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How to Start Page Numbers on Page 3 in Google Docs

If you’re writing an ebook or a report, you might be looking to start your page numbers on page 3 in Google Docs.

This is because the cover page and the table of contents are usually on the first couple of pages.

However, starting your page numbers from a specific page on Google Docs is complicated.

As a result, many users get stuck in the process of doing so.

It took me more than 15 minutes to figure out how to specify page numbers on Google Docs.

Hence, I’ve written this guide to help you to do so.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to specify page numbers or start page numbers on page 3 in Google Docs

How to start page numbers on page 3 in Google Docs

To start page numbers on page 3 in Google docs, you must first remove all of your current footers by double-clicking them and clicking on “Remove footer”.

After that, you need to insert a section break on page 2, uncheck “Link to previous” on page 3, click on “Page numbers”, and apply it.

By doing so, the page numbering will start on page 3 (you can also align the page numbers to the right by selecting “right-align”).

Here’s how to start page numbers on page 3 in Google Docs:

1. Remove all of your current footers

Note: You can skip this step if you haven’t added any page numbers to your document.

The first step is to remove all of your current footers (containing page numbers).

If you’ve already added page numbers to your document, you need to remove them.

To do so, double-click the bottom of the pages containing a page number.

After you’ve double-clicked the bottom of a page, you’ll see the footer bar.

On the footer bar, click on “Options” and click on “Remove footer” to remove the footer.

Repeat this step until you’ve removed all of your current footers.

2. Insert a section break on page 2

After you’ve removed all of your current footers, you need to insert a section break.

Otherwise, you won’t be able to start page numbers from a specific page.

For example, if you want to start page numbering on page 2, you need to insert a section break on page 1.

Since you’re looking to start page numbering on page 3, you need to insert a section break on page 2.

Firstly, navigate to page 2 of your document.

Once you’re on page 2, click on Insert > Break > Section break (next page).

This will add a section break on page 2 so that you can start page numbering on page 3.

3. Uncheck “Link to previous” and open “Page numbers” on page 3

After you’ve added a section break on page 2, a new page will be added.

You might need to press backspace on your keyboard until the page is removed.

Now, you need to navigate to page 3 of the document.

Once you’re on page 3, double-click the bottom of the page to edit the footer.

Now, uncheck “Link to previous” and click on “Options”.

Lastly, click on “Page numbers” to start adding page numbers on page 3.

4. Apply these settings

After you’ve clicked on “Page numbers”, you’ll need to modify its settings.

Firstly, click on the “Apply to” dropdown box and select “This section”.

Secondly, select the “Footer” position and check the “Show on first page” check box.

Thirdly, select “Start at” and make sure that the field is set to “1”.

Lastly, click on “Apply” to add page numbers starting from page 3.

5. Align the page numbers to the right

After you’ve clicked on “Apply”, the page numbers will now start on page 3.

However, the page numbers will now be aligned to the left.

If you want to align the page numbers to the right, you must first double-click the page number.

Lastly, click on “Right align” on the top navigation bar in Google Docs.

You’ve successfully learned how to start page numbers on page 3 in Google Docs!

How to start page numbers from a specific page in Google Docs

  1. Remove all of your current footers (containing a page number) by double-clicking the bottom of each page and clicking on “Remove footer”.
  2. Insert a section break on the previous page of the page that you want to start page numbers on. For example, if you want to start page numbers on page 3, you need to insert a section break on page 2. You can do this by clicking on Insert > Break > Section break (next page).
  3. Navigate to the page that you want to start page numbers on. Double-click the bottom of the page > uncheck “Link to previous > Options > Page numbers.
  4. This section > Footer > Show on first page > Start at 1 > Apply.
  5. Lastly, align the page numbers to the right by double-clicking a page number > Right align.

How to start page numbering on page 2 in Google Docs

  1. Remove all of your current footers (containing a page number) by double-clicking the bottom of each page and clicking on “Remove footer”.
  2. Insert a section break on page 1. You can do this by clicking on Insert > Break > Section break (next page).
  3. Navigate to page 2. Double-click the bottom of the page > uncheck “Link to previous > Options > Page numbers.
  4. This section > Footer > Show on first page > Start at 1 > Apply.
  5. Lastly, align the page numbers to the right by double-clicking a page number > Right align.

Conclusion

In this guide, you’ve learned how to add page numbers.

Because the guide is quite lengthy, you need to follow it carefully.

In nutshell, you need to insert a section break to start page numbers on a specific page.

The section break needs to be inserted on the page before the page that you want to start page numbers on.

For example, if you want to start page numbers on page 3, you need to insert a section break on page 2.

Once you understand this logic, you’ll be able to easily modify the page on which you want to start page numbers on.

If you’re lost, please re-read the guide again and look closely at the screenshots.

If you’re based in SG and you need help with content, you can try this content writing agency in Singapore.

For marketers, you can read this online marketing magazine.

Further reading

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About the author

Lim How Wei

Lim How Wei is the founder of followchain.org, with 8+ years of experience in Social Media Marketing and 4+ years of experience as an active investor in stocks and cryptocurrencies. He has researched, tested, and written thousands of articles ranging from social media platforms to messaging apps.

Lim has been quoted and referenced by major publications and media companies like WikiHow, Fast Company, HuffPost, Vice, New York Post, The Conversation, and many others. One of his articles about the gig economy was quoted by Joe Rogan who hosts The Joe Rogan Experience (arguably the most popular podcast in the world), in the This Past Weekend podcast by Theo Von.

In his free time, Lim plays multiple games like Genshin Impact, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, Hearthstone, RuneScape, and many others. He creates guides, walkthroughs, solutions, and more on games that he plays to help other players with their progression.