How to start page numbers on page 3 or beyond - Google Docs

In this video I show you how to change where your page numbering starts. The question I've often heard from writers and students is: "How do you start page numbers on page 3 or 4 instead of page 1 and 2?" Starting on page 1 or 2 doesn't make a lot of sense if your first pages don't need page numbering, yet you want to keep your pages aligned with you total page count.
It's not clear in Google Documents where or how to do this and it can be frustrating to get right. It's done by section breaks instead of the standard page numbering.
Here are the steps:
00:00 - Introduction: What's the problem?
03:57 - Step 1: Adding a Section Break + format clean up
05:51 - Step 2: Unlinking Sections in the header or footer
07:21 - Step 3: Adding page numbers on the new Section
Let me know in the comments if you have questions or issues. Always looking for suggestions on how to improve or video ideas. Thanks for watching!
Apologies for the clicky sounds - this was my first time recording with this software. My nasalness is built in though :)

[@bobraubaugh9979]

THANK YOU! The most clear and concise explanation of this on youtube. I wish I would have found you hours ago!

[@bitortwo9735]

Thanks a mil Bob. Mind if I ask if you're a writer? I created this because my girlfriend was stuck with this problem, as she was writing a book. Trying to understand how to promote this video to the right folks

[@user-zt5bm9tz9z]

Неймовірно!! Не знаю, як , але і в мене вийшло! Я навіть не зрозуміла як це сталось. Бо в мене завжди в першому розділі залишалась нумерація. Але зробивши все покроково - в мене вийшло!! ДЯКУЮ))))

I was struggling to solve this for few hours. I can't believe you solved it. Thank you so much. Google should understand that it's not easy to use this feature.

[@bitortwo9735]

I was in the same boat and I found it on some obscure forum somewhere so I decided to just make a video about it. Glad it helped Gülhan!

[@masas.9724]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THAAANK YOUU!!!! After watching soo many different videos which didn't work for me and after spending literally 3 hours on this problem I came upon your video and IT WORKED! YOU ARE A LIFESAVIOUR! You saved my thesis! I'm so happy! Thank you once again for making this video! Bless you! I hope you have a great day!!

[@bitortwo9735]

So glad you were able to sort it! Spread the word! Hope you get an awesome score for your thesis

[@masas.9724]

@@bitortwo9735 I will you LEGEND!!

[@LilithinMerria]

Oooooh my goodness. Thank you so much for this. It helped a lot ^^

[@annagolovtsenko4812]

You are the best. Best and clearest explanation ever.

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad i was able to help! Good luck whatever you are writing

[@suryanshdhariwal9361]

Thanks for the video! It worked and saved me a lot of time.

[@bitortwo9735]

Happy to hear it!

[@ThePartridgeFam]

SO helpful! Thank you!

[@bitortwo9735]

You're so welcome!

[@thisisgood44]

thanks this is the best tutorial for adding page number

[@Temi-Dee]

Awesome, Thanks!

[@hoominmanen]

thank you, liked and subbed

[@KittyBoyPurr]

Thank you boss

[@edwinmalias]

thank you

[@shumailmohana]

thanks dude you saved my day

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad to have been able to help!

[@amikakissoon3799]

Thank you very helpful

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad it was helpful!

[@daviahall941]

thank you very much. it worked. YEEEESSSSSSS!!!!!!!!

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad it helped!!

[@shazwanyshuhairy9671]

Tq so muchhhhh🎉

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad to help!

[@-guy-2686]

Thank you bro this saved my ass

[@bitortwo9735]

Glad your ass is secure

[@alejandrocervantes8575]

amazing, thank you so much lmao

[@artisticshe]

Once you get page number 1 on the first page you want, how do you make the number switch sides every other page like in a book? I want my numbers to always be on the outer page? I managed to get it to show odd numbers, but the other side is blank?

[@bitortwo9735]

Sorry to reply so late! You can do this by going to Headers and Footers and selecting "Different odd and even". You then need to align the odd one to the right (or left) and the even one to the opposite side. You might need to add a page number again on the secondary page by clicking into the numberless page and add Page Number again, then into the header and align as you want. docs.google.com/document/d/1R0w0I0WcD1J4w1X0Rvh1mTqvU-sC4MZvsvt9lqrSKao/edit

[@girlsluvu]

СПАСИБО БРАТ

[@Tm-ru5dw]

Do you know how to set page numbers like number 5 is on the right side of footer and number 6 is on the left side etc etc?

[@Tm-ru5dw]

plz don't tell me that i need to make all diffrent sections for every page (40) ;

[@bitortwo9735]

You can do this by going to Headers and Footers and selecting "Different odd and even". You then need to align the odd one to the right (or left) and the even one to the opposite side. You might need to add a page number again on the secondary page by clicking into the numberless page and add Page Number again, then into the header and align as you want. You can check it out here: docs.google.com/document/d/1R0w0I0WcD1J4w1X0Rvh1mTqvU-sC4MZvsvt9lqrSKao/edit

[@Tm-ru5dw]

@@bitortwo9735 thank you so much!

[@KMLC1315]

It's only at the left side. How do you place it at the right side?

[@bitortwo9735]

I think you should be able to click into the header or footer (wherever you have your numbering) and use the text align button like you would with regular text paragraphs

[@turkeykent3719]

BRUH! freakin page break to customize page numbers! how would anyone guess that correlation!? gg docs should make it easier to customize page numbers! anyways thank you very much man

[@zakriaali146]

Hi, are you at any freelancing platform

[@bitortwo9735]

Hi Zakari, no. This was just a hobby attempt. I'm actually a full time employee at a major tech company.

[@cerenn35_]

does not work for me

[@bitortwo9735]

Happy to try and help. Where are you getting stuck?

[@cerenn35_]

@@bitortwo9735 I repeat everything and docs just keeps putting the numbers on the whole document, not starting from the page I want