How do I change the default fill color in Excel permanently?

Hi HungLe5

Despite not giving correct step-by-step instructions, Ajibola Olanipekun's advice is basically sound.

The process is pretty simple. Format a workbook and save it as a template with a special name and location.

Let's talk about the limitations of your request.

You can set the default color of the color picker for new, blank workbooks. Keep in mind that the color picker shows the most recent color chosen. You can set it to yellow for the default for the first new workbook you open, but if you choose a different color the color picker will stay that color until you choose yet another color until your next Excel session, even if you open another new blank workbook.

I wonder if you want to set just the color of the color picker, or do you also want to set the color for text on all the cells in the default worksheet? Both are possible and easy to do, but it's something to consider. Do you also want to set the default format for additional new worksheets?

I'll start with your basic request: set the default color of the color picker when Excel opens. This is the easiest scenario.

1. Open, a new blank Excel workbook
2. On the Ribbon, click the font color picker and choose the color you want as the default.
3. On the Menu Bar chose File > Save As Template. Use the file name Book.xltx
4. Change the save location to Users/username/Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/UserContent/Startup/Excel/ and then save the workbook. You will be prompted whether to replace the existing Book.xltx - choose Replace.
   
5. Quit Excel (Command-Q)
6. Open Excel and your default blank workbook will open with the color picker set to the color you chose.

Now that you know how to set the default workbook, you can go crazy and set any formatting you want as the default and then save it as Book.xltx and away you go!

There's one customization that's not in the interface where you might expect it to be, and that's the color of the grid lines. You can choose that in Excel Preferences > View.

Did you also want to set the default color for the text of all the cells on the default worksheet? That's easy. Before you save the workbook, click the triangle button at the upper left corner of the worksheet to select all the cells. Click the text color picker and choose the color for all the cells before you save the workbook.

At the "Home" tab, "Font" section. The default color is Yellow. I would like to change to a different color, for example blue. So when I open a new Excel, the blue color will appear instead of Yellow.. How is that being done?

Hello Ajibola,

Your answer on "fonts" has nothing to do with my question.

My original question is in the "Home" tab, and "Font" section. The default color is Yellow. I want to change to a different color, for example blue. So every time I open a new Excel worksheet, the "blue" color will appear instead of the default color "yellow".. How is that being done?

This is the most extremely confusing instruction I have ever run into.

As for the part of "File tab, clicking on Options, clicking on Save, and browsing to the location where you saved the template file in the Default personal templates location box." Have error and not allow me to proceed.