How to Rearrange Pages in Google Docs

Written by Tanja Google Workplace / Docs

- 5 min read
Key Points

To rearrange pages in Google Docs, you need to do it manually, and there is a workaround for that:

Select the content on the page > select Copy from the menu > Navigate to a Microsoft Word document > Right-click on the empty paragraph to paste the content - select Paste from the menu > From the upper toolbar, click on the View toolbar > select the Navigation Pane option > press Ctrl + A to select the entire content, then copy the content you’ve selected > Go back to the Google Docs file and paste the content you’ve selected.

Google Docs, also known as the successor of Microsoft Word, offers multiple web services for word processing, creating, and editing online documents.

But, as the successor of MS Word, is Google Docs able to allow users to move pages within a single document with the Navigation Pane?

In this article, we’ll tackle this subject and discover whether this is possible and how you can do it while working on a Google Docs file.

If interested, scroll down for more details on this.

You can also check out: How to restart numbering in Google Docs?

Can Google Docs users rearrange and move pages in Google Docs?

You can, but the workaround can be annoying at times. The most asked question is how this can be done since the Navigation Pane is exclusive to MS Word documents. This feature also exists in Google Docs, but not in the same kind of pane - the Google Docs pane does not allow users to move pages.

However, they can do it manually by copying and pasting the content. So, this is done by copying the content to MS Word, rearranging the pages as you want, or pasting the rearranged content back to Google Docs.

Bonus read: How to do Roman numerals in Google Docs?

How to move and rearrange Google Docs pages (on a desktop computer)

Whether using a Chromebook, Mac, or Windows, the process of rearranging Google Docs pages is the same because Google Docs is a web-based app.

To do it, follow the steps mentioned below:

  1. Open your preferred browser and go to the Google Docs file you are working on.
  2. Google DocsSelect the content on the page (the one you want to move elsewhere) - press Ctrl + A to select it all.
  3. Next, you have two alternatives: right-click the content and select Copy from the menu, or use the shortcut option Ctrl + C.

Copy option / Ctrl + C

  1. Or, you can use Ctrl + X or cut to automatically copy and delete the content from the Google Docs file (because you will be replacing the content with the new, moved content from MS Word).
  2. Navigate to a Microsoft Word document.
  3. Right-click on the empty paragraph to paste the content - select Paste from the menu.
  4. You can also press Ctrl + V.

Paste or Ctrl + V

  1. From the upper toolbar, click on the View toolbar.

View option (toolbar)

  1. From there, select the Navigation Pane option.

Navigation Pane option

  1. With the Navigation Pane feature, you can view on the left, click and move several headlines in the document (this can also be done with the copy/paste method but without all the gap paragraphs popping up).

Navigation Pane popup

  1. Once you are done rearranging, press Ctrl + A to select the entire content, then copy the content you’ve selected.
    Navigate back to the Google Docs file and paste the content you’ve selected.
  2. You will see that your pages will be reordered in your Google Docs file, the same as they were in your MS Word.

Can I rearrange Google Docs pages on Android or iOS devices?

The short answer to this is yes, this can be done, but it is not recommended at all. Google Docs is available on smartphones but still, to perform all the above-mentioned steps, you will certainly have easier and faster access to Google Docs via desktop.

The main difference is that you cannot take advantage of the right-click option or press the Ctrl + C/V/A button options. On a smart device, you can actually use the standard copy, paste, and select options by tapping and holding or double-tapping combinations for this.

Also, you’ll need to proceed to copy and paste until you have moved the document accordion to what you want.

Can I rearrange Google Docs pages by converting them to PDF?

The simplest way to do this is:

  1. Open your Google Docs file and click on the Print icon (top section).

Print option - Google Docs

  1. You can also press Ctrl + P.
  2. Next, click the Destination menu and choose the option Save as PDF.
  3. Click on Save.

Save and PDF option

  1. Open the PDF version on your computer and use the left pane to drag your pages in the order you want.
  2. Save the document and upload it back to Google Docs.

If interested, you can also learn how to circle something in Google Docs, how to do double underline, or how to insert typewriter font in Google Docs.

FAQs

Can I move pictures around Google Docs?

Yes! Pictures can be moved around Google docs just like any other body of content there. The process is identical to copying and pasting a text. So, when you have a picture that you want to move - copy/cut/paste commands and rearrange it the way you want.


Or, select the picture and use your cursor to move it.

Can I separate the pages in Google Docs?

Again, yes, you can do that as well - Place your cursor where you want to insert it and go to the Insert tab (upper toolbar menu) > Go to Break entry > Click on Page break (or the shortcut Ctrl + Enter) > remove a page break by pressing on the Backspace button.