What a watermark is and why Word adds them

A watermark is text or an image that appears behind your document content — usually faded so it does not block reading. Word watermarks are most often "CONFIDENTIAL" or "DRAFT", but they can be any text or logo your organization sets. They print on every page and show in Print Preview, but do not affect the actual text of your document.

Watermarks come from three places: your organization's template (the most common), a document you opened that had one already, or something you added yourself. If you inherited a document with a watermark and want to remove it, the steps depend on whether it is a text watermark, an image watermark, or a template watermark that reappears every time you open the file.

Key Takeaways

  • Text watermarks in Word are removed through the Design tab, not by editing the document itself.
  • Image watermarks live in the header and must be deleted there, not through the watermark menu.
  • If a watermark reappears when you reopen the file, it is in your template or default settings, not the document.
  • Removing a watermark does not change the document's content or affect sharing — it only changes how it prints and displays.

Removing a text watermark in Word

Text watermarks (the kind that say "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL") are removed through the Design tab. Open the document, go to the Design tab in the ribbon at the top, then click Watermark. A menu drops down showing preset watermarks and a Remove Watermark option at the bottom. Click it, and the watermark disappears from every page.

If you do not see a Design tab, you may be in an older version of Word. In Word 2010 and earlier, the watermark option is under the Page Layout tab instead. The process is the same: click the tab, find Watermark, and select Remove Watermark.

After you remove the watermark, save the file. The next time you open it, the watermark will not reappear unless your organization's template is set to add one automatically — in which case it will come back, and you will need to remove it again each time you open the file.

Removing an image watermark from the header

If the watermark is a logo or image rather than text, it lives in the document header and the Watermark menu will not remove it. Instead, you need to access the header directly. Double-click at the very top of any page in your document, above the main text. The header area will highlight and become editable.

Look for the image or logo in the header. Click it once to select it, then press Delete. The image disappears. Double-click back into the main document area to close the header and return to normal editing. Save the file.

If you see the watermark in the header but cannot select it, it may be locked or part of a protected template. Try right-clicking the image and looking for an Unlock or Edit option. If the header is completely locked, you may not be able to remove it without access to the original template file.

When a watermark comes back after you remove it

If you remove a watermark but it reappears the next time you open the file, the watermark is stored in your document template or in Word's default settings, not in the document itself. This is common in workplaces where IT has set up a standard template with a company watermark.

To stop it from reappearing, you have two options. The first is to save the document as a different file type — for example, save it as a PDF or as a .docx file from a different template. The second is to contact your IT department or template administrator and ask them to remove the watermark from the template itself. Once they do, new documents based on that template will not have the watermark, and existing documents will not add it back when you remove it.

If you are working on your own computer and the watermark is your own, you can remove it from your default template by going to File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Trusted Locations, then finding and editing your Normal.dotm file. This is advanced and usually not necessary — straightforward removing the watermark from each document is simpler for most people.

Saving the document after removing the watermark

After you remove a watermark, save the file in its original format to keep it as a Word document. Use File > Save or press Ctrl+S (Windows) or Command+S (Mac). The file name and location stay the same.

If you want to keep the original version with the watermark, use File > Save As instead and give it a new name. This creates a copy without the watermark while leaving the original untouched.

Watermarks and document sharing

Removing a watermark does not change who can see or edit your document. It only changes how the document looks when printed or viewed in Print Preview. The actual text, formatting, and content of the document remain exactly the same. If you share the document with someone else, they will see it without the watermark unless their template or settings add one automatically.

If your organization requires watermarks on sensitive documents, removing one may violate your workplace policy. Check with your manager or compliance team before removing a watermark from a document marked "CONFIDENTIAL" or similar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does removing a watermark change the document content?

No. A watermark is purely visual — it appears behind the text but does not affect the actual words, formatting, or data in your document. Removing it changes only how the document looks when printed or in Print Preview.

Why does the watermark come back every time I open the file?

The watermark is stored in your document template or Word's default settings, not in the document itself. Your organization's IT team or template administrator has set it to appear automatically. You can remove it from each document, but it will reappear until someone removes it from the template.

Can I remove a watermark if the document is password-protected?

If the document is protected to prevent editing, you may not be able to remove the watermark without the password. If the header is locked, you will need to unprotect the document first. Ask whoever created the document for the password, or contact your IT department.

What if I cannot find the Watermark option in my version of Word?

In Word 2010 and earlier, the Watermark option is under the Page Layout tab instead of Design. If you still cannot find it, you may be using a different program like Google Docs or LibreOffice, which have different menus for watermarks.

Will removing a watermark affect how the document prints?

Yes — the watermark will no longer appear on printed pages. If your organization requires watermarks on printed documents, removing it may cause problems. Check your workplace policy before removing watermarks from official or sensitive documents.