A faded header in Microsoft Word is usually normal. Word dims the header and footer while you’re working in the main document so you can tell them apart. It prints at full strength. To make it look normal on screen, double-click the header to edit it, and the body text dims instead. If the header also prints faded, the text itself is light: select it, open the Font Color menu on the Home tab, and choose Automatic or Black.
Below are the reasons a header can look faded and how to fix each one.
Why the header looks faded
| What you see | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Header looks gray only on screen | You’re editing the body, so Word dims the header | Nothing to fix. Double-click the header to edit it. |
| Body text looks faded | You’re editing the header | Close the header (Fix 1) |
| Header prints light gray | Font color is gray | Fix 2 |
| Header or logo is washed out | A picture has a washout or transparency effect | Fix 3 |
| Header is hidden or blank on screen | White space between pages is hidden, or you’re in Draft view | Fix 4 |
Fix 1: Switch between the header and the body
- To edit the header: Double-click in the top margin of any page. The Header & Footer tab opens, and the body text dims.
- To go back to the body: Click Close Header and Footer on the Header & Footer tab, press Esc, or double-click anywhere in the body.
There’s no setting to stop Word from dimming the inactive area on screen. It’s a visual cue only and doesn’t affect printing or PDFs.
Fix 2: Change the header’s font color
- Double-click the header to open it.
- Select the header text (Ctrl + A selects everything in the header while it’s open).
- On the Home tab, click the arrow next to Font Color (the A with a colored bar).
- Choose Automatic or Black.
If every new document has a gray header, the Header style is set to gray. On the Home tab, right-click Header in the Styles gallery (open the gallery’s full list if you don’t see it), choose Modify, change the color, and select New documents based on this template if you want the change to stick.
Fix 3: Fix a washed-out logo or picture in the header
- Double-click the header, then click the picture.
- On the Picture Format tab, click Color and choose the first option under Recolor (No Recolor).
- Click Transparency and choose No transparency, or set it to 0%.
Watermarks inserted with Design > Watermark are faded on purpose. To remove one, go to Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark.
Fix 4: Show the header if it’s hidden
- Use Print Layout. Click View > Print Layout. Headers don’t show in Draft or Web Layout.
- Show white space. If the pages are squeezed together with no top margin, double-click the line between two pages to show the white space and headers again.
Check how it will print
Click File > Print to see a preview. If the header looks normal there, it will print normally. If it still looks light, check your printer’s settings for a draft, toner-saving, or grayscale mode.
Related: add a custom header or footer in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Word header gray?
Usually because you’re editing the main document, and Word dims the header while it’s inactive. It’s only a display effect.
Why is my body text gray?
You’re in the header or footer. Press Esc or double-click the body text to return to it.
Does this work the same way in Word for Mac?
Yes. Double-click the header to edit it and click Close Header and Footer to exit.
Can I lock the header so it can’t be edited?
Not directly, but you can restrict editing. See how to unlock the header and footer in Word for how editing restrictions affect headers.
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.