How to Customize Your Homepage Background in Google Chrome

Design and set up your custom Google Chrome background in just a few easy steps using Kapwing, a free image and video editor in your browser.

How to Customize Your Homepage Background in Google Chrome

If there’s one thing to note about Google, it’s that they keep it super simple. Even so, the simplicity of the Chrome homepage screen may be a little stale for you.

Google Chrome lets you change your homepage background, which appears whenever you open a new tab, to any image or GIF you want. Using Kapwing, I'm going to show you how to set up your custom Google Chrome background in just a few steps:

  1. Open the ‘Google Chrome Background Image Template
  2. Change the background
  3. Add images and text
  4. Publish and download
  5. Upload to Google Chrome

Related: What's the Best Video Editor for Chromebook Users?

1. Open the ‘Google Chrome Background Image Template’

First, open the ‘Google Chrome Background Image Template’ to ensure your design fits the screen. The orange space indicates where your design will be cut off.

A screenshot of the Google Chrome homepage template in the Kapwing Studio.
The background image template in the Kapwing Studio.
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Disclaimer: this template only works for screens that have a 16:9 aspect ratio. Otherwise, you can open Kapwing Studio, click ‘Start with a blank canvas’ and customize the dimensions based on your screen size.

2. Change the background

Next, select the color picker under ‘Background Color’ and select a new background color.

An indicator pointing to the background color tool in the Kapwing Studio.
An indicator pointing to the background color tool in the Kapwing Studio.

To add an image as the background, read on to the next step and fit your image to cover the white space.

3. Add images and text

Now, click ‘Upload’ in the top navigation and choose an option that works for you.

The Kapwing upload window.
The Kapwing upload window.

Once you’ve added images, click ‘Text’ in the left sidebar, add your message and edit using the tools on the far right side. Remember, this is your custom background, so feel free to experiment with Kapwing’s unique tools.

4. Publish and download

When you’re done, click ‘Export Image’ in the top right and wait for Kapwing to process the final product. After processing, click ‘Download’ to save your custom background to your device.

A screenshot showing how to download images from Kapwing.

5. Upload to Google Chrome

Last, open a new tab in Google Chrome, look to the bottom right and click the ‘Customize Chrome’ option. A menu will appear where you can click to upload your new custom background.

A screen recording showing how to update the homepage background in Chrome.
Uploading a new background to Chrome. 

Finally, you’ve escaped the default Google Chrome background and added your own flair to the search experience - right on!

Remember to tag us @KapwingApp whenever you share your content on social media – we love to see what our creators are passionate about. And be sure to subscribe to the Kapwing Resources page – we’re constantly writing new tutorials and features to help you make the most out of Kapwing.

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