How to Print in Color on Word, Including Page Backgrounds

To print in color on Word, select a color-capable printer and choose Color in the print settings. If the page color or a background image is missing, also enable Print background colors and images in Word’s desktop settings. These are separate controls: a color printer cannot make Word include a background that Word is set to omit, and Word cannot override a printer or driver set to grayscale.

The steps below cover Word for Microsoft 365 and recent desktop versions. Printer options vary by model and driver, so check the preview and print one test page before producing a large batch.

1. Check which color you need to print

Word prints text, inserted photos, and most document graphics as part of the page. A page-wide fill is different: for example, a color added through Design > Page Color is a document background. Word has a separate print option for backgrounds, so the page may preview or print white even when the color is visible while editing.

If you have not added a page color yet, open Design > Page Color and select a color. To use a background image, add it using the appropriate picture or watermark feature for your document. Keep text contrast high; a dark or full-page fill can use substantial ink or toner.

2. Allow Word to print page backgrounds

Use the desktop app when the document needs a page color or background image. Microsoft documents separate paths for Windows and Mac.

Windows

1. Open the document and select File > Options.
2. Choose Display.
3. Under Printing options, check Print background colors and images.
4. If your document contains Word-created shapes or text boxes that are missing from print output, also check Print drawings created in Word. Select OK to apply the settings.

Mac

1. In the menu bar, select Word > Preferences.
2. Under Output and Sharing, select Print.
3. Under Print Options, select Print background colors and images.
4. Close the Print dialog, then choose File > Print to preview and print the document.

These background controls are documented for desktop Word. If you are using Word for the web and a page background is absent, open the file in the desktop app, enable the setting, and then print.

3. Choose color in the printer settings

1. In Word, go to File > Print and select the physical printer you plan to use under Printer.
2. Look under Settings for a color choice. If the selected printer supports color, Word may show a setting such as Color, Grayscale, or Black and White. Choose Color.
3. If Word does not show a color choice, open Printer Properties or the printer-specific settings. Set the output to Color or disable a grayscale/black-and-white mode. The labels depend on the printer and its driver.

On Mac, open Word’s File > Print dialog. If the system print dialog has a Black & White option, make sure it is not selected; otherwise, choose a color option in the printer’s own settings. On Word for the web, Word creates a PDF for printing. Open that PDF and choose color in the computer’s print dialog.

4. Check the preview and print a test page

Before sending the full job, confirm that the preview shows the elements you expect: page background, photos, shapes, and colored text. Word’s preview helps catch missing backgrounds or the wrong printer, but the final result also depends on the printer driver and the printer itself. Print one page first when color accuracy or ink use matters.

If the printout is still black and white

• Background is white: Recheck Print background colors and images in desktop Word, then reopen the print preview.
• Everything is monochrome: Verify the selected printer and its properties. A printer can remember a grayscale preset even when Word’s page preview is in color.
• Shapes or text boxes are missing: In Windows desktop Word, check Print drawings created in Word under File > Options > Display.
• Color is faint or inaccurate: Check the printer’s ink or toner and its color settings. Printer-specific controls differ, so consult the manufacturer’s support instructions for that model.

For routine documents, leave the page background white unless the design needs a full-page color. This can reduce ink or toner use while keeping the text and photos in color.

Official Microsoft references

• Print background color or image in Word
• Word Options: Display and printing options
• Print a document in Word for Windows
• Printer color settings in Word
• Print a document in Word for Mac