Office Settings & Configuration

How to Change the Default Page Background Color in OneNote

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to set a preferred background color as the global default for all new pages created in OneNote.

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting a persistent, preferred background color for new notes to improve readability, reduce eye strain, or match aesthetic preferences.
Observed behavior: OneNote lacks a simple global setting to change the default background color for all new pages automatically, requiring users to rely on custom page templates instead.

Before you start

Ensure you have Microsoft OneNote open on your desktop and have decided on the specific background color you wish to use for your future notes.

Solution 1Recommended

Create and Set a Custom Page Template with Your Desired Color

Since OneNote doesn't have a universal background color toggle, creating a page template and setting it as the default for your section is the official workaround.

By saving a page with your chosen background color as a template, you can instruct OneNote to automatically apply this color to every new page you create within a specific notebook section.

Create a new blank page

Open OneNote, navigate to the notebook section where you want the default color applied, and create a brand new blank page.

Change the page color

Go to the 'View' tab on the top ribbon, click on 'Page Color', and select your preferred background color from the dropdown palette.

Open the Templates pane

Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Page Templates'. Select 'Page Templates' from the bottom of the dropdown list to open the Templates pane on the right side of the screen.

Save the current page as a template

At the very bottom of the Templates pane, click on the link that says 'Save current page as a template'. A dialog box will appear asking you to enter a name for your new template (e.g., 'My Blue Background').

Set the template as default

In the same dialog box, check the box labeled 'Set as default template for new pages in the current section' and click 'Save'. Any new page you create in this section will now automatically feature your chosen background color.

Section-Specific Setting: Keep in mind that this default template applies only to the current section. You will need to open the Templates pane and set this template as the default for any other sections where you want the same background color.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a dark mode background color for all my OneNote pages automatically?

While OneNote features an app-wide dark mode interface, the note canvas color remains separate. You can set the canvas to a dark color by default using the custom template method described above and selecting a black or dark gray page color.

Why doesn't my custom template apply to my other OneNote notebooks?

OneNote templates are configured to be the default on a per-section basis only. To use your custom background color in other notebooks or sections, you must navigate to those sections, open the Page Templates pane, and manually select your saved template as the default for that specific section.

Does changing the background color in OneNote affect how the page prints?

Generally, OneNote is optimized for digital viewing and may suppress background colors during printing to save ink. If you need the color to show, you may have to adjust your specific printer properties to print background colors and images.

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