What a header is and why you might want one
A header is a section at the top of every page in your document that stays the same across all pages. It sits above your main text and repeats automatically on each new page. Headers are useful for things like putting your name and document title on every page, adding page numbers, or including a date that updates itself.
If you're working in Google Docs, adding a header takes about 30 seconds and requires no special skills. The header appears on every page except the first one by default — though you can change that if you want it on the first page too.
Key Takeaways
- Click Insert at the top of your document, then select Header, then choose the style you want (blank, with a line, or with a border).
- Type directly into the header box that appears at the top of your page, then click outside it when you're done.
- Headers automatically repeat on every page except the first one, but you can change this in the header options.
- You can have different headers on the first page versus the rest of your document by checking "Different first page" in the header menu.
How to insert a header in three steps
Open your Google Docs document. At the top of the screen, click the Insert menu. A dropdown list will appear.
From that list, click Header. Another menu will pop out showing three options: a blank header, a header with a line underneath, or a header with a border box. Pick whichever style matches what you want your document to look like. Most people choose the blank header or the one with a line.
A header box will appear at the very top of your page, and your cursor will be ready for you to type. Type whatever you want in the header — your name, the document title, the date, page numbers, or anything else. When you're finished, click somewhere in the main body of your document to exit the header and return to normal editing.
Adding page numbers to your header
If you want page numbers in your header instead of typing them by hand, click inside the header box you just created. Then go to Insert again and click Page number. A menu will show you options for where to place the number — left, center, or right. Pick one, and Google Docs will automatically number every page for you.
You can combine page numbers with text. For example, you could type "Page " in the header, then insert a page number, then type " of 10" — though you would have to update the total manually if your document grows.
Making the first page different from the rest
By default, your header appears on every page except the first one. If you want the first page to have no header, or a different header, you can set that up. Click inside your header, then look for a small link or button that says Options (it usually appears on the right side of the header area). Click it.
A menu will open. Check the box next to Different first page. Now your first page will have its own separate header space, and the rest of your document will have a different one. You can leave the first page blank and put your header text on the second page onward, or put something different on the first page.
Editing or removing a header
To change what's in your header, double-click at the very top of any page (except the first, if you have "Different first page" turned on). The header box will open and you can edit the text just like you would in the main document. When you're done, click in the main body to close the header.
To remove the header entirely, click Insert, then Header, then Remove header. This deletes the header from all pages at once.
Headers and document sharing
When you share a Google Docs document with someone else, the header goes with it. Anyone who views or edits the document will see the same header on every page. If you give someone editing permission, they can change the header too — so if you're sharing a template or a form, be aware that collaborators might modify it.
If you're sharing a document for comments only (not editing), people can see the header but cannot change it. If you read your document as a Word file or PDF, the header comes along and will print or display the same way.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different headers on different pages?
Not in the way you might be thinking. You can have one header for the first page and a different one for all the rest by using "Different first page." But you cannot have a unique header on page 3 only, or alternate headers on odd and even pages. Google Docs does not support that level of control.
What if I want my header only on certain pages?
The cleanest way is to use "Different first page" to skip the first page, then remove the header from later pages manually by deleting the text. Or you can insert a page break before the section where you want the header to stop, then remove the header from that point forward. This requires some trial and error.
Can I put an image in a header?
Yes. Click inside your header, then go to Insert and choose Image. Upload or select the image you want. It will appear in the header on every page. Keep images small so they do not take up too much space above your main text.
Does the header print when I print my document?
Yes, headers print by default. If you do not want the header to print, you would need to remove it before printing, or use your printer settings to exclude headers — though not all printers offer that option.
Can I use different fonts or colors in my header?
Yes. Select the text in your header and use the formatting tools at the top of the screen just as you would in the main document. You can change font, size, color, bold, italic, and alignment. The formatting stays with the header on every page.