Google redesigns the user interface of Chrome browser with almost every new version. Version 69 came with many good looking features like rounded tabs and option to set the background image. If looking at the white background bores you then learn how to change Google Chrome background with and without extensions.
Updating Chrome to Latest Version
First, go to the shortcut URL “chrome://settings/help” in the browser’s address bar. Chrome will automatically search for the updates and install the latest version. Ensure that your Chrome version is 113 or later to use the background feature from the sidebar. Earlier versions used to show the option as a pop-up and the latest version added “Customize Chrome” option in the sidebar panel.
How to Change Chrome Browser Background?
There are three possibilities to change Chrome background using the default options:
- Use solid color background.
- Select from one of the preset themes.
- Upload your custom image.
1. Customize Chrome Option
Open a new tab in Chrome and look for a “Customize Chrome” button showing on bottom right corner as shown below. Earlier versions used to show a gear icon instead of “Customize Chrome” button. Do not worry about the icon or button you see, hover over it and you should see a “Customize this page” text.
Alternatively, open a new tab and click on the “Show side panel” icon showing in top right corner next to your profile icon. Now, click the “Reading List” dropdown and select “Customize Chrome” option.
Click on the “Customize Chrome” button or select the option from the sidebar panel dropdown. This will show a sidebar with different options “Appearance” options to change the background of your browser.
Note: You will see the customize button or option in the dropdown only in a new tab page. These options will not show when you are viewing other webpages.
2. Set Background Color for Chrome
For using a solid color, simply select from one of the presets showing below the “Change theme” button. As you can see, each preset has a top and bottom colors. Top color is used as a accent color for title/address bars while bottom color is used for the browser’s background.
If you do not want to use preset colors, click on the “Custom color” icon showing as a last item in the list. This will open a color picker and select your color from the pane or by dragging or by entering RGB/HSL/HEX code values. The set color will be instantly set as the background for Chrome. In this case, the color will be used a solid color for both background and accents.
There are also additional colors available as part of themes. Click on “Change theme” button and then “Chrome Colors” option. There you will see a list of preset theme colors and click on the one you like to use.
3. Select Background Theme for Chrome
Instead of solid colors using a predefined theme is the best option to make your browser appealing.
- Click on “Change theme” button showing in the “Customize Chrome” sidebar panel.
- By default, “Classic Chrome” option will be selected here. You will see many theme collections are available like landscapes, seascapes, art, cityscapes, life, textures, earth, geometric shapes and solid colors.
- Select any of your preferred collection to view the list of background images available under that collection.
- Click on the image you like to set it as a background image for your browser.
- If you want to use the entire collection, turn on “Refresh daily” switch. This will automatically rotate background images from that collection on daily basis.
Below is how the Chrome browser’s new tab page looks when using a landscape image as a background theme. As you can see, this looks so elegant compared to solid color.
Note: Scroll down to the bottom of the theme collections and click “Chrome Web Store” option. This will open the Web Store showing complete collection of themes available under various categories. You can install any item from Store instead of the preset theme available in the browser.
4. Uploading Custom Background Image for Chrome
Instead of selecting background from existing collections, you can also use your own image. For this, click on “Upload an image” option showing above the theme collections.
Select a picture from your computer and click “Open” button. Now you can see the uploaded image is set as the background for Chrome.
Note: You can see the preview of selected theme just above the “Change theme” button in the sidebar. After settings a theme, the “Customize Chrome” button on new tab page will simply show as a pencil icon instead of a button.
5. Set Background After New Chrome Installation
If you have installed Chrome afresh, Google will show a wizard with few settings for adding apps, setting background and set Chrome as default browser. At that point also, you can select an image from the list and set it as your background for Chrome.
Once you set the background, Chrome will open all the new tabs with the background image. You will see a “Customize Chrome” button now showing as pencil icon. This indicates that you have already set a background for the browser.
6. Removing Background and Reset to Default Appearance
Any time you can remove the set background image or color from Chrome. Earlier versions used to have an option in the customize menu which you can access by clicking on the gear icon and choose “Restore default background” option. This will remove the image and restore the white color default background.
However, the menu items are removed in the latest Chrome version. Now, you need to simply click on the “Customize Chrome” pencil icon and then select “Reset to classic Chrome” option from the sidebar panel.
Alternatively, click on “Change theme” button and the select “Classic Chrome” theme. Once you revert to classic background, you will see the pencil icon disappeared and the “Customize Chrome” button comes back.
Finally, you can also reset Chrome background from settings when you have only used solid colors. Go to “chrome://settings/appearance” from the address bar and check under “Theme” option. If it shows “Chrome Colors”, click “Reset to default” button to remove the set background color.
After that, the “Reset to default” button will disappear and you will see “Open Chrome Web Store” option below “Theme”.
7. Adding Background with Extensions
The default background option is simple to replace the background without any additional functions. If you like to have more functions like a dashboard or dark theme then go to Chrome Web Store. Type “background” in the search box and press enter key and then filter the results for extensions. Let us try “Moment – #1 Personal Dashboard for Chrome” extension by clicking on the “Add to Chrome” button.
After installing, you will see the extension icon next to the address bar (or select it from the puzzle icon) and the new tabs will instantly start showing a background image.
This extension has lot of features which you can access by clicking on the three dots button on the lower right corner.
- Set background image from large number of collections.
- You can set video, color or custom gallery as background.
- The annoying history thumbnails will be removed and neatly arranged inside “Hub” option as Bookmarks.
- You can also take notes and plan to do list activities.
- Extension also removes the Google brand on top of the search box.
8. Change Background with Themes from Chrome Web Store
If you do not like the preset themes, then you can find thousands of free themes in Chrome Web Store under different categories. Most of these themes will change the background and disable the default background change option. Below is how Chrome will look like with the Adventure Time – Tree Fort 3 theme.
Remember, extensions and themes offer large options but they impact the browsing speed and load the webpages slower. If you want to have safe and fast browsing experience, then strict to the default options in Chrome.
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