Where to find the page number tool in Word

Page numbers go in the header or footer — the space at the top or bottom of every page that repeats automatically. In Microsoft Word, you reach this tool through the Insert menu at the top of the screen. Click Insert, then look for Page Numbers or Header & Footer depending on your version of Word.

Once you click, Word opens the header or footer area and shows you options for where the numbers should appear: top of the page, bottom of the page, or in the margins. The simplest choice is bottom center, which is what most documents use. Word then automatically numbers every page in sequence.

If you are using Word online (the free version in your browser), the process is nearly identical — Insert is still at the top, and Page Numbers appears in the same menu. The options look slightly different but work the same way.

Key Takeaways

  • Page numbers live in the header or footer, which you reach through the Insert menu, and Word automatically numbers every page in sequence.
  • You can place numbers at the top, bottom, or side of the page, and bottom center is the standard choice for most documents.
  • Once you insert page numbers, you can remove them from the first page only if your document has a title page that should stay blank.
  • If you want to start numbering from a number other than 1 — for example, page 5 — you can change the starting number in the page number settings.

Removing page numbers from your first page

Many documents, especially reports and essays, have a title page that should not show a number. Word lets you hide the page number on the first page while keeping it on all the others. To do this, go back to Insert > Header & Footer (or Page Numbers, depending on your version), and look for an option called Different First Page. Check that box.

Once you enable Different First Page, the header and footer on page 1 become separate from the rest of the document. Word will not show a page number on the first page, but pages 2 and onward will display numbers as normal. This is the standard format for longer documents.

Starting page numbers from a number other than 1

If you are working on part of a larger document — for example, chapter 3 of a book, or pages that will be combined with other pages later — you may need to start numbering from a number other than 1. To do this, place your cursor at the beginning of the section where you want the new numbering to start, then go to Insert > Page Break. This creates a break between sections.

After you insert the page break, right-click on the page number in the new section and select Edit Field or Format Page Numbers. You will see an option to set the starting number. Enter the number you want — for example, 45 if this section should begin on page 45 — and Word will continue numbering from there.

Changing the style and position of page numbers

Word offers different styles for how page numbers look. Instead of just "5", you might see "Page 5" or "5 of 12" (which shows the current page and the total number of pages). To change the style, go to Insert > Page Numbers and look for a Format button or dropdown. Click it to see the available styles.

You can also move the page number to a different location — from the bottom center to the top right, for example — by going back to Insert and choosing a different position. If you have already inserted page numbers and want to move them, delete the current ones first by clicking in the header or footer and selecting the page number, then pressing Delete. Then insert new ones in the position you prefer.

Page numbers in documents with multiple sections

If your document has different sections — for example, an introduction with Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) and a main body with regular numbers (1, 2, 3) — you can set up different numbering for each section. First, create a section break where the numbering should change. Go to Insert > Page Break and select Section Break instead of a regular page break.

Once the section break is in place, click in the header or footer of the new section and make sure the Link to Previous option is turned off. This separates the header and footer of that section from the previous one. Then you can set up different page number formatting for each section — Roman numerals for the first section, regular numbers for the second, and so on.

Troubleshooting page numbers that do not appear

If you inserted page numbers but they are not showing up, the header or footer may be hidden. Double-click at the very top or very bottom of the page to open the header or footer area. If you see the page number there but it is not visible in the normal document view, the header or footer may be set to hide on the first page, or the text color may be set to white (invisible against a white background).

Another common issue is that page numbers appear in the header or footer but do not update as you scroll through the document. This usually means you are looking at the header or footer editing view rather than the normal document view. Click somewhere in the main body of the document (not at the top or bottom) to exit the header and footer editing mode. The page numbers should then display normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different page numbers in different parts of my document?

Yes. Insert a section break where the numbering should change, then turn off Link to Previous in the header or footer of the new section. You can then set up different numbering styles, starting numbers, or positions for each section.

What if I want page numbers only on certain pages?

You can hide page numbers on specific pages by using section breaks and turning off Link to Previous for those sections. Then delete the page number from the header or footer of the sections where you do not want it to appear.

How do I show the total number of pages along with the current page?

Go to Insert > Page Numbers and look for the Format option. Select a style that includes "of" — such as "Page 5 of 12" — and Word will automatically calculate and display the total page count.

Can I use letters or Roman numerals instead of regular numbers?

Yes. Click Insert > Page Numbers > Format and choose from the available numbering styles, which include Roman numerals (I, II, III), letters (A, B, C), and regular numbers (1, 2, 3).

Do page numbers in the header or footer count toward my document length?

No. Headers and footers are separate from the main document body and do not affect page count or word count. Page numbers are purely for navigation and reference.