How to Add Page Numbers in Word APA Format Correctly

To add APA-style page numbers in Microsoft Word, choose Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3. This places a page-number field at the upper-right corner of each page, including the title page, which is numbered 1 in APA 7. Before you begin, check whether your instructor requires a student or professional paper; student papers normally do not need a running head, but both paper types use page numbers.

What You’ll Need

A Word document containing your paper, preferably saved before you edit the header.
The assignment instructions or publication requirements, so you can confirm whether to use student-paper or professional-paper formatting.
Access to Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows. The Mac instructions below cover the main interface differences.

Step-by-Step

Confirm the paper type and page order. APA 7 student papers generally begin with a title page, followed by the text, references, and any other required sections. Professional papers may require a running head as well as page numbers. Follow your instructor’s directions if they differ from the general APA rules. In either type, the title page counts as page 1; the next page is page 2. Page numbers continue through the paper rather than restarting at each section.
Open the document and check its page layout. In Word for Windows, open the Layout tab and check Margins. APA papers commonly use one-inch margins on all sides. Page numbers belong in the page header, not in the body text or the footer. Word’s standard header position is usually suitable; avoid changing it just to move the number a few pixels unless your assignment specifies a different setting.
Insert the page number from the ribbon. Select Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3. In the standard gallery, Plain Number 3 places the number at the right side of the header. Word opens the header area and inserts a page-number field. The number may appear as 1 on the title page, or as the current page number if you have already worked on a longer document. Do not type a number manually: a field updates automatically as pages are added or removed.
Check the first-page setting. When the header is active, Word displays the Header & Footer tab, sometimes labeled Header & Footer Tools in older layouts. Look for Different First Page. For standard APA page numbering, leave this box unchecked so the title page shows page 1 and the same numbering continues on every page. If it is checked, the first page may have a separate header and its number can be hidden or missing.
Keep the number at the upper right. The Plain Number 3 layout should already set the number’s position. Do not add spaces or repeated tabs to push it right; those can shift the number unpredictably when the document changes. If you are editing an existing header, select the page-number field and use Home > Align Right if needed. Check that the field is in the header, not a text box or a line of body text.
Close the header and inspect the pages. Choose Header & Footer > Close Header and Footer, or double-click in the body of the document. Scroll through the title page, a middle page, and the final page. Confirm that each has one number in the upper-right corner, the title page reads 1, and the next page reads 2. If the paper is long, also check pages after any section breaks.
Set a starting number only if necessary. Word normally starts the first page at 1 automatically. If the first visible number is wrong, choose Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Under Page numbering, select Start at and enter 1, then select OK. Be careful with this setting in a document divided into sections: it can apply to the current section, so check subsequent pages to make sure the numbering continues as intended.
Add a running head only when your paper requires one. APA 7 student papers do not normally include the words “Running head” or a running-head title unless the instructor asks for them. Professional papers generally use a shortened title in uppercase at the left of the header, with the page number at the right. To add one, open the header, type the required running-head text on the left, and retain the page-number field on the right. Use a tab stop or the header’s alignment controls rather than a long string of spaces. Do not replace the page-number field with typed digits.

On Word for Mac: The labels and ribbon layout can differ slightly. Use the Insert tab and choose Page Number or Page Numbers, then set the position to the top of the page and alignment to right in the dialog or menu. If the dialog offers Show number on first page, leave it selected for standard APA numbering. Once inserted, double-click the header to access header options, including the first-page setting. Verify that the first page displays 1 and that numbering continues on later pages.

Common Mistakes

Leaving the title page unnumbered. APA page numbering begins on the title page. Hiding the number on page 1 is a common result of selecting Different First Page by mistake.
Putting the number in the footer. APA page numbers go in the header at the top right, not at the bottom of the page.
Typing a fixed number. A typed “1” will not update when the document grows. Insert Word’s page-number field instead.
Adding a running head to every student paper. A running head is not normally required for an APA 7 student paper. Add it only if the assignment or instructor requests it.
Using spaces to align the number. Repeated spaces can move the number when fonts, margins, or page size change. Use the right-aligned page-number option or paragraph alignment.
Restarting the count after a section break. A section can have its own numbering settings. This may cause the number to jump back to 1 or use a different format in the middle of the paper.
Adding a label or decorative mark. A standard APA page number is just the numeral. Do not add “Page,” a dash, or a period unless a specific assignment instruction requires it.

Tips

Use Print Layout while checking. Select View > Print Layout to see page boundaries and headers. Draft or web-style views may not show the header as it will appear on the printed page.
Use Print Preview for a final check. Open File > Print and review the preview. This makes it easier to catch a missing first-page number, a number too close to the edge, or a layout that changed after editing.
Keep the header consistent. Use the same font and size as the paper unless your assignment says otherwise. APA permits several readable fonts; the page number should match the document’s chosen font and remain legible.
Check the whole document after adding sections. If you use section breaks for landscape pages, appendices, or other special layouts, inspect numbering before and after each break. A section break can preserve or change header content depending on its settings.
Save a clean copy. Before changing headers in a nearly finished paper, save the document. If a formatting change affects multiple sections, you can return to the earlier copy rather than reconstructing the header.

Troubleshooting

The title page has no number. Double-click the header on the title page and check whether Different First Page is selected. Clear it if you want standard APA numbering. If it is already clear, insert the page number again through Insert > Page Number > Top of Page > Plain Number 3, then inspect the first page in Print Layout.

Every page shows the same number. The number may have been typed as ordinary text rather than inserted as a field. Delete the fixed text, then insert a page-number field from the Page Number menu. If you are viewing the document in a mode that does not update fields, switch to Print Layout or use Print Preview to confirm the page sequence.

Numbering restarts partway through. Click in the section where the count changes and open Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Check whether Start at is set to 1; choose Continue from previous section when the paper should keep counting. Also review the section’s header connection. The Link to Previous control on the Header & Footer tab links header content, but numbering format is controlled separately.

The number appears on the left or in the footer. Reopen the header and remove the misplaced field. Insert a new one using the top-of-page, right-aligned layout. Avoid correcting it by dragging or adding spaces, since those adjustments can fail when the page layout changes.

The number is missing on one page only. That page may begin a new section with a separate header, or it may have a different first-page header. Click in the affected page’s header and inspect Different First Page and Link to Previous. Then compare its section’s page-number format with the preceding section. If you cannot identify the cause, remove the number fields from the affected section and reinsert them carefully, checking that the rest of the document remains numbered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does an APA title page count as page 1?
Yes. In APA 7, the title page is page 1, and its number appears at the upper-right corner. The first page of the main text is usually page 2.

Should I write “Page” before the number?
No. APA formatting uses the numeral alone in the header. Do not add the word “Page,” a colon, or a period unless your instructor gives different directions.

Do APA student papers need a running head?
Usually not. APA 7 student papers generally have a page number but no running head. Check the assignment instructions, because an instructor can ask for a running head or other department-specific details.

Can I start the main text at page 1?
Not in the standard APA sequence when the title page is included. The title page is page 1, so the main text normally begins on page 2. Follow an explicit instructor or publisher requirement if it calls for a different arrangement.

Why does my page number change when I add text?
That is expected when you inserted a page-number field. Word updates the field to reflect the page where it appears. A manually typed numeral would stay fixed and would not correctly track page changes.

Will the page numbers appear when I print or export to PDF?
Yes, if the numbers are in the document header and the header is included in the output. Check File > Print or export a PDF and review the title page and a later page before submitting.

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