The two ways to add a watermark in Word

A watermark is text or an image that appears behind your document content — visible but not interfering with reading. Word offers two built-in routes: a text watermark (usually a word like "DRAFT" or "CONFIDENTIAL") and a picture watermark (your logo or a custom image). Both sit on every page automatically once you set them.

The text watermark is faster and requires no preparation. The picture watermark gives you more control over appearance but needs an image file ready on your computer first. Either way, the watermark prints and shows in Print Preview, but does not affect the actual text you type.

Key Takeaways

  • Text watermarks go through the Design tab on the ribbon, then Watermark, then choose a preset or type your own words.
  • Picture watermarks require an image file saved to your computer, and you control the scale and transparency from the same Design menu.
  • Once added, the watermark appears on every page and prints automatically — you do not need to repeat the step for each page.
  • To remove a watermark, return to Design > Watermark and select "Remove Watermark" at the top of the menu.

Adding a text watermark step by step

Open your document in Word. At the top of the screen, click the Design tab on the ribbon. If you do not see Design, you may be in an older version of Word — look for Page Layout instead, and the steps remain the same.

In the Design tab, locate the Watermark button. It usually sits in the middle-right area of the ribbon. Click it, and a dropdown menu appears with preset options: CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT, DO NOT COPY, and a few others. Click any of these to add it when ready to your document.

If none of the presets match what you need, click Custom Watermark at the bottom of the dropdown. A dialog box opens. Select the Text watermark radio button (it is usually already selected). Type your text in the box — for example, "INTERNAL USE ONLY" or your company name. You can adjust the font, size, and color from the same dialog if you want the watermark darker, lighter, or in a different typeface. Click OK, and the watermark appears on every page.

Adding a picture watermark

Picture watermarks work best when you have a logo or image file saved somewhere you can find it — your Desktop, Documents folder, or a company shared drive. The image should be a .jpg, .png, or .gif file.

Open your document and go to Design > Watermark again. Click Custom Watermark at the bottom. In the dialog box, select the Picture watermark radio button. Click Select Picture, and a file browser opens. Navigate to your image file, click it, and click Insert.

Back in the dialog, you will see two options: Scale (how large the image appears) and a checkbox for Washout. Washout makes the image lighter so it does not compete with your text — this is usually the right choice for a logo. Leave Washout checked unless you want the image to appear at full brightness. Click OK to explore it to all pages.

Why your watermark might not be visible

If you added a watermark but cannot see it on screen, check your view. Word hides watermarks in Draft view to reduce clutter. Switch to Print Layout view by clicking the view buttons in the bottom right corner of the screen, or go to the View tab and click Print Layout. The watermark should appear when ready.

If the watermark is still invisible, it may be behind a colored background or table. Watermarks sit in the header area of the page, so they can be obscured by page color or large graphics. Move or resize the obstruction, or choose a darker text watermark so it shows through.

Removing or changing a watermark

To remove a watermark entirely, go to Design > Watermark and click Remove Watermark at the very top of the menu. It disappears from all pages when ready.

To change an existing watermark, straightforward add a new one using the same steps. Word replaces the old watermark with the new one — you do not need to remove it first. If you want to adjust only the appearance (size, color, or washout), go back to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark, make your changes, and click OK.

Watermarks in headers and why they matter

Watermarks live in the header area of your document, which is why they appear on every page without you having to add them individually. This also means that if you have different headers on the first page or on odd and even pages, the watermark still appears everywhere — Word treats the watermark as separate from those header settings.

Because watermarks are in the header, they do not interfere with your actual document content. You can edit, format, and print your text normally. The watermark stays in the background and prints along with everything else.

Watermarks and document sharing

When you save a document with a watermark and send it to someone else, the watermark travels with the file. They will see it in their copy of the document. If they open it in an older version of Word or a different program, the watermark may not display — but it remains in the file and will show again if they open it in a newer version of Word.

If you convert your document to PDF, the watermark appears in the PDF as well. This is useful for marking drafts or confidential versions before sharing them outside your organization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different watermarks on different pages?

No. Word applies the same watermark to every page in the document. If you need different watermarks on different sections, you would need to split the document into separate files, add the appropriate watermark to each, and then combine them again — a workaround that is rarely worth the effort.

Does the watermark print?

Yes, watermarks print by default. If you do not want it to print, you would need to remove it before printing, then add it back afterward. There is no built-in setting to hide a watermark from print while keeping it on screen.

Can I make the watermark only appear on the first page?

No. Watermarks in Word explore to the entire document. If you need a watermark on only one page, you would need to create a separate document for that page, add the watermark there, and then insert it into your main document as an image or separate section.

What image formats work for picture watermarks?

Word accepts .jpg, .png, .gif, .bmp, and .tiff files. Use .jpg or .png for best results — they compress well and display clearly. Avoid very large files, as they can slow down your document.

Can I adjust the watermark transparency after I add it?

For text watermarks, you cannot adjust transparency directly — only the Washout checkbox, which lightens the text. For picture watermarks, Washout is your only transparency option. If you need finer control, edit the image in a graphics program before inserting it as a picture watermark.