Want to clean up your document or remove unnecessary information at the bottom of your pages? Here’s how to delete a footer in Google Docs 🧹 — it’s quick, easy, and takes just a few clicks or keystrokes! Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, or Ubuntu, you can remove footers (like page numbers, document titles, or dates) in a flash.
In this article, you’ll learn the exact steps and shortcuts to remove footers, plus a few expert tips to make your Google Docs look polished and professional.
🧭 What Is a Footer in Google Docs?
A footer is the section at the bottom of each page in your document. You can use it to include:
- Page numbers 📄
- Confidential notices 🔒
- Document titles or version numbers
- Footnotes or copyright info ©
But sometimes, you just don’t need it — and that’s when you’ll want to delete it.
🧼 How to Delete a Footer in Google Docs (All Devices)
Here’s how to remove a footer from your Google Doc:
- Double-click on the footer area at the bottom of any page.
- Highlight or select the content inside.
- Press Delete or Backspace.
🎉 Done! The footer is now removed from that section of your document.
If your document has section breaks, you might need to repeat this process for each section.
⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts to Help You Delete a Footer
While there’s no single key combo to delete a footer directly, you can use these shortcuts to speed up the process:
| Action | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Move to Footer | Double-click footer area | Double-click footer area |
| Select All Text in Footer | Ctrl + A | Cmd + A |
| Delete Selected Text | Delete or Backspace | Delete or Backspace |
⚡ Bonus Tip: Use Ctrl + Z (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Z (Mac) to undo in case you delete the wrong thing.
📑 Delete Footer Across Sections or Pages
If your document has different section headers/footers:
- Go to Format > Headers & Footers.
- Uncheck “Different first page” or “Different odd & even” if they’re enabled.
- Repeat the footer deletion steps for each section.
📍 Pro Tip: Using the “Clear formatting” option (Ctrl + \ or Cmd + \) won’t remove the footer but will strip any styling from the text within.
🖼️ How to Delete Images or Page Numbers in the Footer
If your footer contains an image or auto-generated page numbers, follow these steps:
- Page Numbers:
Go to Insert > Page Numbers, then choose “Remove page numbers”. - Images:
Click the image and hit Delete just like regular text.
This is especially useful if you used templates with branding or graphics you no longer need.
📲 How to Delete a Footer in Google Docs Mobile App
On Android or iOS:
- Tap the pencil icon ✏️ to enter editing mode.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Select “Print layout” (if it’s not already enabled).
- Scroll down and tap on the footer area.
- Delete the text manually.
⚠️ There is no “remove footer” button in mobile, but this method works to erase content.
🛠️ Troubleshooting: Footer Won’t Delete?
Here’s what to do if the footer won’t go away:
- Check for section breaks: Each section has its own footer settings.
- Turn off special settings like “Different first page”.
- Ensure you’re editing the document, not viewing only.
- Refresh the page or open in another browser if issues persist.
Still stuck? Try copying the content into a new Google Doc without headers/footers enabled.
💬 FAQs About How to Delete a Footer in Google Docs
Can I completely remove the footer area, not just the content?
No. Google Docs always reserves space for footers. You can delete the content, but the area remains.
How do I remove the footer from only the first page?
Go to Format > Headers & Footers and check “Different first page,” then delete the footer on the first page only.
Can I delete footers from just odd or even pages?
Yes! Enable “Different odd & even” under Format > Headers & Footers, then remove accordingly.
Does deleting the footer affect the document’s layout?
No, removing footers won’t change your main content or spacing unless extra line breaks are present.
Can I use styles or formatting to hide the footer?
Technically yes — you can reduce font size to 1pt and make the text white, but it’s better to delete the content directly.
Is there a shortcut to remove the entire footer in one go?
No direct shortcut exists, but combining Ctrl + A in the footer + Delete is the fastest way.
✅ Final Thoughts: How to Delete a Footer in Google Docs
Learning how to delete a footer in Google Docs is a simple way to clean up your documents, especially when you’re preparing final versions for print, sharing, or publishing. Whether you want a minimalist look or just want to ditch those default page numbers, it takes just a few clicks to tidy things up.
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
Advertisment