Add page numbers to a PDF

How to number pages

1. 1

   Open the PDF

   Choose the file, and its first page appears with a number already on it.

2. 2

   Choose the spot

   Tap one of the six spots on the little page: top or bottom, at the left, center or right.

3. 3

   Choose the wording

   Pick 1, Page 1, 1 of 12 or Page 1 of 12, the number to start from, the size, and how far from the edge it sits.

4. 4

   Check and download

   Step through the pages to see each number in place, then tap Download numbered PDF.

The numbering options

• No number on the first page leaves a cover or title page clean. It still counts, so the second page reads 2.
• First page is number sets where counting starts. If this file continues a document that ended on page 14, start at 15.
• 1 of 12 always uses the real number of pages in this file, even when you start counting higher.
• Rotated and cropped pages get their number at the bottom or top as you see it on screen, not where the page's original edge was.

Good to know

• Numbers are real text, in black Helvetica, so they print crisply and show up when you search the PDF.
• Nothing else on the page changes. The number is added on top, and the rest of the page stays selectable.
• Every page gets a number, apart from the first if you skip it. To number only part of a file, split it, number that part, and merge the pieces back together.
• Very small pages may not fit a large number inside a wide margin. Choose a narrower margin or a smaller size.

Page numbers on signed documents

If the PDF is going out for signature, you may not need this step. SignMaster prints the envelope ID and page numbers on every page of the signed copy, so a loose page can always be traced back to its envelope. See the audit trail. Numbering here still helps when signers need to find a page while they read.