Maintain readability: Ensure sufficient contrast between text and background colors
• Be consistent: Use a consistent color scheme throughout your document
• Use sparingly: Too many colors can make documents look unprofessional
• Consider accessibility: Avoid color combinations that are difficult for color-blind users
• Brand alignment: If creating business documents, use brand colors when appropriate

Creating Custom Color Themes

While Google Docs doesn’t have theme builders like some other apps, you can:

1. Create a template document with your preferred colors
2. Save frequently used colors in a separate palette document
3. Use the Paint format tool to quickly copy colors between elements

Conclusion: Mastering Color in Google Docs

Now that you know how to change color of Google Doc elements, you can create more visually engaging documents. Whether you’re highlighting key points, organizing information with colored tables, or setting a distinctive page background, color is a powerful formatting tool. Remember to use colors purposefully and maintain readability as your top priority.

Put these techniques into practice today to enhance your Google Docs. Have any color tips we missed? Share your favorite color combinations in the comments below!