Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change Excel's Automatic Color Setting: Best Workarounds

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user is looking for a way to redefine or change the default "Automatic" color used in Excel's menus and color palettes.

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Customizing the default color scheme for a new workbook or specific data presentation.
Observed behavior: Excel lacks a built-in standard setting to directly modify the default "Automatic" color, which is typically locked to black for text.

Before you start

Before adjusting your default color settings, note that modifying workbook themes will affect the entire spreadsheet's appearance globally, including charts, shapes, and pivot tables.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Workbook Themes to Establish Preferred Default Colors

Although you cannot change the "Automatic" color directly, modifying the workbook's theme allows you to set default colors for fonts, backgrounds, and accents across the entire document.

Excel’s built-in Automatic color is hardcoded to contrast with your background (usually black text on a white background). However, by customizing the workbook theme, you can seamlessly replace the default palette with colors that fit your specific branding or visual needs.

Go to Page Layout

Open your Excel workbook and navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab on the top ribbon.

Select Colors

Click on 'Colors' in the Themes group to open the color palette dropdown menu.

Customize Colors

Click on 'Customize Colors' (or 'Create New Theme Colors' depending on your Excel version) at the bottom of the menu.

Set New Colors

Choose your desired colors for 'Text/Background - Dark 1' (which acts as the default text color) and other elements, then name and save your custom theme.

Theme Application: Applying this custom theme to a new blank workbook template (.xltx) in your XLSTART folder will make these colors your default for all future spreadsheets.

Solution 2

Create Custom Cell Styles for Consistent Formatting

If you only need to change the default color for specific data entry areas rather than the whole workbook, creating custom cell styles is an efficient workaround.

Manage Spreadsheet Colors Easily

Easily Customize Default Colors with WPS Office

Like Excel, WPS Office provides robust tools for modifying workbook themes and cell styles. You can easily set up customized templates with your preferred default colors using WPS Spreadsheet for a visually appealing data presentation.

1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open a new or existing spreadsheet document.
2. Access Page Layout: Navigate to the 'Page Layout' tab located on the top ribbon menu.
3. Adjust Color Schemes: Click on 'Colors' to select a predefined color palette or customize the default text and accent colors to your liking.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) files, themes, and formatting.Intuitive Page Layout interface for quick and easy color customization.Lightweight software that runs smoothly on all devices without lagging.Free to use for everyday spreadsheet creation and editing.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the Automatic font color always black in Excel?

Excel hardcodes the 'Automatic' font color to dynamically contrast with the background color for readability. By default, it is black for light backgrounds and white for dark backgrounds. There is no direct setting to change this behavior other than altering the document's theme.

Can I change the default worksheet background color in Excel?

You cannot change the default background color directly through an options menu. However, you can achieve this by selecting all cells, applying a fill color, and saving the workbook as an Excel Template (.xltx) in your XLSTART folder so it loads every time you open Excel.

Will changing the workbook theme affect my charts?

Yes, workbook themes apply globally. Changing the theme colors will automatically update the default colors used in your charts, tables, shapes, and fonts across the entire document.

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