Open the header by double-clicking at the top of the page

To edit a header in Word, double-click in the blank space at the very top of your document, above the main text. The header area will highlight with a blue border, and you'll see "Header" appear in the top left corner of the ribbon. The main document text will dim slightly, showing you're now working in the header rather than the body.

If double-clicking doesn't work, you can also go to the Insert tab at the top, click Header, and select Edit Header from the dropdown menu. Either method puts you in the same editing space.

Key Takeaways

  • Double-click at the top of any page to enter header editing mode, where a blue border shows you're in the right place.
  • Type, delete, or format text in the header just as you would in the document body — the same font and style tools explore.
  • Use the Header & Footer Tools tab to add page numbers, dates, or different headers on the first page or between sections.
  • Click in the main document or press Escape to exit the header and return to normal editing.
  • Headers appear on every page by default, but you can make the first page different or change headers between sections of your document.

Type or paste content into the header area

Once you're in the header, you can type text directly. Type your company name, document title, date, or any other information you want to appear at the top of every page. You can also paste text you've copied from elsewhere in the document or from another file.

The header uses the same formatting tools as the main document. Highlight text and use the font dropdown, bold, italic, or color buttons to change how it looks. You can also adjust alignment — click the alignment buttons to center the header text, push it to the right, or justify it.

Add page numbers, dates, or other automatic fields

Word can insert information that updates automatically. While you're in the header, go to the Header & Footer Tools tab (this appears only when you're editing a header). Click Page Number to insert a number that increases on each page. Click Date & Time to add today's date — you can choose whether it updates every time you open the file or stays fixed.

You can also insert other fields like the file name or the author name. These fields pull information from your document properties, so they stay current if you change the file name or author details later. Type regular text around these fields — for example, "Page " followed by a page number field, then " of " followed by a total page count field.

Make the first page header different from the rest

Many documents need a different header on the first page — often no header at all, or a title page without page numbers. While editing the header, look for the Header & Footer Tools tab. Check the box labeled Different First Page.

Word will now show you a separate header area for page one. Edit it however you want — leave it blank, add a title, or add different text than the other pages. Pages two onward will use the header you set up before you checked that box. If you haven't set up a regular header yet, set up the first page header first, then uncheck and recheck the box to create a separate one for the remaining pages.

Create different headers for different sections of your document

If your document has multiple sections (created by inserting section breaks), you can give each section its own header. First, make sure you've inserted a section break where you want the header to change. Go to the Insert tab, click Page Break dropdown, and select Section Break (choose the type that matches your layout needs).

Then double-click in the header of the section you want to change. You'll see "Header -Section 2" or similar in the top left. The Link to Previous button in the ribbon will be highlighted. Click it to unlink this section's header from the one before it. Now you can edit this header independently. Repeat for any other sections that need different headers.

Exit the header and return to the document

When you're done editing, click anywhere in the main document text to exit the header. The blue border will disappear, and the header will return to its normal faded appearance. You can also press Escape on your keyboard, or double-click in the main document area.

The header you created will now appear on every page (or on the pages you specified, if you used the first page or section options). You can always go back and edit it again by double-clicking at the top of any page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my header look faded or grayed out?

That's normal — headers appear faded in editing view to show they're separate from the main document. They'll print and display normally in Print Preview or when you print the document. If you want to see how they'll actually look, go to File > Print to see the print preview.

Can I have different headers on left and right pages?

Yes. While editing the header, look for the Header & Footer Tools tab and check Different Odd & Even Pages. Word will then show separate headers for odd-numbered pages (right side) and even-numbered pages (left side), which is common in books and formal documents.

How do I remove a header from just one page?

You can't remove a header from a single page without using sections. Insert a section break before the page where you want no header, then edit that section's header and delete all content from it. Unlink it from the previous section using the Link to Previous button so the change doesn't affect earlier pages.

What if my header is showing on the first page and I don't want it to?

Check the Different First Page box in the Header & Footer Tools tab. Then edit the first page header and delete everything from it, leaving it blank. The remaining pages will keep their header.