Restoring Default Heading Styles in Google Docs

🚀 The Problem: Restoring Default Heading Styles in Google Docs

Google Docs allows users to modify heading styles to fit their needs. However, after making several changes, resetting all headings back to default styles (as defined in the document’s theme) is not straightforward.

Currently, Google Docs does not provide a built-in way to reset all heading styles at once. Manually adjusting each heading is inefficient, especially for large documents.

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💡 The Solution: Google Apps Script to Reset Headings

The following Google Apps Script automates the process by:

✅ Looping through all paragraphs in the document.
✅ Identifying paragraphs with a heading style (H1, H2, etc.).
✅ Reapplying the same heading style, which resets it to the document’s default formatting.

📜 Google Apps Script Code

function resetHeadingsToDefault() {
  var doc = DocumentApp.getActiveDocument();
  var body = doc.getBody();
  var paragraphs = body.getParagraphs();

  paragraphs.forEach(paragraph => {
    var heading = paragraph.getHeading();
    
    switch (heading) {
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);
        break;
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2);
        break;
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING3);
        break;
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING4:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING4);
        break;
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING5:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING5);
        break;
      case DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING6:
        paragraph.setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING6);
        break;
      default:
        // No change for normal paragraphs
        break;
    }
  });

  Logger.log("All headings have been reset to their default styles.");
}

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🔍 How the Script Works

1️⃣ Retrieves the active Google Doc using DocumentApp.getActiveDocument().
2️⃣ Gets all paragraphs within the document.
3️⃣ Loops through each paragraph, checking its current heading style.
4️⃣ Reapplies the same heading type, forcing Google Docs to reset it to the default style defined in the document’s theme.
5️⃣ Leaves normal paragraphs unchanged.
6️⃣ Logs a success message in the Apps Script editor.

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📌 Example Usage

Before Running the Script:

Your Google Doc contains multiple heading styles that have been manually modified:

🔹 Heading 1 (Customized Font and Size)
🔹 Heading 2 (Different Color and Spacing)
🔹 Heading 3 (Bold and Underlined)

After Running the Script:

All headings revert to their default document styles as defined in Google Docs Theme Settings.

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🚀 How to Run the Script in Google Docs

1️⃣ Open your Google Docs document.
2️⃣ Click Extensions > Apps Script.
3️⃣ Delete any existing code and paste the script into the editor.
4️⃣ Click Run ▶️ to execute the script.

Within seconds, all headings will reset to their default appearance.

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🎯 Why Use This Script?

✅ Saves Time – No need to manually reset headings one by one.
✅ Ensures Consistency – All headings follow the document’s default theme.
✅ Automates Formatting – Works across entire documents instantly.

This script is especially useful for writers, educators, and content creators who need to standardize document formatting effortlessly.

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🔗 Final Thoughts

By leveraging Google Apps Script, we can automate repetitive formatting tasks and enhance document consistency with minimal effort. This script is a great way to restore clean, professional formatting in your Google Docs without manually adjusting each heading.