Google Calendar is a popular calendar app that allows users to organize their schedules and events. One of the key features of Google Calendar is the ability to assign different colors to your calendars and events. By default, Google Calendar provides a set of basic colors to choose from. However, some users may want more color options to better differentiate their calendars and events. In this article, we’ll explore if and how you can get more colors on Google Calendar.
The Default Color Options in Google Calendar
When you first create a new calendar in Google Calendar, you’re prompted to pick a color for it. By default, you have the following color options to choose from:
- Blue
- Green
- Purple
- Red
- Yellow
- Orange
- Gray
These default color choices are fairly limited. Once you’ve used them for your main calendars, the options start getting repetitive if you want to create additional calendars.
Similarly, when you create a new event in Google Calendar, you can assign a color to that event. The default event color options are the same as the calendar colors listed above.
Again, if you have a lot of different events, the color choices become limiting with just those 7 default options.
Workarounds to Get More Colors
While Google Calendar doesn’t provide an official way to add more colors, there are some workarounds that users have found:
Use calendar color extensions
Browser extensions like More Google Calendar Colors and Color Palette for Google Calendar can add more color options to Google Calendar. These extensions add their own custom color picker that lets you choose from a wide spectrum of colors when creating calendars or events. This provides an easy way to get many more color choices.
| Color | Hex Code |
|---|---|
| Red | #FF0000 |
| Green | #00FF00 |
| Blue | #0000FF |
Use calendar nicknames
Another option is to create calendars with the default color options, but then customize their names. For example, you could name them “Red Calendar”, “Bluegreen Calendar”, “Light Orange Calendar” etc. The name will show up on the calendar itself and events, allowing you to differentiate them.
While not as visually appealing, calendar nicknames do let you simulate having more color choices.
Assign custom colors through Google Calendar API
For users with some technical expertise, you can access additional Google Calendar colors through its API. The Calendar API allows setting an RGB color value for calendars and events. This opens up thousands of color combinations beyond the standard preset colors.
However, the API does require understanding of REST APIs, the Google Developer Console, JSON, etc. So it’s only an option for those comfortable with some programming work.
Why Doesn’t Google Calendar Have More Colors?
With various workarounds available, the question still remains – why doesn’t Google Calendar have more color options built-in? There are a few potential reasons:
- Minimalism – Google products tend to favor clean, minimal interfaces. Too many colors could make the calendar look cluttered.
- Accessibility – Limiting colors improves accessibility for people who are color blind or have other vision challenges.
- Difficulty choosing – Paradoxically, more choice can make decisions harder. Restricting to a few colors streamlines the process.
- Feature focus – Google may be focusing Calendar development on features like integration over aesthetic options.
While limiting color options has some benefits, it seems Google could easily extend the palette without compromising usability. Hopefully in the future they’ll provide official support for more Google Calendar colors.
Color Workarounds Compared
If you want more Google Calendar color options, which workaround is best for you? Here’s a comparison of the pros and cons:
| Workaround | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|
| Color extensions |
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| Calendar nicknames |
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| Google Calendar API |
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Conclusion
While Google Calendar’s default color options are limited, there are a few workarounds like browser extensions, calendar nicknames, and the Calendar API that can provide more colors. Extensions give you the easiest visual distinction of calendars, but calendar nicknames have the benefit of being visible to all users. For those comfortable with programming, the API offers full custom color options. Hopefully Google will add native support for an expanded color palette in the future.
