To switch back to one column in Google Docs, select the text that’s in columns (or press Ctrl + A for the whole document), then select Format > Columns and choose the single-column preset on the left. If only part of the document goes back to one column, the columns are in a separate section; click inside that section and repeat.
Columns only show in Pages format. If your document is set to Pageless, columns are hidden until you switch back.
Quick Answer
Click in the columned text, select Format > Columns, and pick the one-column option.
Switch Back to One Column
- Open the document and click in the text that’s in columns. To change the whole document, press Ctrl + A (Command + A on a Mac).
- Select Format in the menu bar.
- Point to Columns.
- Select the first preset, which shows a single column of text.
You can also select Format > Columns > More options and set Number of columns to 1.
When Only Part of the Document Changes
Google Docs applies columns to a section. If someone added a section break, each section keeps its own column setting.
- Select View > Show section breaks to see where sections start and end.
- Click in the section that’s still in columns.
- Choose the one-column preset again.
- Optional: delete extra section breaks by clicking just before them and pressing Delete.
Column Options at a Glance
| Setting | Where |
|---|---|
| One, two, or three columns | Format > Columns presets |
| Up to three columns, spacing, and a divider line | Format > Columns > More options |
| Start a new column | Insert > Break > Column break |
| Different column layouts on one page | Insert > Break > Section break (continuous) |
Troubleshooting
- Columns menu is grayed out: The document is in Pageless format. Select File > Page setup and choose Pages.
- Text still jumps to a new column: A column break remains. Turn on View > Show non-printing characters and delete it.
- It looks like columns but isn’t: The layout may be a table. Right-click it and choose Delete table, or copy the text out first.
- Mobile app: The Docs app can’t change columns. Use a computer browser.
Organizing a long document? Try tabs in Google Docs instead of section breaks.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will switching to one column change my formatting?
No. Text, images, and styles stay the same. Only the layout changes.
Can I have one column at the top and two below?
Yes. Insert a continuous section break where the layout should change, then set columns for each section.
Summary
- Select the columned text or the whole document.
- Choose Format > Columns and the one-column preset.
- Repeat in each section if needed.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.