How to Add a Running Header in Word, Step by Step

To add a running header in Microsoft Word, open the document, choose Insert > Header, select a layout, and type the text you want repeated at the top of the pages. Word repeats it automatically through the current section. Before you start, decide what the header should say and whether the first page or any sections need a different version.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The main steps are similar in recent desktop versions of Word.
The header text you want, such as a short document title, author name, chapter heading, or report name. Keep it concise so it does not crowd the page.
If the document has multiple sections, know whether each section should share the same header or have its own. Word manages headers separately by section.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check its sections. If you only need the same header throughout a simple document, you can go directly to the next step. If headers should change at a particular point, first confirm that the document has a section break there. Turn on formatting marks with Home > Show/Hide (the pilcrow symbol) if you need to find section breaks. A page break alone does not create a separate header area.
Open the header area. Select Insert > Header on the ribbon. Word displays a gallery of built-in header layouts. Choose a plain layout for a simple repeating line, or select Edit Header if you prefer to start with a blank header. You can also double-click the blank area above the page’s main text to open an existing header.
Enter the repeating text. Click the placeholder or insertion point in the header and type the text. For instance, a project report might use the project name on the left and a short report label on the right. Avoid pressing Enter repeatedly to position content; paragraphs and spacing settings are more reliable. The header appears on the other pages in the same section as you type.
Format the header. Select the text and use the Home tab to adjust its font, size, bolding, or alignment. A smaller type size is often suitable, but make sure the header remains readable. To create left and right items on one line, use a built-in layout with alignment areas or use a tab stop rather than a string of spaces. Check that the text does not overlap the page number or extend beyond the margins.
Add a page number if needed. Click where the number should appear, then choose Insert > Page Number and select a position and style. Inserting a page-number field lets Word update the numbering as pages are added or removed; do not type a number manually. If you are already editing the header, Current Position may be a useful option for placing the number beside other header text. Review the result to ensure the number is not duplicated by a number already included in the chosen layout.
Choose whether the first page should differ. While the header is active, open the Header & Footer tab and select Different First Page if the title page should have no header or a distinct one. The first-page header is then independent, so edit or clear it separately. This setting applies to the current section. If the document has several sections, check the setting in each one where you want a different first page.
Decide how sections should connect. If a later section should use the same header as the section before it, select the header in that section and leave Link to Previous turned on. If it needs different text, turn Link to Previous off first, then edit that section’s header. The control is on the Header & Footer tab in the Navigation group. Word can link headers and footers separately, so check the relevant area rather than assuming both have changed.
Set odd and even pages only if required. For a book-style layout with alternating headers, select Different Odd & Even Pages on the Header & Footer tab. Word provides separate odd-page and even-page headers. Enter the appropriate text in each, and inspect both types of page. Leave this option off for a standard report where all pages should use one consistent header.
Close the header and review the pages. Select Close Header and Footer on the ribbon, or double-click in the main document area. Scroll through the document, including the first page and the pages on either side of section breaks. Save the file. For a final check, use File > Print to inspect the print preview, since a header that looks fine in the editing view may sit too close to the paper edge.

On Mac: The core process is similar: use Insert > Header, select or edit a layout, and type the text. Word for Mac shows header-specific options in its Header & Footer tab when the header is active; look there for Different First Page, Different Odd & Even Pages, and Link to Previous. Ribbon labels and their placement can vary slightly with the window width and Word release. The same section-linking principle applies.

Common Mistakes

Using a page break instead of a section break. A page break starts a new page but normally keeps the same section header. To use a different header after a point, insert a section break from Layout > Breaks, choosing the appropriate next-page or continuous section break for the layout.
Editing a linked header without noticing. Changing a header in a section that is linked to the previous section can change the earlier header too. Check whether Link to Previous is active before editing. Turn it off only when you want that section to become independent.
Deleting the first-page header and expecting all headers to disappear. With Different First Page enabled, the first page has a separate header. Removing its text does not remove headers from the rest of the section, and clearing a later header may not clear the first-page version.
Typing page numbers by hand. A manually typed number stays the same on every page. Insert a page-number field so Word can number pages dynamically.
Using repeated spaces for alignment. Spacing can shift when text or fonts change. Use the header layout’s alignment areas or tab stops, then verify the result in print preview.

Tips

Keep the header brief. Long text is more likely to wrap, collide with a page number, or compete with the body text.
Use consistent wording and formatting across sections unless the document has a clear reason to vary. This helps readers identify that they are still within the same document.
For a changing chapter title, use separate sections and unlink each section before editing its header. Plan the section breaks first, because they control more than headers, including page layout and some numbering settings.
Use the ruler or paragraph settings to adjust tab stops and alignment rather than inserting many spaces. If the ruler is hidden, enable it from View > Ruler.
Check the header in Print Layout and in print preview. Word’s on-screen page boundary, printer margins, and paper settings can affect how close the header appears to the top edge.
If you use a template, inspect its existing header before adding another. A template may already contain text, a logo, or a page-number field that could be duplicated by a new layout.

Troubleshooting

The header appears only on one page. Make sure you typed it in the header area rather than the document body. Then check whether the next page starts a new section with Link to Previous turned off, or whether Different First Page or Different Odd & Even Pages is creating a separate header. Edit the relevant header variant or link the section as needed.

Changing one header changes another. The sections are probably linked. Go to the header that should differ, select Link to Previous to switch it off, and then make the change. If the button is unavailable or the document has no section break, insert a section break at the point where the header should change.

The first page looks different or has no header. Open the header and inspect Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. If you want the same header on every page, clear that option. If you do want a distinct title-page header, edit the first-page header directly rather than the header used on later pages.

The page number is missing, repeated, or incorrect. Check that a page-number field was inserted and that the chosen header layout does not already include one. Also inspect section numbering settings if numbering restarts unexpectedly. To adjust numbering, use Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers and review whether numbering is set to continue from the previous section or start at a specified value.

The header is too close to the top or overlaps the text. Open the header and adjust its position using the Header from Top setting on the Header & Footer tab, or review the page’s top margin under Layout > Margins. Make a small change, then check several pages and print preview. If the document has multiple sections, verify the setting in the section that looks wrong.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a running header in Word?
A running header is text or other content placed in the page’s header area and repeated across pages in a section. It may contain a document or chapter label, an author name, or a page number.

Will Word repeat the header automatically on new pages?
Yes. A header normally repeats on pages in the same section, including pages added later. Different first-page, odd/even-page, or section-link settings can make some pages use a separate header.

How do I make the header start on page two?
Open the header and select Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. Leave the first-page header empty and add the desired text to the header on the next page. This is useful for a title page.

Can I use a different running header for each chapter?
Yes. Put each chapter in its own section, turn off Link to Previous for the new section, and edit its header. Add section breaks at chapter boundaries and check the header at each boundary.

How do I remove a running header?
Choose Insert > Header > Remove Header, or open the header, select its content, and delete it. If the document has multiple sections or separate first-page and odd/even headers, inspect those versions too; removal in one area may not clear every distinct header.

Can a running header include a page number?
Yes. Place the cursor in the header and use Insert > Page Number to add a dynamic number field. Choose a location that does not conflict with the header text, and use Format Page Numbers if the numbering sequence needs adjustment.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.