What a running head is and why you need one
A running head is text that appears at the top of every page in your document — usually your name, the document title, or a page number. Many schools and workplaces require them, especially for formal papers. Google Docs calls this feature a "header," and it takes about one minute to add.
The running head sits in the margin above your main text and repeats on every page automatically. Once you set it up, you do not have to type it again on each page. If you delete it from one page, it disappears from all pages.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Insert menu, select Header, then choose which pages get the running head — most documents use the same header on all pages.
- Type your running head text directly into the header box that appears at the top of your document.
- Use Insert > Page Number if you want the page number to appear in the running head alongside your name or title.
- Click outside the header box to return to your main document text — the header stays in place on every page.
- Different sections of the same document can have different headers if you use section breaks, though most papers use one header throughout.
How to insert a header into your document
Start by clicking the Insert menu at the top of your Google Docs page. A dropdown list appears. Look for the word Header in that list and click it. Google Docs then shows you three choices: "Default," "First page," or "Different first page." For most papers and documents, click Default — this puts the same header on every page.
A box appears at the very top of your document with a blinking cursor inside. This is your header space. Type whatever text you want to appear on every page. If your assignment asks for your last name and page number, type your last name now. You will add the page number in the next step.
The header box has a light gray border so you can see where it is. Your main document text sits below it. When you are done typing in the header, click anywhere in your main document to return to normal editing — the header stays in place.
Adding page numbers to your running head
If you need page numbers in your header, position your cursor in the header box where you want the number to appear. If your header says "Smith" and you want it to read "Smith 1" on the first page, click right after "Smith" in the header.
With your cursor in the header, open the Insert menu again. This time, look for Page Number and click it. Google Docs inserts the correct page number for each page automatically — page 1 on the first page, page 2 on the second, and so on. You do not have to type each number yourself.
If you want a space or punctuation between your name and the page number, type it before you insert the page number. For example, type "Smith " (with a space), then insert the page number, and it will read "Smith 1," "Smith 2," and so on throughout your document.
Choosing where your header appears
When you first insert a header, Google Docs puts it on every page by default. Some assignments ask for no header on the first page — only on pages 2 and beyond. To change this, go back to Insert > Header and choose Different first page instead of Default.
When you select "Different first page," the first page of your document has no header, and a separate header box appears on page 2. You can type a different header for page 2 onward, or leave it blank if you do not want one. This is useful for title pages or cover pages that should not have a running head.
If you change your mind later, go back to Insert > Header and switch to Default to put the same header on all pages again.
Editing or removing your header
To change the text in your header, click directly into the header box at the top of any page. The header becomes editable, and you can add, delete, or rewrite the text. When you are done, click in your main document to exit the header.
To remove the header entirely, click into the header box, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Cmd+A on Mac), and press Delete. The header disappears from every page. If you want to remove the header completely and clean up the space, go to Insert > Header and click Remove Header.
Headers in documents with multiple sections
If your document uses section breaks — which divide a document into parts that can have different formatting — you can give each section its own header. This is less common for school papers but useful for longer documents or reports with distinct parts.
To create a section break, place your cursor where you want the new section to start, then go to Insert > Break > Section break (continuous). Once the break is in place, click into the header of the new section and type different text. The header in the first section stays the same, and the new section gets its own header.
For most assignments, you do not need section breaks. A single header that runs through the entire document is standard.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
The most common mistake is clicking in the header and then forgetting to click back in the main document before continuing to write. If you type and nothing appears where you expect it, check whether your cursor is still in the header box. Click in your main text area to return to normal editing.
Another mistake is adding too much text to the header. Running heads should be brief — usually just your last name, initials, or a short title. Long headers can make your document look cluttered and may violate formatting rules like MLA or APA style.
If your page numbers are not showing up, make sure you used Insert > Page Number rather than typing the numbers by hand. Manually typed numbers do not update when pages shift, so page 1 might stay "1" even after you add content and it becomes page 3.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have different headers on different pages?
Yes, if you use section breaks. Most documents use the same header throughout. To have a blank first page and a header starting on page 2, use Insert > Header > Different first page instead.
Why is my header appearing in the middle of the page instead of at the top?
Check your page margins. If the top margin is very large, the header sits lower on the page. Go to File > Page setup and adjust the top margin if needed. The header always sits within the margin space, not in the main text area.
Can I put a line under my running head?
Yes. Click into the header box, then go to Insert > Horizontal line. A line appears below your header text on every page. You can also use Format > Borders and shading to customize the line style.
What if my teacher wants the header only on certain pages?
Use Insert > Header > Different first page to remove it from page 1. For more complex rules — like no header on pages 1 through 3 — you need section breaks. Create a section break before page 4, then add the header only to that section.
Does the header count toward my word count?
No. Google Docs word count (shown at Tools > Word count) does not include headers or footers. Your running head does not affect assignment length requirements.