How to Add Headers and Footers in Word

Headers and footers let you add repeating content — like a document title, company name, page numbers or a confidentiality notice — to the top and bottom of every page. Word gives you precise control over what appears, where it appears, and whether it changes between sections. This guide covers everything from the basics to more advanced setups like different first-page headers and section-specific footers.

How to insert a header or footer

Adding a header or footer in Word takes just a few clicks:

  1. Go to the Insert tab on the ribbon.
  2. Click Header or Footer in the Header & Footer group.
  3. Choose a built-in style from the gallery (Blank, Blank Three Columns, Banded, etc.) or click Edit Header / Edit Footer to start with an empty header.
  4. The header or footer area opens and your cursor is placed inside it. Type your text, insert a page number, or add an image.
  5. When you're done, click Close Header and Footer or double-click anywhere in the main document body to return to normal editing.

Adding page numbers in the header or footer

Page numbers are the most common thing people add to a footer. You can insert them directly from the Header & Footer toolbar that appears when you're in header/footer editing mode:

Click Page Number in the toolbar, then choose a position (top, bottom, current position) and a style. Word inserts a field that updates automatically as pages are added or removed. To start from a number other than 1, click Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set the starting value.

Making the first page different

Many documents — especially letters, reports and essays — need the first page to have no header or footer, or a different one from the rest. Word handles this with a simple checkbox:

  1. Double-click the header or footer area to enter editing mode.
  2. In the Header & Footer tab that appears on the ribbon, check the box labelled Different First Page.
  3. Word now treats the first-page header and footer as separate. Edit the first-page header independently, and leave it blank if you don't want anything on page one.
  4. The header from page two onward remains in the regular header area.

Different odd and even page headers

Books and formal reports often use different headers on left and right pages — for example, the chapter title on the left page and the book title on the right. In the Header & Footer tab, check Different Odd & Even Pages. Word then gives you separate odd-page and even-page header areas to edit independently.

Using section breaks for different headers per section

If you want a completely different header in one part of your document — say, a different chapter title — you need a section break. Here's how:

Place your cursor where you want the new header to begin. Go to Layout > Breaks and insert a Next Page section break. Double-click the header in the new section. By default it says 'Same as Previous' — click Link to Previous in the Header & Footer tab to unlink it. Now edit this section's header independently without affecting the previous one.

Removing a header or footer

To remove a header or footer entirely, go to Insert > Header (or Footer) and choose Remove Header (or Remove Footer) at the bottom of the gallery. This clears all content from that area for the whole document, or for the current section if you've used section breaks.

Adding images and logos to a header

A company logo in the header is a common requirement for letterheads. Double-click the header area to enter editing mode, then go to Insert > Picture and choose your image file. Resize it by dragging the corner handles. For precise positioning, right-click the image and choose Size and Position to set exact dimensions and alignment. Keep images small — large header images can push your main content down or cause layout issues.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my header only appear on one page?

Headers should repeat on every page automatically. If yours doesn't, check whether the section is set to 'Different First Page' and that you haven't accidentally typed in the first-page header area only. Also confirm that Different Odd & Even Pages isn't checked unexpectedly.

How do I add a line under the header?

Double-click the header to enter editing mode. Select the text or place your cursor in the header paragraph. Go to Home > Borders dropdown and choose Bottom Border. This adds a horizontal line under the header text without inserting a separate line or shape.

Can I have the header on some pages but not others?

Yes, but it requires section breaks. Insert a Next Page section break wherever you want the header to change, then unlink the sections using Link to Previous and edit each section's header independently.

My page numbers start at the wrong number — how do I fix it?

Double-click the footer, click on the page number, then go to Header & Footer > Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Set 'Start at' to the number you want.

Can I add a header to a Word document in a free online editor?

FreeWordEditor.com preserves existing headers and footers when you open a .docx file and will keep them when you export. For creating or editing headers directly, you'll need a full Word-compatible editor.