How to change board background color in Miro

Learn how to change your Miro board's background color in a few clicks to improve clarity, focus, and visual organization.

Quick answer

Open your Miro board, click the three-dot menu next to the board name, choose Board, then Background color. Pick one of 11 presets, such as White, Light Gray (the default), Dark Gray, or Light Blue. The color applies to the whole board as soon as you click it and is saved with the board.

Steps at a glance

  1. Open the board you want to customize
  2. Click the three-dot menu next to the board name
  3. Select Board from the menu
  4. Choose Background color from the Board submenu
  5. Pick one of the 11 preset colors
  6. Check the new background across the board

Interactive demo

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Summary

Miro lets you swap the default light gray canvas for one of 11 preset background colors from the Board menu. A distinct background helps tell boards apart when you switch between them and gives workshops or presentations a more deliberate look.

Step-by-step guide

  1. Step 1

    Open your Miro board

    Log in to Miro and open the board whose background you want to change from your dashboard. If you haven't created a board yet, follow the steps to create a board first, since background color settings only appear once a board is open.

  2. Step 2

    Click the three-dot menu

    In the top-left bar, click the three-dot icon next to the board name. The menu that opens lists Board, Edit, View, Preferences, and Accessibility.

  3. Step 3

    Select the Board option

    Hover over or click Board. A submenu opens with board-wide options such as New board, Export, Background color, and History.

  4. Step 4

    Choose Background color

    In the Board submenu, open Background color. A list of 11 presets appears: White, Light Gray (Default), Gray, Dark Gray, Black, and light tints of blue, purple, violet, pink, yellow, and green.

  5. Step 5

    Select your desired color

    Click a color to apply it. The whole canvas changes immediately, and you can open the menu again to try another. There is no custom color picker, so choose the preset closest to your content or team branding.

  6. Step 6

    Verify the change with collaborators

    The background is saved with the board, so it is still there after a reload and anyone you invite as a collaborator opens the board on the same canvas color.

Why this matters

You're running a workshop or client presentation and the default gray canvas feels flat, or looks like every other board you have open. A different background color makes this board recognizable the moment it opens and gives shared sessions a more intentional, branded feel.

Frequently asked questions

  • Can I change the background color on Miro's free plan?

    Yes, background color customization is available on Miro's free plan and doesn't require an upgrade. Any board you create can have its background changed through the Board menu.

  • Does changing the background color affect existing sticky notes or shapes?

    No, changing the board background only affects the canvas color behind your content. Sticky notes, shapes, and other elements keep their original colors and remain fully visible.

  • Can I set a custom color instead of using the presets?

    No. Miro offers 11 preset background colors and no custom color picker. Choose the preset closest to your team's branding or visual preference.

  • Will the background color change apply to templates I use later?

    No. Background color is saved per board, and a new board starts on Light Gray, which the menu marks as the default.

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