Headers and Footers in Docs
Page numbers, document titles, and Draft — do not share belong in the header or footer, not retyped on every page. Set them once and they repeat automatically — including the tricky first-page exception.
TL;DR / Quick Fix
Quick fix: in Google Docs go to Insert > Headers & footers > Header (or double-click the top margin) and type once — it repeats on every page. Use Options > Different first page to skip the title page. Keep headers short: document title or chapter name, nothing more.
Follow these steps
- Open the header. Double-click the top margin, or Insert > Headers and footers > Header. The header zone activates with a blue boundary.
- Type it once. Document title, chapter name, or DRAFT. One entry repeats on every page automatically — that is the whole point.
- Handle the first page. Check Options > Different first page to leave the title page clean — the classic requirement. See the first-page guide for variants.
- Add the footer. Double-click the bottom margin for page numbers, dates, or file paths. Footers carry the metadata; headers carry the identity.
- Add page numbers. Insert > Page numbers picks the style and position. For Page X of Y, choose that format — see page numbers for delayed starts.
- Check every section. Section breaks can carry their own headers. Scroll through and confirm each section shows what you intend — or unlink them.
What NOT to do
- Do not retype headers on each page. That is what the header zone is for — type once.
- Do not put body text in the header. Headers are for labels and numbers, not paragraphs.
- Do not forget Different first page exists. Title pages with headers look amateur.
- Do not cram the header. One line beats three — white space is professional.
Frequently asked questions
How do I remove the header from just the first page?
Check Different first page in the header options. The first page goes blank; the rest keep the header.
Why is my header missing on some pages?
A section break likely unlinked that section header. Open it and re-link or retype.
Can headers differ per chapter?
Yes — insert section breaks between chapters and unlink the headers, then set each chapter own.