To make a running header in Word, double-click the top margin of any page (or go to Insert, Header), type the text you want repeated, and press Esc. Word copies that header to every page in the document automatically. That repeated text at the top of each page is what people call a running header or running head.
If you need a different header on the first page, turn on Different First Page. If you need different headers in different parts of the document, add section breaks and turn off Link to Previous. This guide covers every step, including page numbers and the current APA 7 rules, since those changed from the older “Running head:” format many people remember.
Quick Answer
- Double-click the top margin of a page, or go to Insert, Header and pick a style.
- Type your running header text, such as a shortened title.
- Optional: go to Insert, Page Number, Top of Page to add page numbers.
- Optional: check Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab for a separate title page header.
- Select Close Header and Footer or press Esc.
In This Guide
- What a running header is and what you need
- Method 1: Add a running header to every page
- Method 2: Add page numbers to the running header
- Method 3: Use a different header on the first page
- Method 4: Change the running header partway through
- APA 7 running head rules (student vs. professional papers)
- MLA and other header styles
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
What a Running Header Is and What You Need
A header is the area in the top margin of a Word page. Whatever you type there repeats on each page, which is why it is called a running header. Common uses include a shortened paper title, a report name, a company name, or a chapter title, often with a page number.
These steps are for Word for Windows in Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016, as of September 2026. Word for Mac and Word for the web have the same core features, but Microsoft’s help pages list separate steps for them, so button names or locations may differ a little. You need:
- Your document open in editing mode, ideally in Print Layout view (View, Print Layout), where you can see the top margin.
- The exact header text you need. For a class paper, check your instructor’s or style guide’s requirements first.
Method 1: Add a Running Header to Every Page
- Go to the Insert tab and select Header.
- Choose a header style from the gallery. Blank is the simplest choice for academic papers. Expected result: The cursor moves into the header area at the top of the page, and the Header & Footer tab appears on the ribbon.
- Type your running header text. Use the Home tab to set the font, size, and alignment so it matches your document.
- Select Close Header and Footer, or press Esc. Expected result: The header appears on every page in a lighter shade while you edit the body text. It prints normally.
To edit the header later, just double-click the top margin of any page. Microsoft’s insert a header or footer page covers the same steps, and it notes that some built-in header designs already include page numbers. For styling ideas beyond plain text, see our guide on how to insert a custom header or footer in Word.
To remove a header completely, go to Insert, Header, Remove Header.
Method 2: Add Page Numbers to the Running Header
Many running headers pair text with a page number. Word inserts the number as a field, so it updates on every page automatically.
- Go to Insert, select Page Number, then Top of Page.
- Pick a style. A plain number on the right side is the usual choice for academic papers (in many versions this is Plain Number 3). Expected result: A page number appears at the top right of every page.
Warning: choosing a Top of Page style can replace text you already typed in the header. If you want both a title and a number, a safe order is:
- Double-click the header and type your title at the left margin.
- Press Tab until the cursor reaches the right side of the header (Word’s header has preset tab stops at the center and right).
- Go to Insert, Page Number, Current Position, and choose a plain number. Expected result: Title on the left, page number on the right, on every page.
To start numbering at a different number, go to Page Number, Format Page Numbers and change Start at.
Method 3: Use a Different Header on the First Page
Title pages and cover pages often need a different header, or none at all. Different First Page handles that without affecting the rest of the document.
- Double-click the header area on any page.
- On the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page. Expected result: The header on page 1 is cleared, while page 2 onward keep the running header.
- Type any first-page-only text in the page 1 header, or leave it blank.
- Select Close Header and Footer or press Esc.
Different First Page is a toggle, so clicking it a second time turns it off again. Microsoft’s steps are in delete the header or footer from the first page. The same tab also has Different Odd & Even Pages, useful for printed books where left and right pages show different text.
Method 4: Change the Running Header Partway Through
Word ties headers to sections, which are parts of a document with their own layout settings. To change the running header for a new chapter or appendix, start a new section and unlink it from the one before it.
- Click at the very start of the page where the new header should begin.
- Go to Layout, select Breaks, then Next Page. Expected result: A section break starts a new page and a new section.
- Double-click the header on the first page of the new section.
- On the Header & Footer tab, select Link to Previous to turn it off. Expected result: The button is no longer highlighted, and if a “Same as Previous” tag was showing beside the header, it disappears.
- Now edit the header text. Changes apply only to this section and any later sections still linked to it.
- Select Close Header and Footer or press Esc.
Warning: always turn off Link to Previous before you edit, or your changes will overwrite the earlier section’s header too. Headers and footers are linked separately, so if you need a different footer as well, unlink the footer too. See Microsoft’s page on how to configure headers and footers for different sections, and our guide on how to link sections in Word.
APA 7 Running Head Rules (Student vs. Professional Papers)
Many people search for a running header because of APA style. The rules changed with the 7th edition of the APA Publication Manual, so older tutorials that tell you to type “Running head:” on the title page follow the outdated 6th edition format.
| Paper type (APA 7) | What goes in the header |
|---|---|
| Student paper | Page number only, in the top right corner, starting on the title page. No running head unless your instructor asks for one. |
| Professional paper (for publication) | Running head (shortened title in all capital letters) flush left, plus the page number flush right, on every page including the title page. |
| Both | Do not type the label “Running head:” in APA 7. |
For a professional paper, keep the running head short. University summaries of APA 7 give a maximum of 50 characters, counting letters, spaces, and punctuation. Confirm the current details on the official APA Style page header guidelines, and follow your instructor or journal if they say otherwise.
Set up an APA 7 professional running head in Word
- Double-click the header on page 1. Make sure Different First Page is unchecked, because APA 7 uses the same header on the title page.
- Type your shortened title in capital letters, for example EFFECTS OF SLEEP ON MEMORY.
- Press Tab until the cursor reaches the right edge, then go to Insert, Page Number, Current Position and choose a plain number.
- Match the header font to your paper’s body font, then press Esc. Expected result: The title sits flush left and the page number flush right on every page.
Set up an APA 7 student paper header in Word
- Go to Insert, Page Number, Top of Page, and choose the plain number on the right.
- Press Esc. Expected result: A page number appears in the top right corner of every page, starting at 1 on the title page.
MLA and Other Header Styles
MLA style also uses a running header, but it contains your last name and the page number in the top right corner, rather than a title. Our guide on how to do MLA format in Word walks through that setup. For business reports, a running header often holds the report title on the left and a date or page number on the right; the same Tab and Current Position technique from Method 2 works.
Troubleshooting
Editing the header on one page changes every page
That is normal: headers repeat across the whole section. To change it on some pages only, add a section break (Method 4) and turn off Link to Previous before you edit.
The first page lost its header
Different First Page is probably turned on. Double-click the header and uncheck it, or type the first-page header separately.
Inserting a page number deleted my header text
The Top of Page styles replace the header contents. Press Ctrl+Z to undo, then insert the number with Page Number, Current Position after typing your text.
Page numbers restart or skip after a section break
Double-click the header in the affected section, go to Page Number, Format Page Numbers, and either choose the option to continue numbering from the previous section or set Start at to the number you want.
I can’t see the header at all
You may be in Draft or Read Mode, which hide headers. Switch to View, Print Layout.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a header and a running header?
They are the same area in Word. “Running header” or “running head” just means header text that repeats on every page, often a shortened title.
Do APA 7 student papers need a running head?
No. APA 7 student papers need only a page number in the header unless the instructor requires a running head.
Should I type “Running head:” before the title?
Not in APA 7. That label belonged to the older 6th edition format.
How do I put the title on the left and the page number on the right?
Type the title, press Tab until you reach the right margin, then use Insert, Page Number, Current Position.
How do I remove a running header?
Go to Insert, Header, Remove Header. In a document with several unlinked sections, repeat this in each section.
Can I use a different running header for each chapter?
Yes. Put a Next Page section break before each chapter, turn off Link to Previous in the new section’s header, and type the new text.
Summary
- Double-click the top margin or use Insert, Header and type your running header text.
- Add page numbers with Insert, Page Number, using Current Position to keep existing text.
- Use Different First Page for a separate title page header.
- Use Next Page section breaks and turn off Link to Previous to change headers partway through.
- For APA 7, student papers need a page number only; professional papers use an all-caps shortened title plus page number, with no “Running head:” label.
Next step: check whether your paper or report follows a style guide, then open your document and set up the header with Method 1 and Method 2 before you finish writing.
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.