To add a header or footer in Microsoft Word, go to the Insert tab and click Header or Footer. Pick a built-in design, or choose Edit Header (or Edit Footer) to start with a blank one, type your text, and press Esc or click Close Header and Footer when you’re done. You can also double-click the top or bottom margin of any page to open the header or footer directly.
A custom header or footer can hold more than text: page numbers, the date, a logo, the file name, or different content on the first page. This guide covers all of that, plus how to save your design so you can reuse it in other documents.
How to insert a header or footer in Word
- Open your document in Word.
- Click the Insert tab.
- In the Header & Footer group, click Header or Footer.
- Choose a built-in style such as Blank, Blank (Three Columns) or one of the designed options. Or click Edit Header / Edit Footer at the bottom of the menu.
- Type your text. Use the Home tab to change the font, size, color and alignment, just like in the body of the document.
- Click Close Header and Footer on the Header & Footer tab, press Esc, or double-click anywhere in the body of the document.
The header or footer appears on every page. While you’re editing the body, it looks faded. That’s normal and it prints at full strength.
Customize your header or footer
When the header or footer is open, Word shows the Header & Footer tab on the ribbon. These are the tools you’ll use most:
- Page Number: Click Page Number > Current Position to insert the number where your cursor is, or choose Top of Page or Bottom of Page for a ready-made style.
- Date & Time: Insert today’s date in the format you choose. Check Update automatically to keep it current.
- Document Info: Add the author, file name, file path or document title.
- Pictures: Insert a logo or image. Resize it by dragging a corner, and use Layout Options to place it beside your text.
- Quick Parts > Field: Insert fields such as NumPages to create “Page 1 of 10.”
- Header from Top / Footer from Bottom: Change how far the header or footer sits from the edge of the page.
Line up text on the left, center and right
Word’s header has preset tab stops in the center and on the right. Type your left text, press Tab to jump to the center, type, then press Tab again for the right side. This is a simple way to put a title on the left and a page number on the right.
Use a different first page or odd and even pages
- Open the header or footer.
- On the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page to give the first page its own header, or leave it blank for a cover page.
- Check Different Odd & Even Pages for book-style layouts, such as page numbers on the outside edges.
For different headers in different parts of the document, insert a section break with Layout > Breaks > Next Page, then turn off Link to Previous in the new section’s header before you change it.
Save a custom header or footer to reuse it
If you’ve designed a header you’ll use again, such as a company letterhead with a logo, save it to the gallery.
- Open the header and select everything in it with Ctrl + A.
- Go to Insert > Header > Save Selection to Header Gallery. For a footer, use Footer > Save Selection to Footer Gallery.
- Give it a name and click OK.
Your design now appears in the Header or Footer menu. When you close Word, it may ask whether to save changes to Building Blocks. Click Save to keep it for future documents.
Add a header or footer in Word for Mac and Word for the web
- Word for Mac: Click Insert > Header or Footer and pick a style. The tools on the Header & Footer tab are the same as on Windows.
- Word for the web: Click Insert > Header & Footer. You can type text and add page numbers, and use Options for a different first page or odd and even pages. Fancier designs and saving to the gallery need the desktop app.
Header and footer tools at a glance
| To do this | Use |
|---|---|
| Open the header or footer quickly | Double-click the top or bottom margin |
| Add page numbers | Page Number > Current Position |
| Show “Page X of Y” | Page Number styles, or Quick Parts > Field > NumPages |
| Add a logo | Pictures |
| Hide it on the first page | Different First Page |
| Change it partway through | Section break, then unlink with Link to Previous |
| Reuse a design | Save Selection to Header Gallery |
| Remove it | Insert > Header > Remove Header |
Related: link and unlink sections in Word.
Related: remove the header from the second page in Word.
Related: copy a header and footer to another Word document.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my header grayed out in Word?
Word fades the header while you’re editing the body text. It isn’t actually gray and prints normally. Double-click it to edit it.
How do I remove a header or footer?
Go to Insert > Header > Remove Header, or Footer > Remove Footer. If your document has several sections, repeat this for each section that isn’t linked.
Can I put a table in a header?
Yes. Open the header and use Insert > Table. A borderless table is a neat way to line up a logo and contact details.
Why does my header change on every page when I edit one?
That’s expected unless you’ve used section breaks. Headers are shared across a whole section, so editing one changes all pages in it.
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.