Page numbers are required for many of the documents that you might create in Google Docs. Use these steps to change the starting page number in Google Docs.
- Open your document.
- Select the Insert tab.
- Choose Page numbers, then More options.
- Click inside the Start at field, enter the starting number, then click Apply.
Our article continues below with additional information and pictures of these steps.
Word processing applications like Google Docs give you a variety of ways to format your document.
One such formatting option is the ability to add page numbers, either in the header or footer.
By default, Google Docs will start numbering your pages at “1.” But you might have a title page, or the document might be part of a larger document that you will combine.
Fortunately you have some options for adjusting your page numbers, including the option to start the page numbering with a number of your choosing.
Our guide below will show you how to specify the starting page number in Google Docs.
How to Choose a Different Starting Page Number in Google Docs
The steps in this article were performed in the desktop version of the Google Chrome Web browser, but will also work in other desktop browsers like Firefox or Edge.
Step 1: Sign into Google Drive and open your document.
Step 2: Select the Insert tab in the menu bar at the top of the window.
Step 3: Choose the Page numbers option, then click the More options button.
Step 4: Click inside the Start at field under Numbering, then enter the number at which you wish to start your page numbering.
Step 5: Click the Apply button.
You should now see the updated page numbers in your document, with the first page number being the value that you just entered.
If your document has a title page where you don’t want a page number, then you can remove the check mark in the box to the left of Show on first page.
All of these options, when combined, should allow you to create the numbering system that you wan to use with your document.
Find out how to remove page numbers in Google Docs if they were added to your document previously but you don’t need them anymore.
Matt Smith has been writing tech content online for more than 10 years. He has been published on dozens of popular websites and his works have accumulated millions of pageviews.
While focused primarily on tutorials and guides for popular electronics like the iPhone and iPad, as well as common applications like Microsoft Word, Powerpoint, and Excel, he covers topics across the entire technology spectrum.