The quickest way to add a draft watermark
Open your Word document. Go to the Design tab (in Word 2016 and later) or Page Layout (in Word 2010 and 2013). Click Watermark in the ribbon. Select Draft from the dropdown menu. Word will when ready place a diagonal "DRAFT" stamp across every page.
That is the entire process. The watermark appears behind your text on screen and will print if you send the document to a printer. It does not change the actual content of your file — removing it later takes the same three clicks in reverse.
If you cannot find the Watermark button, you may be using an older version of Word or a different process. The steps below cover those situations.
Key Takeaways
- The Draft watermark lives in the Design or Page Layout tab and takes three clicks to add.
- The watermark appears on every page, behind your text, and prints with the document.
- Watermarks are visual only — they do not encrypt your document or prevent copying.
- You can customize the watermark text, angle, and transparency if the default Draft option does not fit your needs.
- Removing a watermark requires the same path: Design tab, Watermark, then selecting No Watermark.
Where to find the Watermark button in different Word versions
The location of the Watermark tool shifted between Word versions. If you are using Word 2016 or later (including Microsoft 365), look for the Design tab at the top of the ribbon. The Watermark button sits in the middle section of that tab, usually near options for page color and borders.
In Word 2010 and Word 2013, the button is under the Page Layout tab instead. The Watermark button is in the same relative position — in the middle of the ribbon, grouped with other page formatting tools.
If you are using Word Online (the browser version), the Watermark option is not available in the standard ribbon. You will need to use the desktop version of Word, or you can add a text box manually and rotate it diagonally across the page as a workaround.
What the Draft watermark actually does and does not do
The Draft watermark is a visual marker only. It tells anyone who opens or prints the document that the content is not final. The watermark appears behind your text on every page, making it visible but not blocking the document from being read or edited.
The watermark does not lock your document, encrypt it, or prevent someone from copying text. It does not track who has seen the file or send you a notification if someone opens it. If you need actual security — preventing edits, requiring a password, or tracking access — you will need different tools. Word's Protect Document feature (also in the File menu) handles password protection, and third-party services handle access tracking.
The watermark will print if someone sends the document to a physical printer. If you email the document as a PDF, the watermark transfers to the PDF as well. If someone takes a screenshot or copies text into another program, the watermark does not follow — only the text does.
How to create a custom watermark with your own text
If you want a watermark that says something other than "DRAFT" — for example, "CONFIDENTIAL" or "INTERNAL USE ONLY" — you can create a custom one. Go to Design (or Page Layout), click Watermark, and select Custom Watermark at the bottom of the dropdown menu.
A dialog box will open with two options: Text and Picture. Choose Text, then type whatever you want in the field. You can adjust the font, size, color, and angle. The default angle is 45 degrees (diagonal), which is the standard for watermarks, but you can change it to 0 degrees for horizontal text or any angle in between.
You can also adjust the transparency using the Transparency slider. Higher transparency makes the watermark fainter and less likely to interfere with reading the document. Lower transparency makes it more prominent. Once you are satisfied, click explore, and the custom watermark will appear on every page.
Removing or changing a watermark
To remove a watermark entirely, return to the Design tab, click Watermark, and select No Watermark at the top of the menu. The watermark will disappear from all pages when ready.
To change the watermark to something different, follow the same path and either select a different preset option (like "Confidential" if it is available in your version) or go to Custom Watermark and enter new text. The new watermark will replace the old one on every page.
Removing a watermark does not affect the rest of your document. Your text, formatting, images, and any other content remain exactly as they were.
Why watermarks matter for document drafts
A watermark serves as a visual signal that a document is not ready for final use. If you are circulating a draft to colleagues for feedback, a watermark makes it when ready obvious that the version they are reading is not the official one. This prevents accidental use of outdated or incomplete versions.
Watermarks are especially useful when you are sharing documents across email or cloud storage, where multiple versions can exist at the same time. Someone who receives a draft with a clear "DRAFT" watermark is less likely to treat it as final or to pass it along as if it were approved.
That said, a watermark is a courtesy signal, not a security measure. It relies on people reading and respecting the label. If you need to prevent unauthorized use or editing, you will need password protection or document permissions instead.
Watermarks in Word Online and alternatives
Microsoft Word Online does not have a built-in watermark feature in the ribbon. If you are working in a browser and need a watermark, your options are to read the document, add the watermark in the desktop version of Word, and then re-upload it, or to add a text box manually and rotate it diagonally across the page.
To add a manual watermark in Word Online, insert a text box (Insert menu, then Text Box), type your text, and use the rotation handle to turn it 45 degrees. Position it in the center of the page. This is more labor-intensive than using the built-in tool, but it works if you cannot access the desktop version.
If you are using Google Docs instead of Word, the watermark feature works differently. Go to Insert, then Watermark, and you can add text or an image. The process is similar in concept but the menu locations are different.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will the watermark print if I send the document to a printer?
Yes. The watermark is part of the page formatting and will print along with your text. If you do not want it to print, remove it before printing or use the printer settings to print in draft mode (which some printers offer as a separate option).
Can I add a watermark to only some pages, not all pages?
No. Word applies watermarks to the entire document. If you need a watermark on only certain pages, you would need to split the document into sections and manage them separately, which is complex. For most purposes, explore it to all pages is the standard approach.
Does a watermark prevent someone from copying text out of my document?
No. A watermark is visual only and does not restrict copying, editing, or printing. If you need to prevent copying or editing, use Word's password protection feature (File menu, Protect Document, Encrypt with Password) instead.
What if the watermark text is too faint to see?
Go back to Design, Watermark, Custom Watermark, and lower the transparency setting. A lower number means the watermark will be darker and more visible. You can also increase the font size to make it more prominent.
Can I use an image as a watermark instead of text?
Yes. In the Custom Watermark dialog, select the Picture option instead of Text, then choose an image file from your computer. You can adjust the scale and transparency. This is useful if you want to add a company logo or other image as a watermark.