How to Add a Header in Google Docs (2026)

A header is the strip of space at the top of every page. It's where a document title, your business name, a client's name or a draft label can sit, repeated on each page without you retyping it. For anything you'll send out as a PDF, a tidy header is a quiet way of looking organised.

Google Docs makes headers easy once you know the menu, and then adds clever options: a different header on the first page, different ones for odd and even pages, or separate ones per section. I'll cover them all, following Google's help.

Creating a header at the top of a Google Docs page

1. Open your document on a computer.
2. Click Insert, then Page elements.
3. Choose Header.
4. Type your text in the header area at the top of the page.

That's it. The text now repeats at the top of every page. Footers work the same way, and you can pick Footer from the same menu. Google notes that headers and footers aren't available in pageless format, so switch to pages format first if the option doesn't appear.

A shortcut to jump into a Google Docs header

Google lists a shortcut for inserting or moving to the header. On Windows, hold Ctrl and Alt, press o, then press h. On a Mac, hold Ctrl and Cmd, press o, then press h. It's useful when you're editing and want to peek at the header without scrolling.

Leaving the Google Docs header off the first page

A cover page often looks better with no header. Click into the header, then tick Different first page. Google's help says this gives the first page of the document, or of a section, its own header and footer. Leave the first one empty and the rest carry on as normal.

This pairs well with a title block at the top of page one: you get a clean opening, and your header shows from page two onwards.

Different headers for odd and even pages or sections

Google's help covers two ways to vary your header. For odd and even pages:

1. Click a header or footer, then click Options on the right.
2. Under Apply to, choose Whole document.
3. Tick Different odd and even.
4. Click Apply.

For different headers in different sections, untick Link to previous in the header or footer. Google says that if you don't see that option, you need to add a section break first. This is how you give a long report separate headings for each chapter.

Removing or resizing a Google Docs header

To remove a header, double-click it, click Options and choose Remove header. Google gives the same route for footers.

To change the space the header takes, click inside it and go to Format, then Headers and footers, then More options. Under Apply to, pick a section or the whole document, enter the margin sizes and click Apply. Google's tip is that setting the margin to 0 removes the header space entirely.

Adding a header in the Google Docs app on your phone

Google's mobile help for Android runs like this:

1. Open the file in the Docs app and tap the pencil icon for editing.
2. Tap the three-dot menu at the top right.
3. Turn on Print Layout.
4. Tap the header area.
5. Type your text.

Headers are only visible and editable in Print Layout on mobile, and still need pages format.

What to put in a Google Docs header

• The document title, so loose printed pages can be identified.
• Your business or the client's name.
• A label such as Draft or Confidential, if that fits your workflow.
• A short contact line for a letter or one-page handout.

Keep it light. A header that takes up half an inch of every page eats into your content, and a long header looks cluttered. For a CV or a one-page leave-behind, what makes a resume design look modern without being distracting shows how little you need at the top.

If your header holds a name and contact details, what a resume template should include for busy professionals is worth a look before you decide what to include.

Header options in Google Docs at a glance

You want	Do this
The same header on every page	Insert > Page elements > Header
No header on page one	Tick Different first page
Different headers for sections	Untick Link to previous (add a section break if needed)
Different odd and even pages	Options > Whole document > Different odd and even > Apply
No header at all	Double-click it > Options > Remove header

If the Google Docs header option is missing

1. Check you're not in pageless format. Use File, Page setup, Pages, then OK.
2. Make sure you're on a computer or, on mobile, in Print Layout.
3. If Link to previous is missing, insert a section break first.
4. Reload the document and try the Insert menu again.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add a header in Google Docs?

Open the document, click Insert, then Page elements, choose Header and type your text. It repeats on every page.

How do I remove the header from the first page only?

Click into the header and tick Different first page. Google says that gives the first page its own header and footer, which you can leave empty.

How do I make different headers for different sections?

Untick Link to previous in the header. Google says to add a section break first if you don't see that option.

How do I remove a header in Google Docs?

Double-click the header, click Options and choose Remove header.

Why can't I add a header in Google Docs?

Google says headers aren't available in pageless format. Switch to pages format, and on mobile turn on Print Layout.