How do I change the background color in Android Studio editor?

To change the background color of the editor in Android Studio, navigate through the settings to the color scheme options for default text. This allows for precise customization of the coding environment's appearance.

Customizing Your Android Studio Editor Background

Personalizing your Android Studio editor background can significantly enhance readability and reduce eye strain, especially during long coding sessions. The process involves accessing the IDE's settings or preferences and modifying the color scheme for the default text elements.

Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Editor Background Color

Follow these instructions to modify the background color of your code editor:

1. Access Settings/Preferences:

   • On Windows/Linux: Go to File > Settings (or press Ctrl + Alt + S).
   • On macOS: Go to Android Studio > Preferences (or press Cmd + ,).

2. Navigate to Color Scheme:

   • In the Settings/Preferences dialog, expand the Editor section in the left-hand panel.
   • Select Color Scheme.

3. Select General Scheme Options:

   • Under Color Scheme, click on General. This section allows for broad text and background color adjustments.

4. Locate Default Text Settings:

   • In the right-hand panel, under the Color Scheme General options, find and expand Text.
   • Select Default text.

5. Modify Background Color:

   • On the right side of the Default text options, you will see panels for Foreground and Background colors.
   • Click the color swatch next to Background. A color picker will appear.
   • Choose your desired background color. You can use hexadecimal codes, RGB values, or select from the palette.

6. Apply Changes:

   • Click OK or Apply to save your changes and instantly see the new background color in your editor.

Example: Setting a Dark Background

Let's say you want to set a dark gray background:

1. Go to File > Settings (Windows/Linux) or Android Studio > Preferences (macOS).
2. Navigate to Editor > Color Scheme > General > Text > Default text.
3. Click the Background color swatch.
4. Enter the hex code #2B2B2B (a common dark gray) or select a similar dark shade from the color picker.
5. Click OK to apply the color, then Apply and OK to close the settings.

Further Customization: Specific Syntax Colors

While changing the Default text background alters the primary editor area, you might also want to adjust colors for specific code elements (e.g., keywords, comments, strings). These are found under the various language-specific sections within Editor > Color Scheme (e.g., Java, Kotlin, XML, Comments).

Category	Path	Description
Default Editor BG	Editor > Color Scheme > General > Text > Default text	Changes the overall background color for the code editor area.
Keyword Colors	Editor > Color Scheme > [Language] > Keyword	Adjusts the color for reserved words in a specific programming language (e.g., public, class, fun).
Comment Colors	Editor > Color Scheme > [Language] > Comment	Modifies the color of code comments.
String Literal	Editor > Color Scheme > [Language] > String	Changes the color of text within quotation marks.

By customizing these settings, you can create a unique and comfortable coding environment that suits your preferences. For more details on customization, refer to the official JetBrains documentation on configuring colors and fonts.