How to Start Page Numbers on Page 3 in Google Docs

If you’re working on a document that requires page numbers to start from a specific page, such as beginning numbering on page 3, Google Docs makes this task easy to accomplish. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to start page numbers on page 3, ensuring that your document looks professional and organized.

Steps to Start Page Numbers on Page 3

1. Open Your Document
   1. Begin by opening your Google Docs document. Make sure you are signed into your Google account and have the document that needs page numbers.
2. Insert a Section Break
   1. Navigate to the page where you want the page numbering to start (in this case, page 3). Place your cursor at the end of page 2.
   2. Click on “Insert” in the top menu.
   3. From the dropdown menu, select “Break” and then choose “Section break (next page)” . This will create a new section starting from page 3.
3. Add Page Numbers
   1. With your cursor on page 3, click on “Insert” again.
   2. Select “Page numbers” from the menu. You’ll see options to place page numbers at the top or bottom of the page. Choose the format you prefer (top-right, bottom-right, etc.).

Learn more about how to add page numbers in Google Docs by checking out our detailed guide.

1. Format Page Numbers to Start on Page 3
   1. After inserting the page numbers, you will notice that page numbers are added to all pages, including the ones before your designated starting page. To fix this, double-click on the header or footer area where the page number is displayed on page 3.
   2. This action will open the header or footer options. Ensure that “Link to previous” is unchecked. This option is available in the header/footer toolbar and is critical for unlinking the sections.
   3. Now, go to the “Format” tab in the top menu, select “Page numbers” , and choose “Numbering” . Here, you can set the starting number for this section. Typically, you’ll set the number to start at 1, or any other number you prefer.
2. Remove Page Numbers from Earlier Pages
   1. To remove page numbers from pages 1 and 2, go back to the header or footer of these pages. Delete the page numbers manually. If the section break was set up correctly, this will only remove numbers from these pages without affecting the numbers on page 3 and beyond.
3. Check and Finalize Your Document
   1. Review your document to ensure that the page numbers start on page 3 as intended. Make sure that pages 1 and 2 are free from page numbers and that the numbering on page 3 and subsequent pages appears correctly.

FAQ

Q: Can I use a different page number format for page 3 and beyond? A: Yes, you can customize the page number format for the new section. After unlinking the sections, you can use the options in the header or footer settings to change the format of page numbers.

Q: What if I need to start numbering on a different page or have multiple sections? A: The process is similar. You’ll need to insert section breaks at the appropriate locations and then adjust the page numbering settings for each section separately.

Q: How do I handle a document with multiple sections and varying page number requirements? A: For documents with complex page number requirements, insert section breaks wherever you need different numbering formats or starting points. Adjust the page numbers for each section as described above.

Q: Can I remove page numbers from a specific page but not the entire section? A: Unfortunately, Google Docs does not allow you to remove page numbers from individual pages. You’ll need to use section breaks to manage where page numbers appear.