How to Add a Background Image to Google Calendar

Adding a background image to your Google Calendar had been easy for a very long time. All you had to do was use the Labs feature that Google offered inside the Google Calendar settings. Sadly, Google decided to retire the Labs feature for some reason, leaving us without a quick and easy way to change the background image. Google Labs was a testing/experimental program, allowing you to use features and options in various Google Apps, such as Gmail and Calendar. Some features made their way to multiple apps while others did not.

Regardless, just because the Labs feature is gone doesn’t mean that there aren’t still a few tricks you can use. To add a background image now, Google Calendar users will need to seek out third-party help.

Adding a Background Image to Google Calendar using Chrome Extensions

Since Google Labs disappeared, the only way to add a background image to Google Calendars is using the Chrome browser and a third-party extension. Here are the top three.

Custom Calendar Background Chrome Extension

One Chrome extension that can help you spice up your Google Calendar background is the aptly named Custom Calendar Backgrounds. You can add full-background images to spice up the application and give it a different look anytime you want.

1. Go to Custom Calendar Backgrounds and click the “Add to Chrome“ button in the top-right corner of the page to install it.
2. Once installed, click on the icon at the upper right of Google Chrome and then select “Options.“
3. Click on your preferred display option:
   • Single Image – This is one static image that you can set as your background image. The image will not change until you change it directly.
   • Monthly Image – This option allows you to set up a different image for each month of the year.
4. Add your chosen image to the appropriate input box.
   • You’ll need to type in (or copy and paste) the URL for your image.
5. When you are done adding your image(s), click on the “Save” button in the bottom-right section of the screen.
6. Now, when you log into your Google Calendar account, you’ll see the image background behind your calendar.

It is best to choose not-so noisy images when it comes to visual perception, as this makes the calendar challenging to see. To make it easier on the eyes, stick to images that contain a singular color palette, such as nature scenes.

G-calize Chrome Extension

G-calize is a bit more unique with its offered features. The extension doesn’t allow you to customize your Google Calendar background image but instead enables you to change the background color and font for individual days of the week. An extension like this is designed for those who want to avoid distracting images but would still like to add a splash of color. This approach to customizing your Google Calendar background provides a colorful way to replace the white default setting. G-calize makes the distinction between each day of the week much easier on the eyes.

1. Head to G-calize and click on the blue “Add to Chrome” button to install it.
2. Once installed, right-click the extension icon found to the right of your address bar, then choose “Options.”
3. You’re presented with two tabs on the left side menu:
   • Day of the week: Change up the font and background colors for every day of the week. You can use one of the predefined colors from the palette or customize your own.
   • Holiday: Choose the holiday and change up the colors and fonts until your heart’s content. You can even import a calendar if you already have one.
4. Once you’re done changing the color settings, just scroll to the bottom and select “Save.” The changes should be instant.
5. Visit your Google Calendar page again (or refresh it) and you’ll notice the new look you’ve created.

Over time, you’ll get accustomed to your color representation scheme and know which day of the week you’re adding an event to, such as Sundays and Wednesdays.

Stylish Chrome Extension

Stylish is a fantastic Google Chrome extension that lets you apply a large variety of styles to any website, not only Google Calendar. Stylish does have an extension for Mozilla Firefox as well.

1. Go to Stylish and click on the blue “Add to Chrome.” button.
   
2. Go to Google Calendar.
   
3. Left-click on the “Stylish extension icon” found in the top-right section of your address bar, which may appear unpinned in the Google Extension Icon.
   
4. You’ll see a list of available themes for Google Calendar. These choices are just a handful of themes for the URL, and some do not apply.
   
5. For more Google Calendar backgrounds, click on the “Find styles for different sites“ link located at the bottom of the list.
   
6. An entire library of themes from which to choose appears, but it is not specific to Google Calendar options. You have to search.
   
7. In the search bar of the Stylish webpage, type “google calendar” and press “Enter” or click on the “Search icon” (magnifying glass).
   
8. Results are not perfect, but you can sort through the list to find Google Calendar backgrounds. If you see a style that you like, click on the image to open its page.
   
9. In the chosen background’s page, select the “Install Style” button found underneath the image sample.
   
10. On Google Calendar, left-click the “Stylus” extension icon in the browser (top-right), select the “Installed” tab, then swipe the “Active” slider of the chosen background to the right to turn it on. On some cases, you can do more than one theme or skin simultaneously.
    
11. Refresh Google Calendar and your background or other imagery should appear.
    

Not only will your Google Calendar adapt to a chosen style, but so will all other websites that allow Stylish to alter the theme.

Stylus seemed a little slow to load in some instances while browsing backgrounds/themes for Google Calendars. The installed list was a little sluggish to display when opening the extension options at the top of the browser.

When looking for backgrounds, the search functionality of the Stylus extension is a little off since it lists more than the search term you requested. Regardless, if you browse patiently, you’ll find some really cool themes/backgrounds for your URLs, including “Google Calendar” (calendar.google.com).

Making the Most of Google Calendar

Although you now need an extension to get the job done, adding a background image to a Google Calendar is simple. With a few clicks you can have the Google Calendar you always dreamed of. Thanks to developers, no longer supported features are brought back.