How to Add Background Image to Google Calendar

Adding a background image to your Google Calendar has 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. Unfortunately, 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 have been integrated into several applications, others have not.

Anyway, just because the Labs feature is gone doesn't mean there aren't some tricks you can use yet. To add a background image now, Google Calendar users will need to seek help from a third party.

Adding a Background Image to Google Calendar Using Chrome Extensions

Since the demise of Google Labs, the only way to add a background image to Google Calendars is to use the Chrome browser and a third-party extension. Here are the first three.

Custom Calendar Backgrounds Chrome Extension

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

1. Go to Custom Calendar Backgrounds and click the « Add to Chrome«  in the upper right corner of the page to install it.
2. Once installed, click on the icon at the top right of Google Chrome and then select "Options. " 
3. Click on your preferred display option:
   • Single image – This is a static image that you can set as a background image. The image will not change until you change it directly.
   • Monthly picture – This option allows you to configure a different image for each month of the year.
4. Add the image you have chosen in the appropriate input box.
   • You will need to enter (or copy and paste) your image URL.
5. When you have finished adding your image(s), click the " To safeguard " button at the bottom right of the screen.
6. Now when you sign in to your Google Calendar account, you will see the image background behind your calendar.

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

Extension Chrome G-calize

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

1. Head to G-calize and click blue « Add to Chrome”To install it.
2. Once installed, right click on the extension icon which is to the right of your address bar, then choose « Options. " 
3. Two tabs are displayed in the left menu:
   • Day of the week: Change the font and background colors for each day of the week. You can use one of the predefined colors from the palette or customize your own.
   • Vacance: Choose holidays and change colors and fonts until you feel like it. You can even import a calendar if you already have one.
4. Once you are done changing the color settings, just scroll down and select " To safeguard. "  Changes should be instantaneous.
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 used to your color representation scheme, and you'll know what day of the week you're adding an event to, like Sunday and Wednesday.

Stylish Chrome Extension

Stylish is a fantastic Google Chrome extension that lets you apply a wide variety of styles to any website, not just Google Calendar. Sleek also has an extension for Mozilla Firefox.

1. Go to Sleek and Key Blue « Add to Chrome. " button.
   
2. Go to Google Calendar.
   
3. Left click on the " Elegant 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 don't apply.
   
5. For more Google Calendar backgrounds, click the « Find styles for different sites«  link at the bottom of the list.
   
6. A full library of themes to choose from appears, but it's not specific to Google Calendar options. You have to search.
   
7. In the search bar of the Elegant web page, type "google calendar" and press " Enter " or click on the "search icon" (magnifying glass).
   
8. The results aren't perfect, but you can sort the list to find Google Calendar backgrounds. If you see a style you like, click the image to open its page.
   
9. In the chosen background page, select the “Setup Style” button found below the sample image.
   
10. On Google Calendar, left click on the "Style" extension icon in the browser (top right), select the "Installed" tab, then drag the "Active" chosen background slider to the right to activate it. In some cases, you can create multiple themes or skins simultaneously.
    
11. Refresh Google Calendar and your background or other images should appear.
    

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

The pen seemed a bit slow to load in some cases when browsing backgrounds/themes for Google calendars. The installed list was a bit slow to display when opening the extension options at the top of the browser.

When searching for backgrounds, the Stylus extension's search functionality is a bit off because it lists more than the search term you asked for. Anyway, if you browse patiently, you will find some really cool themes/backgrounds for your URLs, including "Google Calendar" (calendar.google.com).