Create and use master pages in Pages on iPhone

To create a new master page, you duplicate an existing master page, name it, then modify it. Any pages that are linked to the original master page aren’t affected.

1. Tap the page number button at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Touch and hold any page, lift your finger, then tap Edit Master Page.

3. Tap Show Master Pages, then tap Add Master Page.

4. Tap a master page you want to use as a starting point, then tap Choose in the top-right corner.

   If there’s only one master page, it’s automatically chosen.

5. Type a name for the new master, then tap Done in the top-right corner.

   The new master appears with the other masters.

6. Make sure the new master is selected, then swipe down to close the view.

   The new master appears by itself in an editing view.

7. Modify the page by adding, deleting, or editing text, placeholders, images, shapes, and other objects.

   For more information, see “Edit a master page,” below.

8. Tap Done at the top of the screen to return to the document.

When you edit a master page, any changes you make are applied to all pages that use that master.

1. Tap the numbers at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Do one of the following:

   • If the master page is used in the document: Touch and hold a page that uses the master, lift your finger, then tap Edit Master Page.

   • If the master page isn’t used in the document yet: Tap at the top of the view, choose the master you want to edit, then tap Choose. With the page you just added selected in Page Thumbnails view, swipe down to close Page Thumbnails view. Tap , then scroll down and tap Edit Master Page.

3. Do any of the following:

   • Modify existing design elements: Remove any design elements on the page, or select an object, tap , then use the formatting controls to edit it. To learn how to change the background of a master page, see Change the page background.

   • Add images: To add a placeholder image, tap , then tap . Any image you add to a placeholder in your document has the same size and placement on the page as the placeholder image.

   • Add text boxes: To add a placeholder text box, tap , tap , tap the Basic category, then tap Text. Select the new text box, tap , then use the formatting controls to style it: add a border, choose a size and font for the text, and so on. Any text you type in the text box in your document has the same style you applied to the placeholder text box.

   • Rename it: Tap Show Master Pages, then tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to rename. Tap it again, tap Rename, then type the new name. Tap Done at the top of the screen, then swipe down to close Page Thumbnails view.

   • Set how headers and footers appear on the page: With nothing selected on the master page, tap , then turn Show Header & Footer off or on. If you don’t want the header and footer to match what’s on the previous page, turn off Match Previous Page. Tap outside the controls to close them.

     If you don’t see these controls, or if they’re dimmed, first turn on headers and footers for the document and check the settings for the previous page.

4. Tap Done at the top of the screen to return to the document.

1. Tap the numbers at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Touch and hold a page that uses the master you want to rename, lift your finger, then tap Edit Master Page.

3. Tap Show Master Pages, then tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to rename.

4. Tap the thumbnail again, tap Rename, then type the new name.

5. Tap Done at the top of the screen, then swipe down to close Page Thumbnails view.

6. Tap Done at the top of the screen to return to the document.

You can tag placeholder items (images and text boxes) on master pages to make it easier to switch master pages in your document. The tags “tell” the content where to go when you switch masters for a page. For example, an image that’s in a placeholder with the tag “media” is automatically populated into a placeholder in the new master that also has the tag “media.”

If you’re creating a new master page in a book template with predesigned master pages, check the other master pages to see what tags they already use, then use the same ones, or replace them with your own.

1. Tap the page number button at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Touch and hold a page that uses the master you want to tag (or any page if the master you want isn’t being used), lift your finger, then tap Edit Master Page.

   Edit Master Page view opens, showing the master page of the page you tapped. If you want to tag a different master, tap Show Master Pages, tap the one you want, then swipe down to close the view.

3. Select an object on the master page that you want to tag.

4. Tap , then tap the Style tab.

5. Scroll down, then tap Tag and type a tag.

6. Tap to close the controls.

7. When you’re finished tagging objects, tap Done.

You can apply a different master page to any page in your document. See “Tag objects to simplify switching master pages,” above, to learn how to tag text boxes and other objects to make the switch go smoothly.

1. Tap anywhere in a blank spot on the page (so nothing is selected on the page), or tap its thumbnail in Page Thumbnails view.

2. Tap , then tap Master.

   If you don’t see Master, make sure nothing on the page is selected and try again.

3. Tap the master page you want to use, then tap Choose.

4. Adjust the content on the page as necessary to accommodate the new layout.

If you make changes to a page’s format and later want to use the original formatting of its master page, you can reapply the master page. Reapplying the master page won’t delete your content.

1. Tap the page number button at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Touch and hold the thumbnail image of the page you want to change, lift your finger, then tap Reapply Master to Page (tap until you see it).

3. Make any necessary adjustments to the page content.

1. Tap the page number button at the bottom of the screen to open Page Thumbnails view.

2. Touch and hold a page that uses the master, lift your finger, then tap Edit Master Page (you may need to tap to see it).

3. Tap Show Master Pages at the bottom of the screen, then tap the thumbnail of the master page you want to delete.

4. Tap the thumbnail again, then tap Delete.

5. If pages in the document are linked to this master page, select a new master page for those pages in the dialog that appears, then tap Choose.

6. Swipe down to close this view, then tap Done in the top-right corner to return to the document.