How to Add a Header to Your Document

Headers appear at the top of every page in your document

A header is a section that repeats at the top of each page. You can put your name, the document title, the date, page numbers, or any text you want there. Once you add a header, it shows on every page automatically — you do not have to type it on each one.

Where you find the header tool depends on which editor you are using. Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and LibreOffice all have headers, but the steps are slightly different in each one. The basic idea is the same: you tell the editor you want to edit the header, type what you want, then click away to finish.

Key Takeaways

Headers repeat at the top of every page once you add them, so you only type the content once.
Google Docs, Word, and LibreOffice all have headers, but you access them through different menus.
You can add page numbers, dates, or custom text to a header, and change the formatting just like regular text.
Headers and footers are separate — a footer sits at the bottom of the page and works the same way.

Adding a header in Google Docs

Open your document in Google Docs. Click the Insert menu at the top, then select Header. A box appears at the top of the page where you can type. Type whatever you want — your name, "Draft", the document title, or anything else.

Once you start typing in the header, you can format it the same way you format regular text: make it bold, change the font size, center it, or change the color. When you are done, click anywhere in the main document body to stop editing the header. The header now appears on every page.

To edit the header later, double-click at the very top of any page. To remove it, go back to Insert > Header and click Delete header.

Adding a header in Microsoft Word

Open your document in Word. Double-click at the very top of the first page — the header area will highlight and become editable. Type what you want in the header. You can format it using the toolbar: bold, italic, font size, alignment, and color all work the same way they do in the document body.

When you are finished, double-click in the main document to exit header editing mode. The header now appears on every page. If you want different headers on different pages — for example, a different header on the first page — you can set that up through the Design tab under Header & Footer Tools, but most documents use the same header throughout.

To remove a header, double-click at the top of the page to enter edit mode, select all the text in the header, and delete it.

Adding a header in LibreOffice Writer

Open your document in LibreOffice Writer. Click the Insert menu, then hover over Header and Footer, then click Header. A submenu appears asking which style you want to add a header to — usually Default Style is the right choice. Click it, and a header box appears at the top of your page.

Type your header content and format it using the toolbar. When you are done, click in the main document body to exit header editing. The header now repeats on every page.

To edit the header again later, go back to Insert > Header and Footer > Header and click the style name. To delete it, use the same menu and select Delete.

Adding page numbers to your header

Page numbers often go in the header so they appear on every page. In Google Docs, enter the header, then click Insert > Page number and choose where you want it (top of page, bottom of page, or inside the header). In Word, double-click the header, then click Page Numbers under the Design tab. In LibreOffice, enter the header, then click Insert > Page Number.

You can combine page numbers with text — for example, "Page 1" or "Draft — Page 1" — by typing the text first, then inserting the page number field next to it.

Common header mistakes and how to fix them

The most common mistake is typing in the header area without actually entering header edit mode. If you click at the top of the page and start typing, but the text does not repeat on the next page, you are probably typing in the main document, not the header. Exit and try again: in Google Docs, use Insert > Header; in Word, double-click at the very top; in LibreOffice, use Insert > Header and Footer.

Another common issue is headers appearing on the first page when you do not want them there. Word lets you uncheck Different First Page under the Design tab to control this. Google Docs and LibreOffice do not have this option built in — if you need a different first page, you may need to use a workaround like inserting a page break before your header.

If your header looks too close to the text or too far away, you can adjust the spacing. In Word, right-click the header and select Edit Header, then adjust the margins. In Google Docs and LibreOffice, you can add blank lines inside the header itself to create space.

Headers versus footers

A footer works exactly like a header but appears at the bottom of the page instead of the top. The steps are almost identical: in Google Docs, click Insert > Footer; in Word, double-click at the bottom of the page; in LibreOffice, click Insert > Header and Footer > Footer. Many documents use both — a header with the document title and a footer with page numbers, for example.

You can have a header without a footer, a footer without a header, or both. They do not affect each other, so you can edit one without changing the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a different header on the first page?

Word has a built-in option for this: enter header edit mode, then check Different First Page under the Design tab. Google Docs and LibreOffice do not have this feature, so you would need to use a page break or other workaround if you need a different first page.

How do I remove a header from just one page?

Headers repeat on every page by design, so you cannot remove a header from a single page without removing it from the whole document. If you need different content on different pages, Word's Different First Page option or section breaks are the standard approach.

Can I add an image to a header?

Yes. In Google Docs, enter the header and click Insert > Image. In Word, double-click the header and use Insert > Pictures. In LibreOffice, enter the header and click Insert > Image. The image will repeat on every page just like text.

What if my header is not showing on all pages?

Make sure you entered header edit mode correctly. In Google Docs, use the Insert menu. In Word, double-click at the very top of the page. In LibreOffice, use Insert > Header and Footer. If you typed in the main document instead, the text will only appear on that page.

Can I format the header differently from the rest of the document?

Yes. Headers have their own formatting — you can use a different font, size, color, or alignment in the header than in the body text. Just select the text in the header and format it using the toolbar, the same way you would format any other text.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.