How to Change ProgressView Background Color in iOS SwiftUI

Progress indicators are essential UI elements that provide feedback on ongoing tasks. While SwiftUI’s ProgressView offers various customization options, changing the background color isn’t straightforward.

In this blog post, we’ll explore different methods to set the background color of a ProgressView in SwiftUI.

What is a ProgressView?

A ProgressView in SwiftUI is a UI element that displays the progress of an ongoing task. It can be either determinate, showing a specific percentage of completion, or indeterminate, displaying a general waiting indicator.

Use Background Modifier

Example: Basic Background Color

The simplest way to set a background color is by using the .background modifier.

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        ProgressView().padding()
            .background(Color.yellow)
    }
}

The .background modifier sets the background color of the ProgressView to red.

Use Overlay for Circular ProgressView

Example: Circular Background

For a circular ProgressView, you can use the .overlay modifier to add a background.

import SwiftUI

struct ContentView: View {
    var body: some View {
        ProgressView().padding()
            .overlay(
                Circle().fill(Color.yellow).opacity(0.5)
            )
    }
}

The .overlay modifier adds a green circle behind the white circular ProgressView. This way, the background color is set only for the progress indicator, not the entire view.

Considerations

• Visibility: Make sure the background color and the progress indicator color have enough contrast for better visibility.
• User Experience: Always consider the overall layout and design when changing the background color to ensure it fits well and provides a good user experience.

While SwiftUI doesn’t provide a built-in way to change the background color of ProgressView, you can achieve this using various methods like .background and .overlay. Each method has its own advantages and use-cases, offering you the flexibility to choose the best fit for your app.