How to Add a Running Head in Google Docs

What a running head is and where it appears

A running head is text that repeats at the top of every page in your document — usually your name, the document title, or a page number. Google Docs calls this a "header," and it sits in the margin above your main text on each page. Once you add it, the same text appears automatically on every page without you having to type it again.

Running heads are standard in academic papers, business reports, and any formal document where you want consistent information visible throughout. The header stays separate from your main text, so editing one does not affect the other.

Key Takeaways

Open the Insert menu, select Header, then choose which pages should have the header (all pages, or starting from page two).
Type your running head text directly into the header box that appears at the top of the page.
Click outside the header to return to your main document; the header now repeats on every selected page.
Edit or delete a header by double-clicking it, making your changes, and clicking outside the box again.
You can add different headers to different sections of the same document using section breaks.

How to insert a header in three steps

Start with your document open in Google Docs. Click the Insert menu at the top of the page, then scroll down and click Header. A small menu appears with three options: Header, Header (different first page), and Header (different odd and even pages). For most documents, click plain Header.

A blue box now appears at the top of your first page with the cursor blinking inside it. Type your running head text — your name, document title, or page number, or any combination. The text you type here will repeat on every page of your document.

When you are finished typing, click anywhere in your main document text below the header. The header box closes, and you return to normal editing. Your running head now appears at the top of every page. If you need to change it later, double-click the header area to open it again, make your edits, and click outside to close it.

Starting the header on page two instead of page one

Many documents — especially academic papers — require no header on the first page. To skip the header on page one and start it on page two, go to Insert > Header and choose Header (different first page). Google Docs now creates two separate header areas: one for the first page (which you leave blank) and one for all remaining pages.

Click in the header area on page two, type your running head text, and click outside. The header appears on page two and every page after it, but not on page one. This is the standard format for most academic and professional documents.

Adding page numbers to your running head

You can combine text with automatic page numbers so your running head reads something like "Smith — Page 1" or "Annual Report — 2" without typing each number manually. Click in the header box where you want the page number to appear. Type any text you want before the number (for example, "Page "), then go to Insert > Page number > Page number. Google Docs inserts a code that automatically fills in the correct page number on each page.

You can also insert the total page count by clicking Insert > Page number > Page count, which lets you create headers like "Page 3 of 12." Click outside the header when you are done, and the page numbers update automatically throughout your document.

Using different headers in different sections

If you need one header for the first part of your document and a different header for the second part, you must create a section break. Position your cursor at the point where you want the new header to start, then go to Insert > Break > Section break (continuous). Google Docs inserts an invisible marker that divides your document into sections.

Now double-click the header in the second section. You will see a checkbox that says "Link to previous." Uncheck this box so the second section's header becomes independent. Type your new header text, click outside, and the two sections now have different headers. This is useful for documents that change topic or format partway through, such as a report with an introduction section followed by a data section.

Removing or editing a header

To change your header text, double-click anywhere in the header area at the top of any page. The header box opens for editing. Make your changes, then click in your main document to close the header. Your new text appears on all pages that share that header.

To remove the header entirely, double-click it to open the header box, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac), and press Delete. The header box closes and disappears from all pages. If you want to remove the header from only some pages — for example, keeping it on pages two through five but removing it from page six onward — you must create a section break at page six and unlink that section's header, then delete the text from that section's header box.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is clicking in the header and typing, then clicking back in the main text and continuing to type, only to realize later that the header text is mixed in with your document. This happens because the header and main text areas are separate. Always click clearly outside the header box (in the main text area) when you are finished editing the header. You will see the header box close and the cursor return to your main text.

Another mistake is forgetting to unlink sections before editing a header in the second section. If you create a section break but do not uncheck "Link to previous," changes to the second section's header will change the first section's header too. Always uncheck that box if you want independent headers.

A third mistake is trying to add a header by typing at the very top of the page in your main document. This does not create a true header — it just puts text at the top of page one. Use the Insert menu to create a proper header that repeats automatically on every page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a different header on the first page?

Yes. When you insert a header, choose "Header (different first page)" instead of plain "Header." This creates a separate header area for page one that you can leave blank or fill with different text than the rest of the document.

How do I add a page number to my running head?

Double-click the header to open it, position your cursor where you want the page number, then go to Insert > Page number > Page number. Google Docs inserts a code that automatically shows the correct number on each page. You can add text before or after the number, like "Page 5."

What if I want different headers in different parts of my document?

Insert a section break where you want the new header to start (Insert > Break > Section break). Double-click the header in the new section and uncheck "Link to previous" so it becomes independent. Now you can type different text in that section's header without affecting earlier sections.

How do I remove a header from just one page?

You cannot remove a header from a single page — headers apply to entire sections. To remove a header from page six onward, create a section break at page six, unlink that section's header, then delete the text from that section's header box. The earlier pages keep their header while page six and beyond have none.

Why is my header text appearing in my main document?

This usually means you typed in the main document area instead of in the header box. Headers must be added through Insert > Header, not by typing at the top of the page. If text is already mixed in, select and delete it from the main document, then use Insert > Header to add a proper header.

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