Page numbers go in the header or footer, and Word inserts them automatically

To add page numbers to a Word document, you open the Insert menu, choose Page Number, pick where you want them (top or bottom of the page), and Word places them on every page from that point forward. You do not type the numbers yourself — Word updates them as you add or delete pages. The whole process takes about 30 seconds.

Page numbers are useful when you print a document, share it with someone who needs to reference specific pages, or create a table of contents that points readers to page numbers. If you only read documents on screen, you may not need them at all.

Key Takeaways

  • Page numbers live in the header or footer of your document, not in the main text, so they appear on every page without you typing them repeatedly.
  • Word automatically updates page numbers when you add or delete pages, so you never have to renumber manually.
  • You can start numbering from page 2 (skipping the title page), restart numbering in the middle of a document, or use different formats like Roman numerals.
  • If you do not want page numbers on your first page, you can turn them off for that page only without affecting the rest of the document.

How to insert page numbers in Microsoft Word

Open your document in Microsoft Word. Click the Insert tab at the top of the screen. In the ribbon, find the Page Number button — it usually sits near buttons for Header and Footer. Click it.

A menu appears with four options: Top of Page, Bottom of Page, Page Margins, and Current Position. Choose Top of Page if you want numbers at the top, or Bottom of Page if you want them at the bottom. Word then shows you design choices — pick the style you prefer (centered, right-aligned, left-aligned, or with decorative elements). Click your choice, and Word inserts the page number on every page.

The page number appears in the header or footer area, which is slightly grayed out. You can click elsewhere in the document to return to normal editing. Word has now numbered every page automatically.

How to skip the first page or start numbering later

Many documents (like reports or essays) have a title page that should not be numbered. To skip page 1, go to the Insert tab and click Header or Footer (whichever contains your page numbers). At the top of the header or footer area, you will see a checkbox labeled Different First Page. Check it.

Word now treats the first page separately. The page number disappears from page 1 but remains on pages 2 and onward. If you want numbering to start at page 2 but show "2" instead of "1", you are done. If you want page 2 to show "1", click the Design tab (which appears when you are editing the header or footer), find Page Number, click it, and select Format Page Numbers. Change the "Start at" field to 0, and page 2 will display as page 1.

How to restart page numbering in the middle of a document

If your document has multiple sections (like chapters or parts), you may want numbering to restart at 1 for each section. First, place your cursor at the start of the section where you want numbering to restart. Go to the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older Word versions), find Breaks, and click Section Break (choose Continuous if you do not want a page break, or Next Page if you do). Word inserts an invisible marker.

Now click into the header or footer of the new section. You will see a label that says Same as Previous. Click it to turn it off — this disconnects the new section from the old one. Go to Insert, click Page Number, then Format Page Numbers, and set "Start at" to 1. The new section now begins numbering from 1 while the previous section keeps its original numbers.

How to change the page number format

Word offers page number formats beyond plain digits: Roman numerals (I, II, III), lowercase Roman numerals (i, ii, iii), letters (A, B, C), or combinations like "Page 1" or "1 of 5". To change the format, click into the header or footer where your page number sits. Go to Insert, click Page Number, and select Format Page Numbers.

A dialog box opens. Under Number format, click the dropdown and choose your preferred style. If you want to include text like "Page" before the number, type it directly into the header or footer before or after the page number field. Click OK when done.

How to remove page numbers

To delete page numbers entirely, go to Insert, click Header or Footer (whichever contains your numbers), and select Edit Header or Edit Footer. Click the page number to select it, then press Delete. Word removes the page number from all pages.

If you only want to remove page numbers from certain pages (like the first page), use the Different First Page option described above instead. This keeps numbers on the rest of your document while hiding them on page 1.

Troubleshooting page numbers that do not appear

If you inserted page numbers but they do not show up, check whether your document is in a view that hides headers and footers. In Word, click View and make sure you are in Print Layout view, not Web Layout or Outline view. Headers and footers are invisible in Web Layout.

If page numbers still do not appear, the header or footer may be too close to the edge of the page for your printer to detect. Go to Layout, click Margins, and choose a preset like Normal or Wide. This gives the header and footer more room. If you are printing, also check your printer settings — some printers have a minimum margin requirement that cuts off headers and footers placed too close to the edge.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different page numbers in different sections of the same document?

Yes. Insert a section break where you want the numbering to change, click into the header or footer of the new section, turn off Same as Previous, and then set the page number format or starting number for that section. Each section can have its own numbering style or starting point.

How do I add "Page 1 of 5" instead of just the number?

Click into the header or footer, type "Page ", then insert the page number field, type " of ", and insert a field for total page count. In Word, go to Insert, click Field, and choose NumPages for the total. The result updates automatically as you add or remove pages.

What if I want page numbers only on some pages?

Use section breaks to divide your document into parts. In each section, you can turn the header or footer on or off independently. This lets you number some sections and leave others blank.

Do page numbers in the header or footer affect the word count?

No. Page numbers in headers and footers do not count toward your document's word count. Word counts only the text in the main body of the document.