How to Add a Watermark in Word

The fastest way to add a watermark

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Go to the Design tab (or Layout in older versions), then click Watermark. Word shows you preset options like "CONFIDENTIAL", "DRAFT", or "DO NOT COPY" — pick one and it applies when ready to every page.

If you want custom text instead, click Custom Watermark at the bottom of that menu. Type whatever you need, choose your font and size, then click OK. The text appears diagonally across every page in light gray so it does not block your actual content.

The watermark stays in place even if someone opens the document later. It prints with the document too, unless you specifically remove it before printing.

Key Takeaways

Word's watermark feature puts text or an image on every page at once, visible on screen and in print.
Preset watermarks like "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL" take one click; custom text requires typing your own message in the Custom Watermark dialog.
Watermarks appear in light gray behind your text so they do not interfere with reading or editing.
Removing a watermark requires going back to the Design tab and selecting "Remove Watermark" — it does not disappear on its own.
If you share the document, the watermark travels with it unless the recipient deletes it themselves.

Using a picture or logo as a watermark

Word lets you use an image instead of text. In the Watermark menu, choose Custom Watermark, then select the Picture option instead of Text. Click Select Picture and browse to a file on your computer — PNG, JPG, and GIF all work.

The image scales to fit the page and appears behind your text in a faded version so it does not overwhelm the document. This works well for company logos or official seals that need to appear on every page without drawing attention away from the actual content.

If the image looks too dark or too light after you insert it, you cannot adjust it directly from Word. You would need to edit the image file itself in a photo editor, then re-insert it as the watermark.

Watermarks in different sections of the same document

Word applies a watermark to the entire document at once — you cannot have different watermarks on different pages using the standard watermark tool. If you need "DRAFT" on some pages and "FINAL" on others, you have to use a workaround.

The most practical approach is to break your document into separate files, add the correct watermark to each one, then combine them back together if needed. Alternatively, you can insert text boxes manually on specific pages and format them to look like watermarks, but this takes more time and does not print as cleanly.

If you are working with a document that will be finalized soon, consider just using one watermark for the whole thing — "DRAFT" until it is done, then remove it and add "FINAL" once.

Removing or changing a watermark

To remove a watermark entirely, go to Design (or LayoutWatermark, and select Remove Watermark at the bottom of the menu. It disappears from all pages when ready.

To change the watermark to something different, just go back to the Watermark menu and pick a new preset or open Custom Watermark again to type new text. The old watermark replaces with the new one across the whole document.

If you cannot find the Watermark option, check that you are on the right tab — it is under Design in Word 2016 and newer, but under Layout in some older versions. If you are using Word Online in a browser, the watermark feature may not be available; you would need the desktop version.

Why watermarks matter for document security

A watermark signals the document's status or ownership without changing the actual content. "CONFIDENTIAL" tells readers the information is sensitive. "DRAFT" means it is not final. A company logo establishes who created the document. These visual cues matter when documents move between people or get printed and shared.

Watermarks are not a security measure in the technical sense — someone can still copy the text, and removing a watermark takes seconds. They work as a visual reminder and a way to mark documents at a glance. If you need actual security, use Word's password protection or encryption features instead.

For documents you plan to share widely or print for distribution, a watermark is a straightforward way to make sure anyone who sees it knows its status or source without having to read a header or footer.

Watermarks in Google Docs and other editors

Google Docs does not have a built-in watermark feature the way Word does. You can insert a text box on each page and format it to look like a watermark, but it does not automatically repeat across pages — you have to add it manually to each one.

LibreOffice Writer (the free alternative) does have a watermark tool under Insert > Watermark, and it works similarly to Word. Apple Pages has a watermark option under Document > Watermark as well.

If you create a document in Word with a watermark, then open it in Google Docs, the watermark usually stays visible but you cannot edit it from Google Docs — you would need to go back to Word to change or remove it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the watermark print if I print the document?

Yes, watermarks print by default. If you do not want the watermark to appear on the printed copy, remove it before printing. Some printers have a setting to skip background images, but relying on that is not reliable — it is safer to remove the watermark in Word itself if you do not want it printed.

Can I make the watermark darker or lighter?

For text watermarks, Word does not offer a brightness slider. The watermark appears in a fixed light gray. If you need a darker watermark, you can use a text box instead and format it manually, but it will not repeat automatically across pages the way the watermark feature does.

What happens if I email a document with a watermark to someone else?

The watermark travels with the document file. When the other person opens it in Word, they see the same watermark on every page. They can remove it themselves if they want, but they cannot do so without opening the document and using the Remove Watermark option.

Can I use a watermark in Word Online?

Word Online does not support the watermark feature. You need the desktop version of Word installed on your computer. If you only have access to Word Online, you can insert a text box and format it to look like a watermark, but you would need to add it to each page manually.

Does a watermark affect the file size of my document?

Text watermarks add almost nothing to file size. Image watermarks add slightly more, depending on the image resolution, but usually not enough to matter unless you are using a very large high-resolution photo. The difference is typically a few kilobytes at most.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.