You can change Chrome's background in two ways: use one of Google's built-in themes, or upload your own image to customize your new tab page

Chrome's default background is plain white, but you can replace it with a color, pattern, or photograph. The quickest route is Google's theme gallery — a collection of pre-made designs you can install in seconds. If you want something personal, you can also upload your own image to appear whenever you open a new tab.

Both methods are free and take less than a minute. Your choice depends on whether you want a quick visual change or a custom look using your own photos.

Key Takeaways

  • Google's theme gallery offers hundreds of free backgrounds you can install by clicking once, and they change how your entire browser looks.
  • Custom images let you upload a photo from your computer to appear on your new tab page, separate from your browser theme.
  • Themes and custom backgrounds are stored in your Google account, so they follow you if you sign in on another computer.
  • You can remove any theme or background by resetting Chrome to its default appearance in the same menu where you installed it.

Installing a theme from Google's gallery

Open Chrome and go to chrome.google.com/webstore/category/themes. You will see rows of thumbnail images — each one is a complete theme. Click any theme that interests you, then click the blue Add to Chrome button. A popup will ask you to confirm; click Add extension. The theme applies immediately to your entire browser window, including the toolbar, tabs, and sidebar.

To see your installed theme, click the three-dot menu in the top right corner of Chrome and select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Appearance. Your active theme appears at the top under "Theme". You can switch to a different theme or remove it entirely from this same page by clicking Reset to default.

Uploading a custom image to your new tab page

Open a new tab in Chrome. In the bottom right corner, click the Customize Chrome button (it looks like a pencil). A panel will open on the right side. Click Upload from device under the "Background" section. Select an image file from your computer — Chrome accepts JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP formats. The image will appear on your new tab page immediately.

You can upload multiple images and have Chrome rotate through them each time you open a new tab. To add more, click Upload from device again. To remove a custom image, hover over it in the Customize panel and click the trash icon.

The difference between themes and custom backgrounds

A theme changes the color and appearance of your entire Chrome browser — the toolbar, buttons, tabs, and sidebar all shift to match the theme's design. Themes are installed from the Chrome Web Store and stay with your Google account across devices.

A custom background is an image that appears only on your new tab page, behind the search bar and shortcuts. It does not change the browser itself. Custom backgrounds are also stored in your account, so if you sign in on another computer, your background image appears there too.

You can use both at the same time: a theme for your browser appearance and a custom background for your new tab page.

Choosing an image that works well on your new tab page

Chrome displays your custom background behind the search bar and your shortcuts, so the center of the image should not have important details — they may be hidden. Landscape photos, abstract patterns, and solid colors all work well. Avoid images with small text or fine details in the middle of the frame.

Chrome automatically adjusts the image to fit your screen size, so you do not need to resize it yourself. If the image looks cut off or zoomed in, try a different photo or adjust how it displays by clicking the three dots next to your image in the Customize panel and selecting Adjust style.

Syncing your theme and background across devices

When you sign in to Chrome with your Google account, your theme and custom background follow you to any other computer where you sign in. This means if you set up a theme on your laptop, it will appear on your desktop the next time you open Chrome there.

If you do not want your background to sync, you can turn off sync for your Chrome settings. Click the three-dot menu, go to Settings, then click Sync and Google services on the left. Under "Sync", you can turn off individual categories, though this will also stop syncing your bookmarks and passwords if you disable it entirely.

Removing a theme or background

To remove a theme, click the three-dot menu and select Settings. Click Appearance on the left, then click Reset to default next to your active theme. Chrome returns to its standard white and gray appearance.

To remove a custom background, open a new tab and click Customize Chrome in the bottom right. Hover over your background image and click the trash icon. Your new tab page returns to the default white background.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use a video or animated image as my background?

Chrome's custom background feature only supports still images — JPG, PNG, GIF, and WebP files. Animated GIFs will display as a still frame. If you want motion on your new tab page, some themes in the Chrome Web Store include animated designs, though they may use more battery power on laptops.

What happens to my theme if I uninstall Chrome?

Uninstalling Chrome removes the application but does not delete your theme or background. When you reinstall Chrome and sign in with your Google account, your theme and background reappear automatically. If you want to permanently remove them before uninstalling, reset to default first.

Can I create my own theme instead of using Google's gallery?

Google's theme gallery is the main way to install themes, but you can also create a custom theme using Chrome's theme creator tool at chrome.google.com/webstore/category/themes — look for "Create your own theme" at the top. This lets you choose colors for different browser elements and upload a custom image for the toolbar background.

Why does my custom background look different on my phone?

Chrome on Android and iPhone has a separate background system from desktop Chrome. You can set a custom background on mobile by opening a new tab, tapping the three dots, and selecting a background image, but it will not sync to your desktop version. Each device maintains its own background setting.