How to add a header to a Google Docs document

A header is text or an image that appears at the top of every page in your document. To add one, open your document, click Insert in the menu bar, then select Header. A box will appear at the top of your first page — type or paste whatever you want there, and it will repeat on every page automatically.

Headers are useful for page numbers, document titles, dates, or your name. Once you add a header, you can edit it anytime by clicking in the header area itself. When you click back into the main document body, the header locks in place and appears dimmed until you need to edit it again.

Key Takeaways

  • Headers appear at the top of every page and are added through Insert > Header in the menu bar.
  • You can type text, add page numbers, or insert images into a header just as you would in the document body.
  • Different sections of your document can have different headers if you use the section break feature.
  • Headers are separate from the main document, so editing one does not change your page content.

Adding page numbers to your header

Page numbers are one of the most common things to put in a header. After you create a header (Insert > Header), click inside the header box and position your cursor where you want the number. Then click Insert again and select Page number. Google Docs will automatically number each page.

If you want the page number to say something like "Page 3 of 10", click Insert in the header, then Page number, then choose the format that includes the total page count. This is helpful for longer documents where readers need to know how many pages remain.

Making headers different on the first page

By default, your header appears on every page, including the first one. If you want to hide the header on your title page or first page only, click anywhere in the header and a small toolbar will appear. Look for the option labeled Options (three dots) and select Different first page. The header will now disappear from page one but continue on all other pages.

This is standard for reports, essays, and formal documents where the first page has its own title and you do not want a header cluttering it. You can still add content to the first-page header if you change your mind — it just starts as blank.

Using different headers in different sections

If your document has multiple sections that need different headers — for example, a table of contents with one header and the main chapters with another — you can set this up by creating section breaks. First, position your cursor where you want the new section to begin. Click Insert, then Break, then Section break (next page).

Once the section break is in place, click into the header of the new section. A toolbar will appear with an option to Unlink from previous. Click that, and now you can edit this section's header independently without affecting the earlier sections. Each section can have its own header text, page numbering style, or layout.

Adding images and formatting to headers

Headers are not limited to text. Click inside your header and use Insert to add an image, a line, or a table — the same way you would in the main document. You can also format header text with bold, italics, color, or different font sizes. This is useful if you want a logo at the top of each page or a decorative line separating the header from your content.

Keep in mind that large images or complex formatting in headers can make your document harder to read or slower to load. A simple header with your name, document title, and page number is usually clearer than a heavily designed one.

Editing and removing headers

To edit a header you have already created, click anywhere in the header area and it will become active. Make your changes, then click back into the main document body when you are done. The header will lock in place and appear dimmed.

To remove a header entirely, click inside it and select all the content (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac), then delete it. The header box will remain but empty. If you want to delete the header completely, click Insert > Header again and select Delete header from the menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a different header on odd and even pages?

Google Docs does not have a built-in option for alternating headers on odd and even pages the way some word processors do. Your best option is to use section breaks to create separate sections for odd and even pages, then customize each header independently.

Why is my header showing on the first page when I do not want it to?

You likely have not enabled the "Different first page" option. Click in your header, select the three-dot menu, and choose Different first page. This will hide the header on page one while keeping it on all other pages.

Can I put a page number in my header that starts at a number other than 1?

Yes. Click in your header where you want the page number, then click Insert > Page number > More. You will see an option to set a custom starting number for that section.

Does editing the header change my document content?

No. Headers and footers are separate from your main document text. Anything you type or edit in the header will not affect your page content, and vice versa.