How to Add a Watermark in Microsoft Word 2016

A watermark is faint text or a picture behind the content of every page, such as “DRAFT,” “CONFIDENTIAL” or a company logo. It tells readers the document’s status at a glance and discourages copying. In Microsoft Word 2016, watermarks live on the Design tab, and you can use a built-in one, type your own text, or use an image. This guide also works in Word 2019, Word 2021, Word 2024 and Word for Microsoft 365, and covers removing watermarks and adding one to only certain pages.

Quick Answer

Click the Design tab, click Watermark, and choose a built-in watermark, or click Custom Watermark to add your own text or picture. To remove it, choose Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark.

Add a Built-In Watermark in Word 2016

1. Open your document.
2. Click the Design tab. (Newer versions also use the Design tab; in Word 2010 and earlier, Watermark was on the Page Layout tab.)
3. Click Watermark in the Page Background group on the right.
4. Choose one of the built-in options, such as CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT COPY, DRAFT, SAMPLE, ASAP or URGENT, in diagonal or horizontal layout.

The watermark appears on every page of the document.

Add a Custom Text Watermark

1. Go to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark.
2. Select Text watermark.
3. In Text, choose a phrase or type your own, such as “Internal Review Only.”
4. Set the Font, Size (Auto fits the page), and Color. Keep Semitransparent checked so body text stays readable.
5. Choose Diagonal or Horizontal layout.
6. Click OK.

Add a Picture Watermark (Logo)

1. Go to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark.
2. Select Picture watermark and click Select Picture.
3. Choose From a file and pick your image, then click Insert.
4. Set Scale (Auto or a percentage) and keep Washout checked to fade the image.
5. Click OK.

Use a high-resolution image with a transparent or white background for the cleanest look.

Remove a Watermark

Go to Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark. If that doesn’t work, which can happen with documents made in other programs:

1. Double-click the header area at the top of a page to open the header.
2. Click the watermark to select it. Its outline appears.
3. Press Delete.
4. Repeat in each section if your document has several sections with different headers.
5. Double-click the body or click Close Header and Footer.

Add a Watermark to Only One Page or Section

Watermarks are stored in the header, so they follow the header’s sections.

1. Place the cursor at the start of the page where the watermark should begin and choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page. Add another break after the last page that needs it.
2. Double-click the header in the new section and, on the Header & Footer Tools Design tab, turn off Link to Previous. Do the same in the section after it.
3. Click in the section that needs the watermark and choose your watermark. Delete it from any other sections by selecting it in their headers and pressing Delete.

If Different First Page is turned on, the first page has its own header and needs its own watermark.

Edit or Move a Watermark

• To change text or settings, open Custom Watermark again and adjust them.
• To move, resize or rotate it freely, open the header (double-click the top of the page) and drag the watermark or its handles.
• To add a watermark to the gallery for later, select it in the header, then choose Watermark > Save Selection to Watermark Gallery.

Watermark Not Showing?

• Switch to Print Layout view (View > Print Layout). Watermarks don’t appear in Draft or Web Layout.
• Check that a page color or full-page image isn’t covering it.
• If it doesn’t print, go to File > Options > Display and make sure Print background colors and images is checked. Very light colors may also be hard to see on some printers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone remove my watermark?

Yes. Anyone who can edit the document can remove it. To make removal harder, save as a PDF, or restrict editing via Review > Restrict Editing.

Can I use two watermarks at once?

Choosing a new watermark replaces the old one. To combine text and a logo, add one as a watermark and insert the other in the header as a picture or WordArt behind text.

Does this work on a Mac?

Yes. In Word for Mac, go to Design > Watermark and use the Insert Watermark box.

Can I add a watermark in Word for the web?

Word for the web displays watermarks that are already in a document, but its options for adding them are limited or missing depending on your version. Use the desktop app for full control.

Summary

1. Click Design > Watermark.
2. Choose a built-in watermark, or click Custom Watermark for text or a picture.
3. Remove it with Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark.
4. Use section breaks to limit it to certain pages.