How to work with headers and footers in Pages on Mac

If you often compose documents in Pages on Mac, it’s important to know how to work with headers and footers. You may be writing an essay for class, creating a manual for work, or crafting chapters for a book. Each of these types of documents, and many others, can benefit from headers and footers. You can enter dates, page numbers, your name, your company, and similar details that automatically carry across all pages.

If you’re new to using these sections in Pages, we’re here to help. Here’s how to work with headers and footers in Pages on Mac.

Add headers and footers in Pages on Mac

Accessing the headers and footers

With a document open in Pages, you can easily access the headers and footers.

Move your mouse to the very top of a page, and you’ll see the header, or to the very bottom to see the footer. If you still don’t see one or both, click the Document button from the top right of the menu bar. Mark the checkboxes for Header and Footer and optionally adjust their sizes.

Enable Headers and Footers Pages on Mac

Now, click in either the header or footer to format it and insert your details.

Formatting the headers and footers

The easiest way to format any part of a Pages document is with the sidebar. Click the Format button from the top right of your toolbar to open it.

You will then see that you are in the Header & Footer section. You can adjust the font style, size, format, and color, as well as the alignment, spacing, and bullets and lists.

Format Headers and Footers Pages on Mac

Inserting details into the headers and footers

You have three sections in the header and three in the footer. Click inside one of the sections where you want to add detail.

Add your own details: To add your name, company name, school name, subject, or something like this, you can simply type it into the section of the header or footer where you want it.

Page Count: To add a page count, click Insert from the menu bar or the Insert button in your toolbar. Then, select Page Count.

Insert Page Count Pages on Mac

Page Numbers: You’ll notice that when you first click the header or footer, you have an option to insert page numbers with the Insert Page Number pop-up menu. There, you can select the formatting for your page numbers.

You will only see the pop-up if you haven’t added page numbers elsewhere in your document. If you don’t see it, you can select Page Number from the Insert menu.

Insert Page Numbers Pages on Mac

Date and Time: If you add Date & Time from the Insert menu, you can adjust its formatting as well. First, add it and then click on it. In the pop-up window, open the Choose Date Format drop-down and select a format. By default, the current date will be added, but you can choose a specific date by clicking the Calendar button under Select Date.

Insert Date Pages on Mac

Adding and formatting headers and footers in Pages on Mac is super easy, as you can see. Hopefully, this will help you with your next document.

For more help with Pages, check out: