As someone who regularly works with academic reports and client proposals, I’ve often needed different headers on different pages—say, a cover page without a header or alternating headers in a printed report. But Google Docs doesn’t make this straightforward. I used to wonder: Can I customize every page's header individually? This guide answers that question and introduces an easier alternative—WPS Office.
Part 1: Insert a Header or Footer
Before you can dive into customizations, it’s important to understand the basics of inserting a header or footer. These are the default elements that appear at the top or bottom of each page and are often used for titles, page numbers, dates, or document versions.
Step-by-step guide:
Open your Google Docs document.
Go to Insert > Headers & footers.
Choose either Header or Footer depending on where you want the content to appear.
A greyed-out editing space will appear at the top or bottom of your page—this is where you can type your content.
Press Esc to exit and return to the main document body.
Personally, I always begin with a simple project title or document version in the header—it gives a clean, professional touch and helps with document organization when printing or sharing. While it may seem like a small step, this foundational setup plays a key role when you need to apply more advanced customizations later—like using alternating headers or inserting section-specific information. Starting right makes everything else easier to manage.
Part 2: Use Different Headers or Footers on Odd and Even Pages
This feature is especially useful when formatting documents meant for double-sided printing, like books, theses, or academic journals. It allows you to alternate the placement of chapter titles, author names, or page numbers—creating a cleaner and more symmetrical appearance for readers.
Step-by-step guide:
Double-click any header or footer area to activate the editing mode.
Look toward the right-hand options menu and check the box labeled Different odd & even.
Once enabled, odd and even pages will have separate header and footer fields.
Customize the content for odd pages (e.g., chapter title) and even pages (e.g., author name or publication date).
Scroll through the document to confirm that the headers alternate as expected.
In my academic work, I’ve used this feature extensively to format long-form writing, such as dissertations. Having the chapter name on odd pages and my name or the institution on even pages not only added a professional touch but also helped reviewers navigate through the content more intuitively. It's a small detail that adds polish and structure to lengthy documents.
Part 3: Use a Different Header or Footer on Each Page (Manual Workaround)
Google Docs doesn’t currently support unique headers or footers on every single page by default. However, if your project demands this level of control—such as writing a manuscript with chapter-specific headers or building a custom document layout—you can achieve it manually using section breaks.
Step-by-step guide:
Place your cursor at the end of the page before the one where you want a new header.
Go to Insert > Break > Section break (next page).
Scroll to the next page and double-click its header area.
In the header options, uncheck the Link to the previous checkbox. This disconnects the current section from the previous one.
Now you’re free to enter a unique header for that page.
Repeat this process for every page where you want a different header or footer.
Yes, it’s a bit tedious, especially for documents longer than a few pages—but it gives you complete flexibility. I’ve used this approach for writing personalized reports where each section required a different header layout. It also came in handy when creating training manuals with unique headings for each module. Once you get the hang of where and how to insert section breaks, the process becomes more manageable and lets you push Google Docs to its formatting limits.
Part 4: Use a Header or Footer on Only the First Page
Sometimes, all you need is a clean and clear first impression, especially in formal documents like resumes, research papers, or cover letters. Google Docs allows you to create a header or footer that appears only on the first page, keeping the rest of the document uncluttered and professional.
Step-by-step guide:
Open your document and double-click the header (or footer) area of the first page.
In the top-right corner of the toolbar, check the box labeled Different first page.
Enter your desired content in the header area—such as a title, name, or confidentiality note.
Scroll down to see that subsequent pages do not have this header.
I frequently use this setting when preparing documents like client deliverables or academic assignments. It’s especially handy for creating a title page without affecting the design of the rest of the report. Whether you're including a company logo, document title, or NDA label on the first page, this option keeps your formatting clean and intentional. It’s a small but impactful way to make your document look polished from the very start.
Part 5: Use WPS Office for Easier Header Customization
When I got tired of Google Docs’ limitations, I tried WPS Writer—and it was a game changer.
Step-by-step guide:
Open your document in WPS Writer.
Click Insert > Header and Footer.
Toggle Different odd & even pages or Different first page.
Customize each section with ease.
The interface is cleaner, and everything is more intuitive. I especially love that I don’t need to hunt for advanced options, they're right in the toolbar.
Part 6: Boost Your Work with WPS Office
WPS Office isn’t just a replacement for Google Docs—it’s a full productivity suite that helps you create, edit, and manage all kinds of documents with greater flexibility. Whether you're a student, freelancer, or corporate professional, WPS offers the tools to match your workflow.
Beyond headers, WPS includes:
WPS Writer: A powerful word processor that supports rich formatting, section management, templates, and collaborative editing.
WPS Presentation: Design stunning, interactive slideshows with modern animations and themes.
WPS Spreadsheet: Handle data-heavy tasks, budgeting, and reports with ease using advanced formulas and pivot tables.
WPS PDF Editor: View, convert, annotate, and sign PDFs—all within one clean interface.
AI Features I Personally Use:
AI Resume Assistant: This tool helped me polish my resume and land a freelance job by making the formatting sharper and the language more persuasive.
AI Grammar Checker: It’s my go-to assistant when I need to ensure my reports and proposals are clear and professional.
Academic Writing Assistant: Saved me countless hours while writing my thesis—especially structuring my arguments and citing references.
AI Slides Creator: Converts bullet points and draft notes into complete, presentation-ready slides—perfect for last-minute client meetings.
Smart PDF Tools: I frequently summarize long reports into digestible insights without reading page by page.
WPS Office is 100% free, compatible with all Microsoft formats like .docx, .pptx, and .xlsx, and supports
cloud syncing for seamless access across devices. It’s become an essential part of my productivity toolkit.
FAQs
1. Can I set a different header for every single page in Google Docs?
Yes, But only by inserting section breaks and unlinking each one manually.
2. What’s the easiest way to manage headers in Google Docs?
Using 'Different first page' or 'Different odd/even' settings.
3. Does WPS Writer support different headers for each page?
Yes, and it’s more intuitive.
4. Is WPS Office free?
Absolutely. I use it regularly without any fees.
