Easy Ways to Change Backgrounds in PowerPoint

Changing the background of your PowerPoint slides can significantly enhance the visual appeal of your presentation.

Whether you want to apply a solid color, gradient, picture, or even a pattern, there are various methods to customize your slides. Below are two easy methods you can use to change the background in PowerPoint.

Method 1: Changing the Background in PowerPoint

Steps to Follow

1. Open a project in PowerPoint. You can use an existing project or create a new one. PowerPoint is available for download for Windows and Mac, and you can also use it online at Office.com .

2. Select the slide you want to customize. Slides will be displayed in the left panel, and any changes you make will apply to the current slide.

3. Click on the Design tab. This tab is located in the top toolbar between the Draw and Transitions tabs.

4. Click on Format Background. You can find this option in the Customize section.

5. Create a solid background. To set the background to a single color, choose the Solid fill option and click the Color button to select a color from the palette.

6. Fill your background with a colored gradient. Select Gradient fill to create a transition between one or more colors. You can choose a preset gradient or design your own. Utilize the Direction menu to view different gradient patterns and adjust the Gradient stops to control where each color begins and ends.

7. Make the background an image or texture. Select Picture or texture fill to use a personal photo as your slide background. Click File to choose a custom image or select a preset texture. Adjust the Transparency slider to control how opaque the image appears; increasing transparency can help maintain text readability.

8. Fill the background with a preset pattern. If you’re using PowerPoint 2013 or later, you can select the Pattern fill option to choose from simple preset patterns. Modify the colors using the Foreground and Background menus.

9. Apply the changes. If you want to revert to the previous background, click Reset Background. To keep the new background only on the current slide, click Close. If you’d like to apply it to all slides, click Apply to All.

Method 2: Changing the Background in Google Slides

Steps to Follow

1. Open Google Drive. Log in with your Gmail account at drive.google.com .

2. Upload your PowerPoint presentation. Click the New button, select File Upload, and choose the PowerPoint file you want to upload. Once uploaded, double-click the file to open it in the viewer, then click “Open with” and select “Google Slides.”

3. Select a slide to modify. Click on a slide in the left panel to change its background.

4. Click on Slide in the top toolbar.

5. Select Change background from the drop-down menu.

6. Choose a single color as the background. Click the box next to Color and select a color from the palette. For a transparent background, click Transparent at the top of the palette.

7. Use an image as the background. Click Image to choose a background image. You can upload an image from your computer or select one from your Google Drive.

8. Click Done when you’re finished. To apply this background to all slides, first click Add to theme before clicking Done. If you’re not satisfied with your background, you can click Reset Theme to try again.