Google Docs how-to guides
Quick answer
Most Google Docs layout settings are under File > Page setup (margins, orientation, paper size, pages vs pageless) and the Format menu (columns, line spacing, indents). Formatting options such as margins and columns only appear when the document uses the Pages format, not Pageless.
Guides for laying out, formatting and organising Google Docs, plus working with Google Drive and Gemini. Each guide notes what changes in the Pageless format, with document tabs and in the Google Docs mobile app.
Video walkthroughs
How to Make Two Columns in Google Docs (2 Methods) 
How to Change One Page to Landscape in Google Docs (2 Methods) 
How to Create a Hanging Indent in Google Docs (2 Methods) 
How to Do Subscript and Superscript in Google Docs (3 Methods) 
How to Create a Table of Contents in Google Docs 
How to Delete a Page in Google Docs (5 Fixes)Page layout
- How to Delete a Page in Google Docs (5 Fixes) Video To delete a page in Google Docs, click at the very start of the text after the blank page and press Backspace until the page disappears. If it won't go, turn on View > Show non-printing characters, then delete the page break or section break, or reduce the custom spacing that pushes text onto a new page.
- How to Change Margins in Google Docs (2 Methods) To change margins in Google Docs, click File → Page setup, choose Pages, type new Top, Bottom, Left and Right values, and click OK. For a quick visual change, drag the margin edge on the ruler instead. Margins aren't available in pageless documents, so switch to Pages format first.
- How to Change One Page to Landscape in Google Docs (2 Methods) Video To change one page to landscape in Google Docs, select the content on that page, right-click it, and choose Change page to landscape. Docs rotates only that content's pages. For more control, insert section breaks, then use File → Page setup or Format → Page orientation with Apply to set to This section.
- How to Make Two Columns in Google Docs (2 Methods) Video To make two columns in Google Docs, select the text (or nothing, for the whole document), click Format → Columns, and choose the two-column option. Use Insert → Break → Column break to push text into the next column. For two independent columns, such as a resume, insert a 2×1 table and hide its borders.
Formatting and structure
- How to Add a Page Border in Google Docs (3 Methods) Video Google Docs has no page border setting, so you draw one. Click Insert > Drawing > New, draw a rectangle with a transparent fill, click Save and close, set the drawing to Behind text and stretch it to the page edges. For a simple frame, use a 1 x 1 table instead.
- How to Do Subscript and Superscript in Google Docs (3 Methods) Video To make subscript or superscript in Google Docs, select the text and click Format > Text > Subscript or Superscript. The shortcuts are Ctrl + , for subscript and Ctrl + . for superscript on Windows and ChromeOS, or Cmd + , and Cmd + . on Mac. Press the same shortcut again to turn it off.
- How to Create a Hanging Indent in Google Docs (2 Methods) Video To create a hanging indent in Google Docs, select your paragraphs, click Format → Align & indent → Indentation options, set Special indent to Hanging, enter 0.5 inches, and click Apply. Or, on the ruler, drag the left-indent triangle to 0.5 inch and the first-line rectangle back to 0.
- How to Create a Table of Contents in Google Docs Video To create a table of contents in Google Docs, apply heading styles (Format → Paragraph styles) to your section titles, click where the TOC should go, and choose Insert → Page elements → Table of contents. Pick page numbers or blue links. When headings change, click the TOC and select Refresh.
Comments and suggestions
- How to Accept All Suggestions in Google Docs (+ Suggesting Mode) To accept all suggestions in Google Docs, click Tools > Review suggested edits, then click Accept all in the box at the top right. Click the Down arrow in that box first to preview the document with or without the changes. The Google Docs mobile app accepts suggestions one at a time only.
- How to Copy Comments From One Google Doc to Another Google Docs can only copy comments when you copy the whole file: click File > Make a copy and tick Copy comments and suggestions. Copy-pasting text never brings its comments along. To copy comments into another or an existing Doc, use an add-on such as Merge Docs Pro with its Copy comments option.
- How to See Resolved Comments in Google Docs (and Reopen Them) To see resolved comments in Google Docs, click Show all comments at the top right, then click the All types filter and choose resolved comments. To restore one, click Re-open at the top right of the comment. Ctrl + Alt + Shift + A (Cmd + Option + Shift + A on Mac) opens the comment history.
Equations and symbols
Organise and protect
- How to View the Parent Folder of a Google Doc To find a Google Doc's parent folder, click the Move icon (a folder with an arrow) next to the document title. The dialog shows the current location; click the open-in-new-window arrow beside it to open that folder in Google Drive. You can also use File → Details, which lists the document's Location.
- How to Lock a Google Doc (Stop Edits and Comments) To lock a Google Doc, open Google Drive, right-click the file, choose File information → Lock, and confirm. A locked Doc can't be edited, commented on or suggested on until someone unlocks it. Anyone with edit access can unlock it, so locking prevents accidents rather than enforcing security.
Google Drive and Gemini
- How to Change Language in Google Gemini To change Gemini's language on Android, open the Gemini app, tap Menu → your profile picture → Settings → Languages, and pick a language. On iPhone or iPad, Gemini follows your device language. On the web, it uses your browser or device language. To change only the reply language, just ask Gemini in the chat.
- How to Download a Large File From Google Drive Using WGET or CURL To download a large Google Drive file with curl or wget, share it as Anyone with the link, copy its file ID, and request https://drive.usercontent.google.com/download?id=FILE_ID&export=download&confirm=t. The confirm=t parameter skips the virus-scan warning page. Private files need the Drive API with an OAuth access token.