How to Add and Remove Line Numbers in Google Docs

Key Takeaways

• Line numbers in Google Docs are similar to page numbers, but rather than identifying a page number, line numbers count the lines of a document.
• When added, the appropriate line number appears next to each line in Google Docs.
• Once added, you will see these numbers even if no text is on the line.

How to Add Line Numbers in Google Docs

You can add line numbers to the entire document or select sections in Google Docs. Here are the steps to perform that:

Adding Line Numbers to an Entire Document

Step 1: Open the Google Docs site in your preferred web browser and open the file. If you have the Google Docs app on your phone, launch it and open your document.

Step 2: On the Google Docs ribbon, click the Tools tab.

Step 3: Select Line numbers.

Step 4: From the Line numbers sidebar, tick the box for Show line numbers.

By default, this will show the line numbers in the entire document. As you add new lines, the line numbers should also increase.

Adding Line Numbers to a Section of a Document

You must first insert section breaks to add line numbers to only certain sections of your document. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1: In your Google Docs file, select the document section where you want to add line numbers.

Step 2: On the Google Doc Ribbon, click the Insert tab.

Step 3: Select Break.

Step 4: Select Section break (next page) or Section break (continuous).

Step 5: On the Google Docs Ribbon, click the Tools tab.

Step 6: Select Line numbers.

Step 7: From the Line numbers sidebar, tick the box for Show line numbers.

Step 8: In the Apply to section, select This section.

Line numbers will only be featured in the selected section.

Restarting Line Numbers for New Pages or Sections

When you add line numbers to Google Docs, by default, it continues throughout the document numerically. However, you can change this to have the line numbers restart for each page or section in Google Docs. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1: On the Google Docs Ribbon, click the Tools tab.

Step 2: Select Line numbers from the context menu.

Step 3: From the Line numbers sidebar, tick the box for Show line numbers.

Step 4: In the Line numbering mode section, select your preferred option.

Step 5: In the Apply to section, select where you would like to apply your line numbering mode selection.

For each section or page of the document, the line numbers should start from 1.

How to Remove Line Numbers in Google Docs

If your document no longer requires line numbers, you can remove it from your document on Google Docs. Here’s how to do so:

Step 1: On the Google Docs Ribbon, click the Tools tab.

Step 2: Select Line numbers from the context menu.

Step 3: From the Line numbers sidebar, untick the box for Show line numbers.

You may also perform similar steps in Microsoft Word.