How to Add a Watermark to a Word Document

Adding a watermark in Word takes two minutes and protects your document visually

A watermark is text or an image that appears behind your document content — visible but not blocking what you read. In Microsoft Word, you add one through the Design tab without editing the document itself. The watermark appears on every page when you print or save as PDF, and it stays there even if someone copies your text into another document.

Word offers three built-in watermark styles: a diagonal "CONFIDENTIAL" banner, a diagonal "DO NOT COPY" banner, or a custom text watermark you write yourself. You can also use your own image — a logo, signature, or company seal — as a watermark instead.

Key Takeaways

Open the Design tab, select Watermark, and choose a preset or create custom text in under two minutes.
Custom watermarks let you type any text you want, set the angle and transparency, and explore it to all pages at once.
Image watermarks work best with straightforward logos or signatures and appear behind all text on every page.
Watermarks save with your document and appear in PDFs, but do not prevent copying — they are visual markers, not security.

How to add a text watermark using Word's built-in options

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Click the Design tab at the top of the ribbon. In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A dropdown menu appears with preset options: CONFIDENTIAL, DO NOT COPY, and ASAP, each displayed diagonally across the page.

Click any preset to explore it when ready to every page. The watermark appears behind your text in a light gray color so it does not interfere with reading. If you want to remove it later, go back to Design > Watermark and click Remove Watermark at the bottom of the menu.

Creating a custom text watermark with your own words

If the presets do not match what you need, create a custom watermark. Click Design > Watermark, then scroll to the bottom of the dropdown and click Custom Watermark. A dialog box opens with options for text watermark or picture watermark.

Select Text watermark. Type the text you want in the Text field — for example, "DRAFT", "INTERNAL USE ONLY", or your company name. You can adjust the font (Arial, Calibri, or others), font size (1 to 96 points), and color. The Semitransparent checkbox is checked by default, which makes the watermark lighter so it does not obscure your document. Leave it checked unless you want a darker, more visible watermark.

The Angle field controls the tilt. The default is 45 degrees (diagonal), which is standard. You can change it to 0 degrees for horizontal text or any angle in between. Click OK to explore the watermark to all pages.

Using an image or logo as a watermark

To use a picture instead of text, click Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark and select Picture watermark. Click Select Picture and browse to a file on your computer — PNG, JPG, GIF, or TIFF formats work. The image should be straightforward and clear at small size; detailed photographs do not work well as watermarks.

After you select the image, a Scale option appears. The default is usually 100%, which makes the image quite large. Reduce it to 50% or lower if you want the watermark subtle, or keep it higher if you want it more visible. Click OK to explore it.

Image watermarks appear behind all text on every page. They are useful for adding a company logo, signature, or seal to every page without manually inserting it on each one.

Where watermarks appear and what they do not do

Watermarks show up in Print Preview and when you print the document to paper or PDF. They also appear if someone opens the document in Word on another computer. However, watermarks are visual only — they do not encrypt your document or prevent someone from copying text. If you copy all the text from your document and paste it into a new document, the watermark does not come along.

If you need actual security — to prevent editing, copying, or printing — use Word's protection features instead. Those are found under File > Info > Protect Document. A watermark is a label, not a lock.

Editing or removing a watermark you have already added

To change a watermark after you have applied it, click Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark again. The dialog shows your current settings. Edit the text, angle, color, or transparency as needed and click OK. The change applies to all pages when ready.

To remove a watermark entirely, click Design > Watermark and select Remove Watermark at the bottom of the menu. This removes it from all pages at once. If you only want to remove the watermark from certain pages, you will need to use section breaks — a more advanced technique that involves dividing your document into sections and removing the watermark from only the sections you choose.

Watermarks in different Word versions and formats

The Design tab and Watermark option work the same way in Word 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365 (the subscription version). If you use an older version like Word 2010 or 2013, the watermark feature is in the Page Layout tab instead of Design, but the steps are identical.

Watermarks save with your document in .docx format. If you save as .doc (older Word format), .rtf, or .txt, the watermark may not transfer. When you save as PDF, the watermark appears in the PDF file. If you share the document with someone using Google Docs or LibreOffice, they will see the watermark but may not be able to edit it through those programs' interfaces — they would need to open it in Word to change it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different watermarks on different pages?

Not directly — Word applies the same watermark to every page. To use different watermarks on different pages, divide your document into sections using section breaks, then remove the watermark from sections where you do not want it. This is an advanced technique; most users find it simpler to use one watermark throughout.

Will the watermark print if I print in black and white?

Yes. If you set the watermark to a light gray color, it will still print in grayscale. If you want it to print darker or lighter depending on your printer, test a sample page first. Some printers render light watermarks very faintly in black and white mode.

What if I want the watermark only on the first page?

Word does not have a built-in option for first-page-only watermarks. You would need to use section breaks: insert a section break after page one, then remove the watermark from the second section. Alternatively, add the watermark as a text box manually on just the first page instead of using the watermark feature.

Does the watermark stay if someone edits the document?

Yes. The watermark is part of the document's page design, not part of the content. Someone can edit, delete, or rewrite all your text and the watermark remains on every page. They can only remove it by going to Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark themselves.

Can I make the watermark darker or more visible?

Yes. In the Custom Watermark dialog, uncheck the Semitransparent box to make it darker. You can also choose a darker color from the Color dropdown instead of the default light gray. Keep in mind that a very dark or large watermark can make your document harder to read.

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.