---
title: "How to Add Page Numbers to a PDF on Mac"
description: "Add page numbers, headers and footers to PDFs on your Mac: “Page 1 of 9”, file name or date, any corner, skip the cover. Bates numbering too."
url: https://sheafai.app/add-page-numbers-pdf-mac
---

PDF tool for Mac

# Add page numbers to a PDF in any corner.

“Page 3 of 12” on a contract, chapter numbers on a thesis, exhibit labels on a legal bundle. Preview can’t do it; Sheaf does it in one drag.

[Download for Mac](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6830258390)

**Free 7-day trial** · then one purchase, no subscription · macOS 14+

**In short:** To add page numbers to a PDF on a Mac, drag it, pause and choose Number pages in Sheaf, pick a style like “Page 1 of 9” and a corner, and save. You can skip the first page and add the file name or date. Preview has no page-numbering feature.Updated 13 November 2026

**Stays on your Mac**No upload, works offline

**No account**Nothing to sign up for

**Originals untouched**Every result is a new file

**One-time purchase**No subscription

How it works

## Page numbers in three moves.

No app to open, no window to find. It happens where the file already is.

1. **Drag**

Start dragging the file from Finder, Mail, Photos or your desktop.

2. **Pause**

Hold still for a moment. Sheaf’s actions open in a circle around your cursor.

3. **Choose More › Number pages**

Pick the style and corner; skip the cover if you like.

Your options on a Mac

## Three ways to do it, honestly compared.

### Preview (built in)

No page numbering in Preview.

- Free
- Can’t add page numbers
- Text boxes per page are the only workaround

### Online PDF sites

Upload the file to a website, wait, download the result.

- Your document goes to someone else’s server
- Free plans limit files, size or tasks per day
- Needs an internet connection

### SheafFastest

Drag the file, pause, let go.

- “1”, “Page 1”, “Page 1 of 9” or Bates
- Any corner, header or footer
- Skip the cover page

## Styles

- **Page numbers**: 1, Page 1, or Page 1 of 9.
- **Header or footer text**: the file name, today’s date, or your own words like “Exhibit A”.
- **Bates numbers** for legal productions: a prefix and a running number across many PDFs, like ACME000001. See [Bates numbering on Mac](https://sheafai.app/bates-numbering-mac).

## Text stays text

Numbers are drawn onto the page, and the existing text and links keep working.

**Sheaf for Mac**

Every PDF tool, right where you drag the file.

- Works offline
- Originals never changed
- Undo any result
- One purchase, no subscription
[Download for Mac](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6830258390)

## Questions

Can Preview add page numbers to a PDF?

No. Preview has no page-numbering tool; you’d have to add a text box to every page.

Can I start numbering on page 2?

Yes. Choose Skip first page, so the cover stays clean.

Can I number several PDFs as one sequence?

Yes, with Bates numbering, which continues the count across files.

Keep going

## Related tools and guides

[**Reorder & delete pages**

Across several PDFs, then save one.
](https://sheafai.app/organize-pdf-pages-mac)[**Watermark PDF**

Draft, Confidential or your own words.
](https://sheafai.app/watermark-pdf-mac)[**Merge PDFs**

PDFs and images into one file, with bookmarks.
](https://sheafai.app/merge-pdf-mac)[**For law firms**

Bates, redaction, court-ready PDFs.
](https://sheafai.app/pdf-software-for-law-firms-mac)[**For students**

Assignments, scans and forms.
](https://sheafai.app/pdf-tools-for-students-mac)[**Word to PDF**

Word, RTF, text and web pages to PDF.
](https://sheafai.app/word-to-pdf-mac)

## Your next PDF takes one second.

Drag it, pause, let go. Free for 7 days, then yours with one purchase. Family Sharing included.
[Download for Mac](https://apps.apple.com/app/id6830258390)

Mac App Store · macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon and Intel