To add “Page 1 of 2” style page numbers in Microsoft Word, click Insert > Page Number, point to Top of Page or Bottom of Page, scroll to the Page X of Y section, and choose a style such as Bold Numbers 2. Word inserts “1 of 2” (the current page and the total pages), and both numbers update automatically as you add or remove pages. To make it read “Page 1 of 2,” click just before the first number in the header or footer and type Page followed by a space.
These steps work in Word 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365. Below you’ll also find how to build it by hand with fields, skip a cover page, and fix numbers that don’t update.
How to add Page X of Y numbers
- Click the Insert tab.
- In the Header & Footer group, click Page Number.
- Point to Top of Page or Bottom of Page.
- Scroll down to Page X of Y and click Bold Numbers 1 (left), 2 (center), or 3 (right).
- Optional: click before the first number and type Page .
- Click Close Header and Footer, or press Esc.
To remove the bold, select the numbers in the header or footer and press Ctrl + B.
How to build “Page 1 of 2” manually with fields
Use this if you want the numbers in an existing header, or next to other text like your name.
- Double-click the header or footer to open it.
- Type Page (with a space).
- Press Ctrl + F9 to insert field braces { }, type PAGE inside them, and press F9.
- Type of .
- Press Ctrl + F9 again, type NUMPAGES, and press F9.
You can also insert these through Insert > Quick Parts > Field, then choose Page or NumPages. Don’t type the braces yourself. They have to come from Ctrl + F9.
How to leave the cover page out of the count
- Double-click the header or footer, and on the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page. The cover page now has no number.
- To make page 2 show “Page 1,” click Page Number > Format Page Numbers, choose Start at, and enter 0.
- To lower the total by one, replace the NUMPAGES field with a formula field. Press Ctrl + F9, type = and a space, press Ctrl + F9 again inside the braces, type NUMPAGES, then click after the inner braces and type – 1. It should look like { = { NUMPAGES } – 1 }. Press F9.
For more options, see how to skip the first page number in Word.
How to put your last name before the page number
Type your name in the header before the page number field. For an MLA-style header, see how to add your last name and page number in Word.
If the numbers are wrong or don’t update
- The total is wrong. Click in the header, press Ctrl + A to select everything, and press F9 to update fields. Totals also update when you print or use Print Preview.
- You see {PAGE} or {NUMPAGES} instead of numbers. Field codes are showing. Press Alt + F9 to switch back.
- Every page says “1 of 1.” The document may use section breaks that restart numbering. In Format Page Numbers, choose Continue from previous section for each section.
- The total counts all sections, but you want one section only. Replace NUMPAGES with the SECTIONPAGES field.
Frequently asked questions
Can I show page numbers like “1/2”?
Yes. After inserting Page X of Y, replace the word “of” with a slash.
Does this work in Word for Mac and Word for the web?
Word for Mac has the same Page X of Y gallery. Word for the web supports page numbers but fewer formats. Open the document in the desktop app for full control.
How do I do this in Google Docs?
See how to add your last name and page number in Google Docs, which also covers page counts.
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.