The simplest way to add page numbers

Open your Word document and go to the Insert tab at the top of the screen. Click Page Numbers — it's usually in the middle section of the ribbon. A menu will appear with position options: you can place numbers at the top of the page, the bottom, in the margins, or in the corners. Pick where you want them, and Word adds the number to every page automatically.

That's the whole process. Word handles the counting for you — page 1 gets "1", page 2 gets "2", and so on. You don't type anything yourself. If you later add or delete pages, the numbers update without you doing anything else.

If you want to change how the numbers look — maybe you want "Page 1" instead of just "1", or you want Roman numerals — click Page Numbers again and select Format. A dialog box opens where you can choose the style and add text before or after the number.

Key Takeaways

  • Page numbers are added through the Insert tab, and Word automatically numbers every page in sequence without you typing anything.
  • You can position page numbers at the top, bottom, or margins of the page, and change the style to include text like "Page" before the number.
  • If you want different numbering on the first page or different numbering in different sections, you need to use the Header and Footer menu instead of the quick Page Numbers button.
  • Page numbers update automatically when you add or delete pages, so you never have to renumber manually.

Starting page numbers at a number other than 1

Sometimes you need the first page to say "2" or "5" instead of "1" — for instance, if this document is part of a larger report and you're starting on page 5 of the whole thing. After you've added page numbers using the Insert tab, go to Insert again and click Page Numbers, then Format. A dialog box appears with a field that says "Start at:" — type the number you want the first page to show.

Word will then number the rest of the document in sequence from that starting point. The second page will be one number higher, the third page one higher still, and so on.

Removing page numbers from the first page only

Many documents — especially formal ones like reports or theses — don't show a page number on the title page. To do this, go to the Insert tab and click Header & Footer (or Header, depending on your Word version). At the bottom of the ribbon, you'll see a checkbox that says Different First Page. Check that box.

Now the header and footer on your first page are separate from the rest of the document. The page numbers you added will disappear from page 1 but stay on every other page. If you want page numbers back on page 1 later, uncheck that box.

Using different page numbers in different sections

If your document has multiple sections — say, a table of contents numbered with Roman numerals and then the main text numbered with regular numbers — you need to work with sections, not just the quick Page Numbers button. First, place your cursor where you want the numbering to change. Go to the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions) and click Breaks, then choose Section Break. This splits your document into two sections that can have different numbering.

Now go to Insert and add page numbers to the first section the way you normally would. Then click into the second section, add page numbers again, and use the Format option to change the style or starting number. Make sure the sections are not linked — when you're in the header or footer of the second section, look for a button that says Link to Previous and click it to turn off the link.

This approach takes a few more steps, but it's the only way to have Roman numerals in one part and regular numbers in another, or to restart numbering partway through a document.

Why page numbers sometimes don't appear where you expect

The most common reason page numbers don't show up is that they're in the header or footer, but your header and footer are hidden. Double-click at the very top or very bottom of a page to open the header and footer area — you should see your page number there. Double-click in the main text area to close the header and footer and return to normal editing.

Another reason is that your document might have different headers and footers for odd and even pages, or a different first page. Check the Header & Footer section of the Insert tab to see which options are turned on. If you see checkmarks next to Different First Page or Different Odd & Even Pages, that's why the numbering looks inconsistent.

If page numbers appear on some pages but not others and you haven't intentionally set up different sections, you may have accidentally created a section break. Go to the Layout tab and click Breaks to see if there are section breaks in your document. You can delete them by clicking on the break line and pressing Delete.

Positioning and formatting page numbers

After you've added page numbers, you can move them or change their appearance by going back to Insert and clicking Page Numbers again. The position menu lets you choose top-left, top-center, top-right, bottom-left, bottom-center, or bottom-right. You can also choose to put numbers in the margins instead of in the main text area.

To change the font, size, or color of the page numbers, double-click the header or footer area where the numbers appear. The page number will be highlighted or in a special box. Right-click on it and choose Font to change the typeface or size, or use the formatting buttons in the ribbon to change the color or style. When you're done, double-click back in the main text to close the header and footer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have page numbers on some pages but not others?

Yes, but only if you use section breaks. Insert a section break where you want numbering to start or stop, then turn off the Link to Previous option in the header or footer of that section. You can then add page numbers to some sections and leave others blank.

What if I want "Page 1 of 5" instead of just the number?

Click Insert, then Page Numbers, then Format. In the dialog, type "Page " before the number format and " of " after it, then add the total page count using the Insert Special Field or Field option. Word will fill in the total automatically.

Do page numbers show up in Print Preview?

Yes. Page numbers appear in Print Preview the same way they'll appear when you print. If you don't see them in Print Preview, they won't print either — check that they're actually in your header or footer by double-clicking at the top or bottom of the page.

Can I delete page numbers from just one page?

Not without creating a section break. If you want page 5 to have no number but pages 4 and 6 to have numbers, you need to insert section breaks before and after page 5, then remove the page number from that section's header or footer.