How to change the new tab background in Brave

Q: Can I use a different picture on every new tab?

Yes. Upload several pictures with Use your own, or choose Brave backgrounds, solid colors or gradients with Refresh on every new tab.

Q: How do I get a plain black or white new tab in Brave?

Turn off Show background image, or choose a solid color. For an empty page, set New tab page shows to Blank page in Settings, Get started.

Updated 18 October 2026

Open a new tab, click the Customize gear at the top right and go to Background Image. You can upload your own pictures, use Brave’s photos, pick a solid color or gradient, or turn images off.

Checked in Brave 1.97 on Windows, October 2026. Menu names are the same on Mac and Linux.

The background options

Option	What it does
Use your own	Upload pictures from your computer to show on new tabs.
Brave backgrounds	Hand-picked photos that come with Brave.
Solid colors	One color, or a different random one on every new tab with Refresh on every new tab.
Gradients	Color gradients, also with the refresh option.
Show background image (off)	Turns images off; the page shows a plain background.

Upload your own picture

Open a new tab and click the Customize gear.
In Background Image, make sure Show background image is on.
Choose Use your own and pick one or more pictures from your computer.

Still seeing other pictures? Sponsored images appear regardless of your background choice while Show new tab page ads is on. Turn that switch off in the same section; more on Brave’s new tab ads.

Tips for a good new tab picture

Use an image at least as wide as your screen (2560 pixels covers most laptop and desktop screens) so it stays sharp.
Busy photos make the clock and top sites hard to read. Darker or blurred pictures work best behind text.
A solid color or gradient loads instantly and never competes with your shortcuts.

A board of bookmarks over your wallpaper

Stackboard also lets you set your own picture behind its board of bookmarks, with sliders to dim and blur it so the links stay readable. The picture is stored in your browser and never uploaded. It works in Brave the same way it does in Chrome.

Questions

Can I use a different picture on every new tab?

Yes. Upload several pictures with Use your own, or choose Brave backgrounds, solid colors or gradients with Refresh on every new tab.

How do I get a plain black or white new tab in Brave?

Turn off Show background image, or choose a solid color. For an empty page, set New tab page shows to Blank page in Settings, Get started.

Try Stackboard

A free Chrome extension that turns your new tab into a board of your own bookmarks. No account, nothing leaves your browser.

Add to Chrome, it’s free