How to Add a Running Header in Word for Mac

To add a running header in Word for Mac, open the document, choose Insert > Header & Footer > Header, select a layout, and type your text. Word repeats that header on later pages by default. You can then adjust its alignment, add a page number, or set a different first-page or section header. Before you begin, decide what should appear in the header and whether it needs to differ on any pages.

What You’ll Need

A document open in the desktop version of Microsoft Word for Mac. The web version has similar header controls, but its layout and options may differ.
The text or other content you want to repeat, such as a document title, author name, chapter name, or page number.
Optional: your assignment, publication, or workplace formatting instructions, especially if they specify header placement or page numbering.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check the page view. Open the file in Word for Mac and switch to View > Print Layout if you are not already viewing pages. Print Layout makes the top margin and header area visible. Save a copy first if you are changing a document with carefully formatted pages; a header itself is easy to remove, but a backup helps protect other layout work.
Open the header area. Select the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Header & Footer group, choose Header. Depending on the Word version and window width, you may see the group or command arranged slightly differently; widen the Word window if the command is hidden. You can also double-click near the top margin of a page to enter the header directly.
Choose a header layout. Select a built-in style from the Header gallery. A plain style is a good choice for a simple running title; other styles may include lines, aligned fields, or a page-number position. The gallery inserts an editable header area. If you prefer to build your own, choose a blank style when available, or open the header and remove any sample text or formatting you do not need.
Type the repeating text. Click in the header placeholder and enter the wording you want repeated, such as a short report title or your surname. Keep it concise so it does not crowd the page or collide with a page number. A running header is not the same as the document title on the first page: it is content placed in the header area, which Word repeats on pages that use the same header settings.
Format and position the text. Select the header text and use the Home tab to choose a font, size, bolding, or other character formatting. Use the paragraph alignment controls to align it left, center, or right. To place a title on the left and a page number on the right, use a header layout designed for that arrangement or use a tab stop rather than inserting a long string of spaces. Spaces can shift when the font or page margins change.
Add a page number if needed. Click where the number should appear in the header, then use Insert > Page Number and choose a top-of-page option or a current-position option if Word shows one. Select a style that fits the design. Word inserts a page-number field, not just a typed digit, so it updates as pages are added or removed. If you want text and a number on opposite sides, use a right-aligned tab stop or a two-column header layout, then insert the number in the right-hand position.
Choose whether the first page should match. While the header is active, look for the Header & Footer tab or its options. Turn on Different First Page if the cover or title page should have no header, or should use different content. This setting applies to the current section. If it is on, the first page has its own header area, so edit that area separately if you want a special first-page title rather than a blank one.
Check section and odd/even settings. Most documents need one header repeated throughout, so leave Different Odd & Even Pages off unless you want alternating headers, as in some book layouts. If your document has section breaks, click a later section’s header and check whether Link to Previous is enabled. When sections are linked, edits can carry across them. Turn the link off only when you intentionally need that section to have independent header content.
Close the header and inspect several pages. Choose Close Header and Footer on the contextual tab, or double-click in the main body of the document. Scroll through the first page, a middle page, and the last page. Confirm that the header repeats, sits within the page margins, and does not overlap the document text. Save the document when the layout looks right.

Common Mistakes

Typing the header in the document body: Text placed at the top of the first page is ordinary body content and will not repeat automatically. Make sure the insertion point is in the header area, which is separated from the body by a boundary or a Header label while you edit.

Using spaces to push text across the page: A row of spaces may look aligned on one screen but move when fonts, margins, or page size change. Use the header’s alignment controls, a tab stop, or a built-in layout instead.

Assuming every page uses the same header: Different First Page, Different Odd & Even Pages, and section breaks can create separate header areas. If a header seems to vanish or change partway through the file, check those settings before retyping it.

Deleting a page number as if it were ordinary text: A page number is a field. If you remove it and later want numbering again, insert a page-number field through the menu rather than typing the current number manually.

Changing the header without checking section links: Editing a linked header can also change earlier or later sections. Check Link to Previous before making a section-specific change, and inspect the neighboring sections afterward.

Tips

Keep the running text short and easy to scan. Long titles, addresses, or explanatory sentences can crowd the top margin and leave less room for the body. If the full document title is lengthy, use a shortened form in the header while retaining the complete title on the opening page.

Use the same typeface and visual style as the rest of the document unless the required style guide says otherwise. A subtle size difference or light formatting can distinguish the header without making it compete with the content. For formal work, follow the specified style guide rather than relying on a built-in Word gallery style.

For a left-side document title and a right-side page number, avoid manually spacing the number to the edge. A right-aligned tab stop is more reliable: place the insertion point between the two items and use the ruler or paragraph tab settings to establish a right-aligned stop near the right margin. If that is more setup than you need, choose a gallery layout that already positions the fields appropriately.

Headers are separate from footers. If instructions call for a page number at the bottom, choose a footer layout instead of placing it in the header. Also remember that a header may appear close to the top edge on screen while printing differently if the printer cannot handle the selected margins; review a PDF or print preview when exact placement matters.

Troubleshooting

The header appears only on the first page. Confirm that the text is actually in the header, not in the body. Then check whether the document has section breaks and whether later sections have separate, unlinked headers. Click into a page where the header is missing and inspect the section’s header settings. If it is a separate section, add the header there or link it to the previous section if the content should match.

The first page has no header. Select the first page’s header area and check whether Different First Page is selected. If you want the same header on page one, turn that option off. If you want the first page to have different content, leave it on and enter the desired content in the first-page header specifically.

Changing one header changes another. The sections are probably linked. Go to the section whose header should differ, open its header, and turn off Link to Previous before editing. If that option is dimmed or unavailable, confirm that the document contains a section break between the areas; a page break alone does not create an independent header.

The header text is too high, too low, or clipped. Check the page margins and the distance of the header from the top edge. In Word for Mac, open Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and review the page setup options, including the header position where available. Avoid setting the header outside the printable area. If only one page is affected, check for a section with different page setup settings.

The page number is wrong or does not update. Make sure you inserted a page-number field rather than typing a numeral. If numbering should restart or continue across sections, open the page-number formatting options and check the numbering setting for that section. Also check whether a first-page or odd/even header is separate: the number may need to be inserted in each header type that should display it.

The header is hard to see while editing. Return to View > Print Layout and double-click the top margin to enter the header. If the text seems missing, select the header area and check that its font color is not white or otherwise blending into the page. Use print preview or export a PDF to confirm what the finished pages will look like.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Word repeat a header automatically on every page?

Yes. A header is repeated on pages in the same section by default. The first page, odd and even pages, or sections with their own settings can be exceptions, so check those options if the result differs across pages.

How do I make the header start on page two?

Open the header and enable Different First Page. Leave the first-page header blank, then enter the running header in the regular header area on page two. This setting affects the current section, so check later sections if the document contains section breaks.

Can I put the document title and page number on the same line?

Yes. Use a header layout with separate aligned positions, or set a right-aligned tab stop between the title and the page number. Insert the number as a field using Insert > Page Number; do not type a fixed number if you need it to update automatically.

How do I remove a running header?

Double-click the header area, select the header content, and delete it, or use Insert > Header & Footer > Header and choose the removal option if it appears in your version. Check each section if the document has independent headers. Removing a header does not necessarily remove a footer or page numbers stored in a different area.

Can different chapters have different running headers?

Yes. Put each chapter or group of pages in a separate section, then open that section’s header and turn off Link to Previous before changing the text. Use a section break rather than a page break when you need independent headers, and check page numbering after making the sections.

Will the header show when I print or save as a PDF?

Normally, yes: headers are part of the page layout and appear in print and exported PDFs. Check the print preview or PDF, especially if the header is close to the paper edge, because printer margins and section-specific settings can affect how it appears.

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.