Easy Tech TutsHow to Control Page Numbering by Sections in Google Docs Easily 2026
By Impran M N
Continuous page numbering can ruin the look of a cover page or table of contents in a long report or manuscript. This guide shows how to use section breaks in Google Docs to number different parts of your document independently.
01Insert a section break
Place your cursor at the end of your intro page, click Insert, hover over Break, and choose 'Section break (next page)'.
02Unlink the header or footer
Double-click the header or footer on the new section's page, then uncheck 'Link to previous' in the floating toolbar.
03Open page number settings
Click Insert, hover over Page Numbers, and select More Options to open the numbering configuration.
04Restart numbering at one
Set 'Apply to' to the current section, choose 'Start at', enter 1, and click Apply.
05Clean up earlier pages
Scroll back to your intro pages, delete any leftover manual page numbers, and confirm the new section numbers correctly going forward.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have different numbering formats in different sections?
Yes, once sections are unlinked, each can use its own number format and starting value.
Will inserting a section break affect my existing formatting?
It shouldn't, but it's good practice to review margins and headers right after adding a break.
How many section breaks can I add to one document?
There's no strict limit, so you can create as many independently numbered sections as your document needs.
What if my page numbers still look linked after unchecking the box?
Make sure you unchecked 'Link to previous' on the correct section's header or footer, not the one before it.
Watch the full walkthrough
The same steps, demonstrated on screen from start to finish.
