Where headers and page numbers go in Word
A header is text or information that appears at the top of every page in your document — typically your name, document title, or date. A page number is the number that identifies which page the reader is on. Both live in the margins of your document, separate from the main text, and Word treats them as a single feature you access through the Insert menu.
The reason they're linked is practical: you almost always add them together, and Word manages them as a pair. Once you've added a header, the page number field sits right there waiting for you. You don't need to type page numbers manually on each page — Word counts them automatically.
The process takes about two minutes and works the same way whether you're using Word on Windows, Mac, or the web version. The steps below assume you already have a document open.
Key Takeaways
- Headers and page numbers are added through the Insert menu, not by typing at the top of the page.
- Once you add a header, you can type text directly into it, and it will repeat on every page automatically.
- Page numbers are inserted as a field that Word updates automatically as you add or remove pages.
- You can choose different headers for the first page, or different headers for odd and even pages, if your document needs that.
- If you have multiple sections in your document, you can make headers different in each section by unlinking them.
Adding a header to every page
Open the Insert menu at the top of the screen. In Word on Windows and Mac, you'll see a button labeled Header. Click it, and a dropdown menu appears showing you preset header styles — blank, with a line, with a box. Pick Blank Header (the simplest option) unless your document style guide requires something specific.
Word opens the header area at the top of your page and dims the main document text. You're now typing in the header, not in the document itself. Type whatever you want to appear on every page — your name, the document title, the date, or all three. Use the Tab key to move text to the right side of the header if you want information on both the left and right edges.
When you're done typing, click anywhere in the main document text to close the header and return to normal editing. The header now appears on every page of your document. If you need to edit it later, double-click at the very top of any page to open the header again.
Adding page numbers to the header
Double-click at the top of any page to open the header again. Position your cursor where you want the page number to appear — usually the right side or the center. Open the Insert menu and look for Page Number. Click it, and Word shows you options for where to place the number: top of page, bottom of page, margins, or current position.
Choose Current Position, since you've already positioned your cursor exactly where you want it. Word inserts a field that displays the current page number. On page 1 it shows 1, on page 2 it shows 2, and so on — Word updates this automatically as you add or delete pages.
Click in the main document to close the header. Your page numbers now appear on every page. If you want the page number on the bottom of the page instead, repeat the process but choose Bottom of Page from the Insert menu, or straightforward delete the number from the header and add it to the footer (which works exactly the same way).
Removing the header from the first page only
Many documents — especially formal ones like reports or essays — should not have a header on the title page. Open the Insert menu and click Header, then choose Edit Header. At the top of the header area, you'll see a checkbox labeled Different First Page. Check it.
Word when ready removes the header from page 1 only. Pages 2 and onward keep the header you created. The first page's header area is now blank and separate from the rest of the document, so you can type something different there if you want, or leave it empty. This is especially useful when page 1 is a title page with its own layout.
Using different headers for odd and even pages
Some documents — particularly books or reports that will be printed double-sided — need different headers on left-facing and right-facing pages. Open the Insert menu, click Header, then choose Edit Header. Look for a checkbox labeled Different Odd and Even Pages and check it.
Word now shows you two separate header areas: one labeled Odd Page Header and one labeled Even Page Header. Type the header text for odd pages (1, 3, 5, and so on) in the first area. Click to move to the even page header and type what should appear on pages 2, 4, 6, and so on. Page numbers work the same way — insert them in each header separately if you want them in different positions.
Changing header text in the middle of a document
If you want a different header starting on page 5, or a different header for each chapter, you need to create sections. Place your cursor at the beginning of the page where you want the new header to start. Open the Layout menu (or Design menu on Mac), find Breaks, and choose Section Break. Word inserts an invisible marker that lets you have a different header from that point forward.
Double-click the header on the new page to open it. You'll see a button labeled Link to Previous at the top of the header area. Click it to unlink this section's header from the previous one. Now you can type a new header, and it will explore only to this section and any sections after it until you create another break and unlink again.
This is more advanced than most documents need, but it's the correct approach if you're working on something like a multi-chapter report where each chapter should have its own header.
Fixing headers that won't appear or won't change
If you've added a header but it's not showing on the page, check the View menu and make sure Print Layout is selected. Some view modes hide headers. If the header is there but looks cut off or too close to the edge, you may need to adjust the top margin. Open the Layout menu, click Margins, and choose Custom Margins. Increase the Top value to give the header more room.
If you've edited the header but the change isn't showing on all pages, check whether you've accidentally created multiple sections. Double-click the header on page 2 and look for the Link to Previous button. If it's highlighted or active, click it to link this section back to the previous one. If you have unlinked sections, each one maintains its own header, which is useful sometimes but confusing if you didn't mean to do it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I have a header on some pages but not others?
Yes, using the Different First Page option removes the header from page 1 only. For more complex patterns — like no header on pages 1 through 3 but a header starting on page 4 — you need to create a section break at the point where you want the header to start, then unlink that section's header and type it in.
What's the difference between a header and a footer?
A header appears at the top of the page, a footer appears at the bottom. They work identically — you access footers through the Insert menu the same way you access headers. Many documents use a footer for page numbers and a header for the document title or author name, but you can put either in either location.
Can I put a page number in the header without any other text?
Yes. Open the header, position your cursor where you want the page number, open Insert, choose Page Number, and select Current Position. You can delete any other text from the header and leave only the page number field.
Why does my page number show as a question mark or a strange symbol?
This usually means Word is displaying the field code instead of the result. Right-click the page number and choose Toggle Field Codes, or press Ctrl+` (grave accent, the key above Tab) to switch back to normal view. If the page number still looks wrong, delete it and insert it again through the Insert menu.
Do headers and page numbers print when I print my document?
Yes, by default they do. If you don't want them to print, open the Layout menu, click Print Options or Page Setup, and look for an option to suppress headers and footers. The exact location varies by Word version, but it's always in the print settings, not in the document itself.