A cover page often needs a different header from the rest of a Google Docs report. Use the first-page setting instead of deleting header text and discovering that it disappears from every page.
Set a separate first-page header
- Open the document in Pages format on a computer.
- Click in the header.
- Enable Different first page.
- Edit the cover-page header and check the header on the following page.
The first page can have its own text or an intentionally empty header. Work carefully in the correct page’s header so you do not replace the repeated text that belongs to the body pages.
Distinguish first-page and section settings
The different-first-page option can apply to the first page of a document or section. If the report has several sections, inspect the current section and any linkage to the previous section.
For a cover page followed by independently numbered main text, a section boundary may also be needed for numbering. A different header alone does not establish a new numbering sequence or new page orientation.
Check the first three pages
Inspect the cover, the next page, and another body page. This small check catches common mistakes: an unwanted header on the cover, a missing header on page two, or a header that repeats only within the wrong section.
Do not remove the cover page’s body title merely because the running header is empty. They are separate parts of the document. Finally, inspect the actual PDF or print preview and confirm that the recipient’s required title-page layout is met. Avoid using blank paragraphs at the top of the page to simulate header spacing.
References
Reviewed against the linked official product guidance on November 3, 2026. Features, limits, screen labels, and access can vary by account, platform, region, and organization policy.