To personalize the new tab page in Chrome for Android, open a new tab, tap the three-dot menu, choose Customize new tab page, then tap Appearance. From there you can pick Chrome Default, upload your own photo, apply a Chrome Colors swatch, or turn on a rotating Theme Collection.
What you need before you start
This works on the Chrome app for Android phones and tablets, using a recent version of Chrome for Android. You do not need to be signed in to a Google account, though signing in syncs your choice across devices. This feature lives inside the new tab page itself, not in Chrome’s main Settings menu, so it is separate from the Settings > Appearance screen that controls dark mode and toolbar color.
How do I open the Appearance menu on the new tab page?
- Open Chrome and tap the + icon or swipe to open a new tab.
- Tap the three-dot menu icon (⋮).
- Tap Customize new tab page.
- Tap Appearance.
A sheet opens showing four options: Chrome Default, Upload an image, Chrome Colors, and Theme Collections.
What do the four Appearance options do?
- Chrome Default resets the new tab page to Chrome’s standard look, with no custom background or color applied.
- Upload an image lets you pick a photo from your device’s gallery and set it as the new tab background.
- Chrome Colors shows a grid of 9 preset color swatches. Tap one to tint the new tab page in that color. A toggle here also turns on daily refresh, which automatically rotates to a different swatch each day.
- Theme Collections shows a set of curated photo categories: Landscapes, Architecture, Earth, Patterns, Illustrations, and Gradients. Tap a collection to browse its images and apply one, or turn on the collection’s own daily refresh toggle to get a new image from that category every day.
FAQ
How many color swatches does Chrome Colors offer on Android?
Chrome Colors on Android shows 9 preset swatches. Some older guides list 10, but on a current Chrome for Android build, 9 is what actually appears.
Can Chrome change my new tab background automatically every day?
Yes. Both Chrome Colors and Theme Collections have their own daily refresh toggle. Turn it on, and Chrome swaps the color or photo once a day without you doing anything.
What categories are in Theme Collections?
Theme Collections currently offers Landscapes, Architecture, Earth, Patterns, Illustrations, and Gradients. Each is a set of curated images you can apply individually or let rotate daily.
Is this the same as the Settings > Appearance menu in Chrome for Android?
No. Chrome’s Settings > Appearance screen controls things like dark mode and toolbar color. The Appearance menu described here lives inside Customize new tab page and only changes the new tab background and color, not the rest of the app’s theme.
Verified on
I tested every step above on a Pixel 6a running a recent version of Chrome for Android, working directly from the on-device Appearance sheet.
Where does this leave you?
The Appearance menu is the fastest way to make Chrome’s new tab page feel like yours on Android. Pick a single Chrome Color or photo if you want it to stay put, or turn on daily refresh if you like a bit of variety every time you open a new tab.
Related reading
- Chrome on Android Gets ‘Appearance’ Settings (the Settings-level dark mode feature, different from the new tab page menu above)
- How to Make a Custom Chrome Theme
- Bookmarks Bar Missing on Chrome’s New Tab Page? How to Fix
- Work vs. Personal: How to Use Multiple Chrome Profiles the Right Way
