How to Change Google Calendar Event Colors

Changing Google Calendar event colors helps you spot meetings, focus blocks, and personal time at a glance. You can recolor one event, set a default color for an entire calendar, or adjust colors from the mobile app. This guide covers each method using the real Google Calendar menus as of 2026.

Change the color of a single event (web)

Recoloring one event overrides whatever default color its calendar uses. It only affects that event.

1. Open Google Calendar in your browser.
2. Click the event once to open the popup, then click the pencil (Edit) icon. For a fuller view, the event editor opens automatically.
3. Find the color dropdown near the calendar/owner field (it shows the current color name, like "Tomato").
4. Pick a new color from the 11 options.
5. Click Save.

If you only want a quick change without opening the editor, right-click (or two-finger click) the event directly on the grid — a color palette appears instantly. Click a swatch and you're done.

Set a default color for an entire calendar (web)

Every calendar in your list has a base color. New events inherit it unless you override them individually.

1. In the left sidebar under My calendars or Other calendars, hover over the calendar name.
2. Click the three-dot menu (Options) that appears.
3. Choose a color from the swatches in the menu, or click the plus (+) for a custom color (custom hex colors are available here on the web).

This is the fastest way to give "Work" and "Personal" calendars distinct identities. Note that custom hex colors set here may display as the nearest standard color in some mobile views.

Change event colors on mobile (Android and iPhone)

The Google Calendar app supports recoloring a single event, but not as many shortcuts as the web.

1. Open the Google Calendar app.
2. Tap the event, then tap the pencil (Edit) icon.
3. Scroll to the colored circle showing the current color name and tap it.
4. Choose a new color and tap Save (or the checkmark).

To change a whole calendar's default color on mobile:

1. Tap the hamburger menu (☰), then Settings.
2. Tap the calendar you want to change.
3. Tap Color and pick one.

Quick reference: where each option lives

Tips for a color system that sticks

• Keep it to 3–5 meaningful categories so colors stay readable.
• Reserve one bold color (like Tomato) for "do not book / focus time."
• Apply colors consistently — a color only helps if it always means the same thing.

For the full list of color names and a system you can copy, see our Google Calendar color codes guide.

If you keep work and personal calendars in separate Google accounts, nocal brings your Google and Outlook calendars into one color-coded timeline — see how.