Adding a header takes three clicks and works the same way in every version of Word
A header is text or an image that appears at the top of every page in your document — typically your name, document title, or page number. To add one in Word, double-click the top margin of any page, type what you want, then click back into the document body. Word automatically repeats that header on every page that follows.
The process is identical whether you use Word on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The location of the header area is always the same: the blank space above the first line of text on each page.
Headers are useful when you're sharing a document with others and want your name or the document title visible on every page, or when you need page numbers that update automatically as you add or remove content.
Key Takeaways
- Double-click in the top margin of your document to open the header area, then type the text you want to appear on every page.
- Word automatically applies the same header to all pages unless you change the header settings for specific sections.
- You can add page numbers, dates, or images to a header using the Insert menu while the header area is open.
- To stop using a header, double-click the header area and delete the text, or right-click and choose Delete Header.
- Different first page headers and different headers for odd and even pages are both possible through the Design tab that appears when a header is open.
The fastest way: double-click the top margin
Open your document in Word. Move your cursor to the very top of the page, into the blank space above the first line of text. Double-click that space. The header area will highlight in gray, and your cursor will appear there ready for typing.
Type whatever you want the header to say — your name, the document title, a project code, anything. As you type, you'll notice the text appears in a smaller font than your document body, and it's positioned in the margin area. This is normal.
When you're finished typing, click anywhere in the main document body below the header. The header area will close, and you'll see your header text now appears at the top of the current page. Scroll down to the next page, and you'll see the same header text appears there automatically.
Adding page numbers, dates, or images to a header
Once the header area is open (by double-clicking the top margin), you can add more than just typed text. The Insert menu at the top of the screen changes to show header-specific options.
To add page numbers: click Insert, then Page Numbers. Choose where you want the number to appear (top left, top center, top right, or other positions). Word will insert a code that automatically numbers each page — page 1 on the first page, page 2 on the second, and so on.
To add the current date: click Insert, then Date & Time. Choose a date format and click Insert. The date will appear in your header and can be set to update automatically each time you open the document, or to stay fixed on the date you inserted it.
To add an image: click Insert, then Pictures. Select an image from your computer. The image will appear in the header at whatever size you inserted it; you can resize it by dragging the corners.
Making different headers for the first page or for odd and even pages
By default, Word uses the same header on every page. If you want the first page to have no header, or a different header, or if you want odd-numbered pages to have a different header than even-numbered pages, you can change this.
While the header area is open, look for the Design tab at the top of the screen (this tab only appears when you're editing a header). In the Design tab, you'll see checkboxes for "Different First Page" and "Different Odd & Even Pages."
Check "Different First Page" if you want page 1 to have its own header separate from the rest. Word will create a new, empty header for the first page. Type into it or leave it blank. Pages 2 onward will keep the header you created earlier.
Check "Different Odd & Even Pages" if you want pages 1, 3, 5 (odd) to have one header and pages 2, 4, 6 (even) to have a different header — common in printed books. Word will create separate header areas for each, and you can type different content into each one.
Removing a header or editing it later
To remove a header entirely, double-click the header area to open it, select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac), and press Delete. The header will disappear from all pages. Alternatively, right-click in the header area and choose Delete Header.
To edit a header you've already created, double-click the top margin of any page to open the header area again. Make your changes, then click back into the document body when you're done.
If you've created different headers for the first page or for odd and even pages, you'll need to open each header separately to edit it. Double-click the header on the first page to edit the first-page header, or double-click the header on an odd-numbered page to edit the odd-page header.
Headers in Word Online versus Word Desktop
The web version of Word (Word Online, accessed through Office.com) works the same way: double-click the top margin to open the header area. However, some advanced header options — like inserting fields that update automatically or using different headers for different sections — are more limited in the web version.
If you need to use advanced header features, read and open your document in the desktop version of Word instead. Any headers you create in the desktop version will display correctly when you open the document in Word Online later.
Common places headers go wrong and how to fix them
If your header text is appearing in the main document instead of in the margin, you likely clicked in the document body instead of in the top margin. Delete that text, then double-click higher up, in the actual blank space above the first line of text.
If your header is appearing on some pages but not others, check whether you've accidentally turned on "Different First Page" or created section breaks in your document. Open the Design tab (visible when a header is open) and verify which options are checked. Section breaks can cause headers to change partway through a document; if you didn't intend this, you may need to delete the section break.
If you can't see the header area when you double-click the top margin, your document may be in a view that hides headers. Switch to Print Layout view: click View at the top, then Print Layout. Headers are visible in Print Layout and Web Layout views, but not in Outline or Draft view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a different header on the first page?
Yes. Open the header area by double-clicking the top margin, then look for the Design tab at the top. Check the box labeled "Different First Page." Word will create a separate header for page 1 that you can leave blank or fill with different text than the rest of the document.
How do I add page numbers to a header?
Double-click the top margin to open the header area. Click Insert at the top, then Page Numbers. Choose the position you want (top left, top center, top right, etc.), and Word will insert a code that automatically numbers each page. The number updates as you add or remove pages.
Why is my header appearing in the middle of the page?
You likely clicked in the document body instead of in the top margin. Delete that text. Then move your cursor to the very top of the page, into the blank space above the first line of text, and double-click there. The header area should highlight in gray when you're in the right spot.
Can I add an image to a header?
Yes. Double-click the top margin to open the header area. Click Insert, then Pictures, and select an image from your computer. You can resize it by dragging the corners. The image will appear in the header on every page.
How do I remove a header from my document?
Double-click the header area to open it, then select all the text (Ctrl+A on Windows, Command+A on Mac) and press Delete. Alternatively, right-click in the header area and choose Delete Header. The header will disappear from all pages.