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How to Insert a Background Image on an Excel Worksheet

Add a decorative background to your worksheet β€” just remember it is for the screen only.

  1. Open the "Page Layout" tab

    Click the "Page Layout" tab on the ribbon.

  2. Click "Background"

    In the "Page Setup" group, click "Background."

  3. Choose the image you want

    Select an image file saved on your computer to insert.

  4. Check the tiled result

    Confirm that the image repeats like a tile across the entire visible sheet.

  5. Why this matters

    Setting a company logo or a specific pattern as the sheet background is a simple way to give the on-screen document a distinct visual style.

Decorate the screen, not the printout

A company logo or a subtle pattern set as the sheet background can give the on-screen document more personality. Just keep in mind this background is a display-only feature and will not appear anywhere on a printed page.

A different tool for images that must print

If you actually need a logo or watermark-style image to appear in printed output, inserting it as a regular picture (or using a header/footer image) is the right approach instead, since the sheet background feature was never designed to reach the printer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the background image show up when I print?

No β€” the sheet background is a display-only feature and does not appear on printed pages.

How do I remove the background image?

On the same "Page Layout" tab, click the "Delete Background" button to remove it.