Can the layout background color in ArcGIS Pro be changed?

Answer

In ArcGIS Pro, the layout background color cannot be changed directly. By default, new layouts are created with a white background, providing a workspace to position and organize various map elements. At times, changing the background color is necessary to match an organization's theme and enhance the visual effect of the layout. As a workaround, use the Rectangle tool to draw a rectangle over the layout area and modify its color to achieve the desired background.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro layout.
2. On the Insert tab, in the Graphics and Text group, under Polygon, select Rectangle and draw a rectangle to cover the entire layout area.
3. In the layout view, right-click the drawn rectangle and select Properties to open the Element pane.
4. In the Element pane, click the Symbol tab.
5. On the Symbol tab, under Appearance, for Color, click the drop-down arrow and choose the desired color.
6. Click Apply.
7. In the layout view, right-click the rectangle and select Order > Send To Back.

Note:
Alternatively, in the Contents pane, on the List By Drawing Order tab, drag the Rectangle element to the bottom of the list.

8. In the Element pane, on the Rectangle tab, under General, check the Locked check box.

Note:
Alternatively, in the Contents pane, click the Lock button  next to the Rectangle element to disable selecting or modifying the element.

The layout below features a colored background in ArcGIS Pro.

The second option is to set a background color for the map frame. Refer to ArcGIS Pro: Modify the border, background, or shadow for instructions. Then, in the layout view, right-click the map frame element and select Order > Send To Back to display other map elements on the layout.

The image below shows the map frame with a background color applied.

To create a transparent background for the layout, export the layout as a PNG file. The PNG format supports transparency and allows the background colors from the web browser to show through.

1. Open the ArcGIS Pro layout.
2. On the Share tab, click Export Layout.
3. In the Export Layout pane, under File, for File Type, click the drop-down menu and select PNG.
4. Under Name, check the Transparent background check box.
5. Click Export.

The image below shows the exported layout uploaded to a website, with the website's background color visible in the transparent areas.