How to Insert Page Numbers in Word and Google Docs

Customize in the header, footer, or margin

Page numbersare useful for short papers and essays. They are essential for writing long documents like books and dissertations. If you have a table of contents, page numbering can save you a lot of time and effort in searching for topics and chapters.

Whether you’re using Word or Google Docs, you can add page numbers in different number formats in the header, footer or margin of your document, and then customize them to your liking.

How to Insert Page Numbers in Word on Windows

Note:Instructions to add page numbers in this guide apply to recent Word versions.

On aWindows PCfollow the steps below.

How to Insert Page Numbers in Word on Mac

On a Mac follow the steps below.

If you need to adjust the position or the format of the page numbers later on, you can do this by double-clicking the top or bottom of the page in Word and then by selectingHeader & Footer>PageNumber>Page NumberorFormat Page Numbers.

Double-click outside the header or selectHeader & Footer>Close Header and Footerto exit.

If you want to see the total number of pages like Page 1 of 10, double-click the header or footer, clickHeader & Footer>Footer>Semaphore, and then double-click the header or footer to exit.

Note: If you don’t see the page numbers you want after inserting them, check if there are any graphics or other elements within the header or footer and move them.

You can insert page numbers inWord Onlineusing the following steps.

Note: To include the total number of pages in Word for the Web, clickInsert>Page Numbers>Include Page Countfor an X of Y format and select a location.

Note: SelectView>Reading Viewto see your header or footer with page numbers.

If you want the page numbers to start on the second or third page instead of page one of your document, you can use theDifferent First Pageoption in Word.

This option not only applies to the very first page but also to the first page of any other section in your document.

If you want to use double-sided printing in Word, the odd-numbered pages will be printed first and then the even-numbered pages on the opposite side of the paper. You can change the settings to start the page numbering at page three.

If you’re using Word Online in a web browser, you can’t start page numbering later in the document.

If you no longer require page numbers in your document and want to remove all of them, you can do that in a few quick steps.

Note: If you don’t see theRemove Page Numbersbutton, double-click the header or footer, select the number and then select Delete.

How to Insert Page Numbers in Google Docs

As with Microsoft Word, you can insert page numbers in Google Docs. However, in Google Docs, the numbers aren’t automatically included on the pages.

It’s easy enough to add page numbers starting from a specific page, specific sections of the document or to the whole document.

Note: If you don’t see the Apply option, select a section of your content, selectInsert>Break, and choose a break type to add a section break.

For a multi-page document, you can start the page numbering on the second page instead of starting from the cover page.

Find Your Way Around a Document

When your document requires numbers on each page, you can easily insert them in Word or Google Docs using the steps above.

We’d love to hear your tips and tricks to insert or format page numbering. Tell us about it in a comment.

Elsie is a technology writer and editor with a special focus on Windows, Android and iOS. She writes about software, electronics and other tech subjects, her ultimate goal being to help people out with useful solutions to their daily tech issues in a simple, straightforward and unbiased style. She has a BCom degree in Marketing and currently pursuing her Masters in Communications and New Media.Read Elsie’s Full Bio

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