Arrange the layout and choose a theme

Rearrange the header

Hover over any item in the header — the title, window name, clock, status or any button — and drag it to a new spot, including between the title row and the button row. Your layout is remembered for that window.

To stop items moving by accident, click the lock button that appears in the header on hover; dragging stays off until you close the window. With the keyboard, focus a header button and press Alt+Shift+Left or Right.

Resize the timer card

Hover over the timer card and faint bars appear on the edges you can drag. Drag one to make the card wider or narrower — the agenda and other cards fill the space. On smaller screens, a narrower card puts the timer and agenda side by side. Double-click an edge to reset it. With the keyboard, press Tab to reach an edge and use the Left and Right arrow keys (hold Shift for bigger steps).

Collapse the header

Click the arrow at the end of the header, or press H, to collapse it. It leaves a slim strip with the window name, the date and time and the connection status. Under When the header is collapsed, keep showing on the Display tab in Settings, tick anything else you want kept, such as the timer-only and pop-out buttons, or untick those three. Leave everything unticked to hide the header completely; a small button in the corner brings it back.

Choose a theme

Click the palette button to choose from more than 30 themes: everyday light and dark themes, the four seasons (or one that follows the season automatically), and holidays through the year. The sun/moon button switches between light and dark.

Customize a theme's colours

Open the palette menu and switch to its Customize tab to change any of eight colours in a theme: Background, Cards, Raised areas, Borders, Text, Muted text, Accent & links, and Buttons. Changes show and save as you pick. The Editing menu picks which theme you're changing. The text on buttons switches between black and white on its own so it stays readable.

Your colours are saved for that theme in that window, so every theme can have its own tweaks and switching themes keeps them. Reset this theme goes back to the theme's own colours, and Reset all edited themes clears every change. Softer colours can also make a long day easier on your eyes — the eye button in the header opens Screen comfort, with tips on desk setup, lighting and eye care.

Start over

Settings → Layout has Reset header layout and Reset timer width. Reset to defaults at the bottom of Settings resets everything else but keeps your calendar connection.

Related guides

For a stripped-down view, see Use timer-only mode, the pop-out, full screen and an app window. To run separate windows with their own layouts, see Use several Google accounts.