Change a calendar's color in three steps

Open Google Calendar in your web browser and look at the list of calendars on the left side of the screen. Find the calendar you want to change — it might be labeled "Calendar" if it's your main one, or a custom name you created. Hover your mouse over that calendar name until three dots appear to the right of it, then click those dots to open a menu.

Click "Settings" from the menu. A new page will open showing options for that specific calendar. Scroll down until you see a section labeled "Color" with a row of colored circles. Click any circle to change the calendar to that color. The change happens immediately — you don't need to save or confirm anything.

If you want a color that isn't in the preset row, some versions of Google Calendar let you click a small palette icon next to the colored circles to pick from a wider range. The exact appearance varies depending on whether you're using Google Calendar on a computer or phone, but the basic steps are the same.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click or hover over any calendar name in the left sidebar, then click the three-dot menu and select "Settings" to access color options.
  • Google Calendar offers a row of preset colors that apply instantly when you click them.
  • You can change the color of your main calendar, shared calendars, or any custom calendar you've created.
  • Color changes appear immediately on your calendar view and sync across all your devices where you're signed in.
  • Different calendar colors help you visually separate work events, personal time, shared schedules, or other categories at a glance.

Why you might want to change calendar colors

Assigning different colors to different calendars makes it easier to spot which events belong to which part of your life. If you have a work calendar, a personal calendar, and a shared family calendar all visible at once, color coding lets you see at a glance which events are which without reading every label.

You might also change colors when you share a calendar with someone else — picking a distinct color helps both of you track whose events are whose. Some people use colors to mark different types of events: blue for meetings, green for personal time, red for deadlines.

Changing colors on shared or subscribed calendars

If someone shared a calendar with you, you can change its color in your own view without affecting how it appears for anyone else. The same three-dot menu and Settings path applies. Your color choice is personal to your account.

Subscribed calendars — like holiday calendars, sports team schedules, or public calendars you added — work the same way. You can recolor them to fit your preference, but the original calendar owner won't see your changes. Only you see the new color in your calendar view.

Changing colors on mobile devices

On the Google Calendar app for iPhone or Android, tap the three-dot menu next to the calendar name you want to change. Select "Settings" and scroll to find the color options. The process is nearly identical to the web version, though the menu layout may look slightly different depending on your phone's operating system.

Mobile color changes sync back to your web calendar and to any other devices you use, so you don't need to change colors separately on each device. If you change a calendar's color on your phone, it will appear in that new color when you open Google Calendar on your computer.

Reverting to the default color

If you change a calendar's color and later want to go back to what it was before, open the Settings menu for that calendar again and click the color you originally saw. Google Calendar doesn't have an "undo" button for color changes, but you can always pick a different color from the preset row.

If you're not sure what the original color was, the default color for a main personal calendar is usually a light blue or teal. Shared calendars often default to a muted color that's distinct from your main calendar. You can experiment with different colors — there's no penalty for changing your mind.

Organizing multiple calendars with color

If you manage many calendars at once, a consistent color system helps you navigate faster. Some people use warm colors (red, orange, yellow) for time-sensitive or work-related events and cool colors (blue, green, purple) for personal or flexible activities. Others assign one color per person if they're tracking multiple people's schedules.

You can also use color to separate calendars by importance. Make your main work calendar a bold color and secondary calendars a lighter shade. This visual hierarchy helps you focus on what matters most when your calendar is crowded with events.

Troubleshooting color changes that don't stick

If you change a calendar's color and it reverts back to the original color, you may not have clicked the color circle fully, or the page may not have registered your choice. Try the process again, making sure you click directly on the colored circle and wait a moment for the change to register.

If the color still doesn't change, try refreshing your browser or closing and reopening the Google Calendar app on your phone. Occasionally a browser cache or app glitch can prevent color changes from saving. If the problem persists across multiple devices and browsers, the calendar itself may have a technical issue — try removing and re-adding it to your calendar list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a custom color that's not in the preset row?

On the web version, clicking the palette icon next to the color circles may give you access to a wider color picker. On mobile, you're usually limited to the preset colors Google provides. The exact options depend on your Google account settings and which version of the app you're using.

Will other people see the color I chose for a shared calendar?

No. When you change the color of a calendar in your own view, only you see that color. Other people who have access to the same calendar see it in whatever color they chose for themselves. The calendar owner's color choice doesn't override yours.

What happens to event colors if I change the calendar color?

Changing a calendar's color doesn't affect individual event colors. If you've colored specific events within that calendar, those event colors stay the same. The calendar color is a background setting that applies to all events in that calendar unless you've customized individual events.

Can I change colors on Google Calendar through my phone's settings?

No. Calendar colors are changed only through the Google Calendar app or website, not through your phone's general settings. Open Google Calendar directly, find the calendar you want to change, and use the three-dot menu to access color options.

Do calendar color changes sync across my devices?

Yes. If you change a calendar's color on your phone, that change appears on your computer and any other device where you're signed into the same Google account. The sync usually happens within a few seconds.