We spend a lot of time on our email. Studies show the average office worker checks their email 74 times a day. That’s a significant amount of time staring at the same white (or dark) background.
But what if you could personalize your inbox and make it a bit more enjoyable to use? The good news is, you can! This blog post will walk you through the steps on how to change your Gmail background, helping you ditch the bland and add a splash of color or a calming scene to your digital workspace.
Changing Your Gmail Background
Want to personalize your Gmail experience and add some visual flair? You can easily change the background behind your emails! Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this in two ways: using pre-set themes or setting your own custom photo.
1. Using Themes
- Access Settings: Open Gmail on your computer and locate the Settings icon in the top right corner. It resembles a gear icon. Click on it to open the Settings menu.
- Explore Themes: Within the Settings menu, find the “Theme” section. You’ll likely see a default theme applied currently. Click the option that says “See all” next to “Theme” to unveil the full range of available themes.
- Select Your Theme: A new window showcasing various themes will appear. Gmail offers a collection of pre-designed themes featuring scenic landscapes, calming solid colors, and even a practical dark theme for reduced eye strain. Simply browse the selection and click on the theme that best suits your preference. The background of your Gmail will instantly transform to reflect your chosen theme.
2. Using Your Own Photo
- Access Settings: Similar to using themes, start by opening Gmail on your computer and clicking the Settings icon (gear icon) in the top right corner.
- Explore Themes: Navigate to the “Theme” section within Settings and click “See all” next to it to open the theme selection window.
- Choose Your Photo: Look for the “My photos” option positioned at the bottom left corner of the theme window. Clicking this will reveal your available photos stored in Google Photos. You can also upload a new image if your desired background isn’t present there.
- Set Your Background: Select the photo you want to use as your Gmail background. Keep in mind that a larger photo will ensure better clarity compared to a blurry image. Once chosen, click “Select” to confirm.
- Optional Customization (For Photos Only): While photo backgrounds are great, Gmail offers additional options to further personalize your theme. At the bottom of the theme window, you’ll find features like “Text background,” “Vignette,” and “Blur.” Play around with these to adjust the text color behind your emails, darken the corners for a more focused view, or add a subtle blur effect to the background image.
- Save and Enjoy: Once you’re happy with the overall look and feel, click “Save” to finalize your custom Gmail background with your chosen photo.
Changing Your Gmail Background On Android
While you can’t set a custom background photo on the Gmail app for Android, you can still personalize the viewing experience by adjusting the theme:
Change the Theme (Android 10 and Up)
- Open the Gmail App: Launch the Gmail app on your Android phone or tablet.
- Access Settings: Tap the hamburger menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top left corner.
- Navigate to Settings: Scroll down and tap “Settings.”
- Choose Theme: Tap “General settings” and then select “Theme.”
- Pick Your Preference: You’ll see options for “Light,” “Dark,” or “System default.”
- Light: Provides a standard white background for your emails.
- Dark: Enables a dark theme for a more eye-friendly experience in low-light conditions (available on Android 10 and up).
- System default: Makes your Gmail theme match the overall theme setting of your Android device.
Important Note: As mentioned earlier, customizing the background with your own photos is currently not supported on the Gmail mobile app for Android.
Tailoring Your Gmail Interface for iPhone and iPad
While extensive background customization isn’t currently available within the Gmail app for iPhone and iPad, you can implement a professional aesthetic using your device’s system-wide settings.
Steps:
- Access System Settings: Locate and open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
- Navigate to Display Settings: Find the section pertaining to display options. The specific name might vary depending on your iOS version; common examples include “Display & Brightness” or “Wallpaper & Brightness.”
- Activate Dark Mode: Search for the option labeled “Dark Mode” and tap the toggle switch next to it. When enabled, the switch will typically turn green or display a filled circle.
- Unified Professional View: By enabling dark mode on your device, the Gmail app will automatically conform to a darker theme. This fosters a more professional look and reduces eye strain during extended use in low-light environments.
Top Gmail Themes
- Nature Themes: These themes, like “Ocean” or “Mountains,” add a calming and serene background to your inbox. If you find yourself needing a mental break while checking emails, a nature theme can be a great way to bring a touch of tranquility to your workspace.
- Classic Theme: This brings Gmail back to its original, minimalist look. Great for those who prefer a clean and uncluttered interface. Sometimes a classic look is the best! The classic theme keeps the focus on your emails without any distractions.
- Shiny Theme: This adds a subtle gradient effect to the background for a touch of visual interest. If you find the standard white background a bit too stark, the Shiny theme offers a hint of color variation without being overwhelming.
But these are just a starting point! You can browse the available themes in Gmail settings and see what suits your style. There might be a surprising theme hidden amongst the options that perfectly matches your taste.
Beyond Preset Themes:
While the built-in themes offer a good variety, you can also explore custom themes found online. These themes can offer a wider range of aesthetics and personalization options. However, it’s important to be cautious with custom themes, as they’re not officially supported by Gmail. Make sure you download them from reputable sources to avoid any security risks.
5 Reasons to Change Your Gmail Background
The default Gmail interface is functional, but a bit bland. Here are some reasons to consider changing your Gmail background:
- Boost Your Mood: Staring at a plain white background all day can get boring. A background image with a favorite vacation spot, calming nature scene, or inspiring quote can brighten your day and make checking email more enjoyable.
- Eye Strain Relief: If you find the bright white background harsh on your eyes, especially at night, switching to a dark theme or a less intense color scheme can reduce eye strain.
- Personalization Power: Your Gmail background is a small way to add a touch of your personality to your digital space. If you like to customize your workspace, why not extend that to your email as well?
- Multi-Account Distinction: If you manage multiple Gmail accounts, using different background themes can help you quickly differentiate between them at a glance. No more accidentally replying to your boss from your personal account!
- Increased Focus: A background that aligns with your interests or work style can subtly enhance focus. Imagine a calming beach scene to ease you into the workday or a motivational quote to keep you energized.
FAQs:
No, you cannot directly change the background color of the email you’re composing in Gmail. The background color recipients see will depend on their email client settings. However, you can personalize the look of your emails in other ways! Gmail offers a variety of themes that change the background color of your entire Gmail interface. You can choose from pre-set themes or even upload your own image.
On your computer, log in to Gmail and click the gear icon in the top right corner. Select “Settings” from the menu.
Gmail offers a variety of pre-set themes with scenic images, solid colors, and even a dark mode for better eye comfort.
Yes! In the settings under “Theme,” click “View all” and then “My photos.” Choose the photo you want from your Google Photos or upload a new one.
For best results, use a high-resolution image in JPG or PNG format. A landscape orientation will fit the Gmail layout nicely.
In the theme settings, simply select “Default” from the pre-set theme options.
Unfortunately, changing the background theme is currently only available on the Gmail desktop version.
No, changing the background is purely aesthetic and won’t alter any functionalities within Gmail.
While you can’t set individual backgrounds for each account, using different browser windows or incognito tabs can help visually distinguish between them.
There aren’t any official Gmail extensions for background themes, but some third-party browser extensions might offer additional customization options. Be cautious when installing such extensions and only use them from reputable sources.
Conclusion
Changing your Gmail background is an easy way to make your email feel more like your own. Whether you like peaceful nature images, inspiring quotes, or a darker theme to rest your eyes, Gmail has choices for everyone. Just follow the steps we’ve outlined, and you can give your inbox a fresh look in no time.
Thanks for reading! We hope this guide showed you how to switch up your Gmail background. If you found it useful, share it with friends who might want to jazz up their Gmail too. Happy emailing!
