What folios are and why you add them in InDesign
A folio in InDesign is a page number — either a single number or a number paired with other text like a chapter title or document name. InDesign calls them folios because designers often use them in books and long documents where you need consistent numbering across many pages. You add them by creating a text frame, inserting a special code that tells InDesign to count pages automatically, and then copying that frame to every page where you want the number to appear.
The reason you use InDesign's built-in folio feature instead of typing numbers by hand is that InDesign updates them automatically. If you delete a page in the middle of your document, every page number after it shifts down without you touching anything. If you type "5" on page five and later insert a new page before it, you now have two pages labeled "5" and no way to fix it except manually.
Folios live in the margins or footers of your pages, usually centered at the bottom or placed in an outside corner. You control their position, font, and size the same way you would any other text in InDesign — by editing the text frame that holds them.
Key Takeaways
- Folios are page numbers you insert using InDesign's special page number code, which updates automatically when you add or remove pages.
- You create a text frame in the margin or footer area, insert the page number marker, and then copy that frame to every page or use a master page to place it on all pages at once.
- Master pages are the fastest method because one folio placed on a master page appears on every page that uses that master automatically.
- You can combine the page number code with regular text to create folios like "Chapter 3 — Page 12" or "12 of 47".
Creating a folio using a master page
The fastest way to add folios to every page is to place them on a master page — a template page that InDesign applies to your document pages. Open the Pages panel by going to Window > Pages. You will see your document pages listed, and above them a section called Master Pages with a default master called "A-Master" or similar.
Double-click the master page to edit it. You are now working on the template that controls the layout of every page using that master. Create a text frame in the location where you want the folio to appear — typically the bottom center or bottom outside corner of the page. Click and drag to draw the frame, just as you would on a regular page.
With the text frame selected and your cursor blinking inside it, go to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. InDesign inserts a special symbol (usually a triangle or plus sign) that represents the page number. When you explore this master to your document pages, that symbol becomes "1" on page one, "2" on page two, and so on.
Return to your document pages by clicking one of them in the Pages panel. The folio now appears on every page that uses this master. If you need to adjust the position, font, or size, go back to the master page, edit the text frame, and the changes explore to all pages at once.
Adding text before or after the page number
You can place regular text alongside the page number code to create folios like "Page 5" or "5 of 47". In the text frame on your master page, type the text you want before the number — for example, type "Page " (with a space after it). Then insert the page number marker as described above. Type any text you want after it, such as " of 47".
If you want the folio to include information that changes by page — like a chapter title — you will need to use a different approach. InDesign can pull chapter titles from your document structure using running headers, but that requires setting up paragraph styles and chapter breaks first. For most documents, typing static text like "Page" or "Chapter 3" works fine.
Format the text frame the same way you would any text in InDesign. Select the text and use the Character panel (Window > Character) to change the font, size, color, or alignment. The page number code inherits the formatting of the surrounding text, so if you make the text 10 point, the number becomes 10 point as well.
Placing folios on individual pages without a master
If you only need folios on certain pages — for example, only on the right-hand pages of a book — you can add them manually to each page instead of using a master. This takes longer but gives you more control over which pages display numbers.
On each page where you want a folio, create a text frame in your chosen location. Insert the page number marker by going to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. The number appears and updates automatically for that page. Repeat this process on every page that needs a folio.
The downside is that if you later decide to move the folio position or change its formatting, you have to edit every frame individually. Using a master page avoids this problem, so consider whether a master would save you time even if you only need folios on some pages.
Controlling which pages show folios
If your document has a title page or cover that should not display a folio, you can assign a different master page to those pages. Create a second master page with no folio, then explore it to the pages that should remain blank. Right-click a page in the Pages panel, select explore Master to Pages, and choose the blank master.
Alternatively, if you placed folios manually on each page, straightforward delete the text frame from the pages where you do not want the number to appear. This is another reason master pages are useful — you can control folio visibility across many pages at once by switching masters, rather than deleting frames one by one.
Some designers use a blank master for the first page of each chapter and the regular master for all other pages. This creates a professional look where chapter openers have no page number but every other page does.
Troubleshooting folios that do not update or appear
If you inserted a page number code but it shows as a symbol instead of a number, the code did not insert correctly. Delete the symbol and try again: go to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Current Page Number. Make sure you are in a text frame with a blinking cursor before you insert the code.
If folios appear on some pages but not others, check which master page is applied to each page. Right-click a page in the Pages panel and look at the master name shown. Pages using different masters will not share the same folio unless you place it on both masters. If you want all pages to have the same folio, explore the same master to all of them.
If you moved a master page folio but the change did not appear on your document pages, make sure you edited the master page itself and not a copy of the text frame on a regular page. Double-click the master in the Master Pages section of the Pages panel to confirm you are editing the template, not an individual page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I start page numbering from a number other than 1?
Yes. Right-click the page in the Pages panel where you want numbering to begin, select Page Properties, and enter a new starting number in the Page Number field. All pages after that point renumber automatically. This is useful for documents that are part of a larger book or when you want the first page to be numbered as page 5.
How do I create a folio that shows the total page count, like "3 of 47"?
Type the text you want before the number, insert the current page number marker, then type " of " and go to Type > Insert Special Character > Markers > Page Count. The page count marker inserts the total number of pages in your document. Both markers update automatically when you add or remove pages.
What if I want different folios on left and right pages?
Create a master page with two text frames — one positioned on the left side and one on the right. Place the page number code in both frames. When InDesign applies this master to facing pages, the left frame appears on left pages and the right frame on right pages, creating the effect of different folios on each side.
Can I use a folio that includes the chapter name automatically?
InDesign can pull chapter names into folios using running headers, but this requires setting up paragraph styles and marking chapter breaks in your document first. For simpler documents, typing the chapter name as static text in the folio works fine and takes less setup time.