How to Add a Header in Word: Step-by-Step Instructions

To add a header in Microsoft Word, open the document, choose Insert > Header, select a layout, and type your text in the header area. A header repeats information—such as a title, name, date, or page number—at the top of pages, helping readers identify and navigate a document. The steps below are for Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; Mac and Word for the web have slightly different ribbon layouts.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word. Save a copy first if you are making changes to a finished document.
The text or details you want to show in the header, such as a short document title or your name. Decide whether it should appear on every page or be different on the first page.
Optional: a logo or other image saved on your computer, if you want to include one.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check its page layout. Open the Word file and switch to View > Print Layout if you are not already seeing individual pages. This view makes it easier to locate the top margin and see how a repeating header will appear when printed. If you are creating a new file, save it with File > Save As before you add formatting. Headers are part of the document, so they will be saved with it.
Open the header area. On the Windows ribbon, select Insert > Header. A gallery of built-in designs appears. Choose a style that suits the document, or choose Edit Header to open a plain header area. You can also double-click near the top margin of a page to open the header directly. If you do not see the header area, make sure the document is in Print Layout rather than Draft or Read Mode.
Choose a layout or start with a blank header. Built-in designs may include lines, page numbers, or separate left- and right-aligned areas. Select one to insert it, then replace any placeholder wording with your own. For a simple header, choose Blank or use Edit Header and type directly. A restrained layout is usually easier to read than one with multiple decorative elements, especially in reports and formal documents.
Enter the information you want repeated. Click in the header text area and type your wording. For example, a report might use its short title on the left and the author’s name on the right. Press Tab to move between alignment positions in some built-in layouts; if that does not place text where you want, use the alignment controls on the ribbon or a layout with separate content areas. Keep the wording short so it does not crowd the page or overlap other elements.
Format the text and alignment. Select the header text and use the Home tab to change the font, size, color, or emphasis just as you would in the document body. Use the paragraph alignment buttons for left, center, or right alignment. You can also adjust header spacing from the contextual Header & Footer tab by changing the header position setting, such as Header from Top. Check that the header remains clear of the main text and does not look oversized.
Add a page number or date if needed. To insert a page number, use Insert > Page Number and choose a position and style. Word places page numbers in a header or footer area; if you are already editing the header, choose a top-of-page option. To add a date, select Insert > Date & Time, choose a format, and decide whether to update it automatically. An automatically updating date changes when the document is opened or printed; choose a fixed date if you need the original date to remain unchanged.
Set a different first-page header if appropriate. While editing the header, go to the Header & Footer tab and select Different First Page. The first page will have its own header area, separate from the header used on later pages. You can leave the first-page area empty for a cover page, or put different information there. This setting affects the current section, so if your document contains section breaks, check which section is active before applying it.
Close the header and review the pages. Select Close Header and Footer on the ribbon, or double-click in the main body of the document. Scroll through the pages to confirm the header repeats as intended, is not cut off, and does not collide with titles or body text. If the document will be printed, use File > Print to inspect the print preview as well. Save your changes with Ctrl+S on Windows.

On Mac: The same basic process applies: choose Insert > Header & Footer or use the Header command on the Insert tab, then select a layout or edit the header. The contextual header and footer controls appear when you are editing that area. Some ribbon labels and positions vary slightly by Word version. On Word for the web, use Insert > Header & Footer; certain advanced options may require opening the file in the desktop app.

Common Mistakes

Typing in the document body instead of the header. Text near the top of the first page is not necessarily a header. Double-click in the top margin or use Insert > Header so Word knows to repeat it on other pages.
Expecting a page number to update when it was typed manually. A typed number stays the same on every page. Insert a page-number field using Insert > Page Number so Word can number pages automatically.
Changing the header but overlooking separate sections. A document with section breaks can have different headers in each section. A change in one section may not appear elsewhere, or it may also affect a linked section. Check the section boundaries and the Link to Previous setting before editing.
Using too much content or oversized text. Long wording, large logos, and decorative lines can make the header dominate the page or push content down. Keep the design compact and inspect a page with the most crowded body text.
Removing the header by deleting only its visible words. That can leave an empty header area or other elements, such as a line or page number. Use Insert > Header > Remove Header when you want to remove the header from the current section.

Tips

Keep recurring information useful. A short document name, chapter title, or author name is more helpful than a long sentence. Avoid repeating information that is already obvious on every page.
Use alignment deliberately. A common arrangement is a document title on the left and a page number on the right. Choose a built-in layout that provides separate positions rather than inserting many spaces, which can shift when the font or page size changes.
Check the first page separately. If you use a cover page, consider enabling Different First Page and keeping that header blank. Then inspect page two to confirm the regular header starts where you expect.
Use a small, clear logo. Insert a saved image with Insert > Pictures while the header is open. Resize it using a corner handle to preserve its proportions, and check that it does not make the header too tall.
Review on screen and in print preview. A header can look fine at normal zoom but be too close to the page edge when printed. Print preview helps reveal clipped content, unexpected spacing, or a logo that is too large.

Troubleshooting

The header is missing from later pages. First check whether you inserted text in the body rather than the header. Open the header on a later page by double-clicking its top margin. If the document has section breaks, look at the section number and whether Link to Previous is enabled. Headers are controlled by section, so different sections can have different content. If you intended one consistent header, link the relevant sections or copy the header content into each section as needed.

The header appears on the first page but not the next page, or vice versa. Open the header and check Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. When it is turned on, the first page has a separate header. Add content to the appropriate first-page or regular header area, or turn the option off if every page should use the same header.

The header is too close to the top or pushes text down. Edit the header and adjust Header from Top on the contextual Header & Footer tab. Also reduce oversized text or images. If the main text begins too low, check the page’s top margin under Layout > Margins; the header position and page margin are related visually but are separate settings.

The page number is identical on every page. Delete the manually typed number and insert a page-number field through Insert > Page Number. If numbering starts at an unexpected value, open the page-number menu and choose Format Page Numbers to check the numbering format and whether the section should continue from the previous section or start at a chosen number.

The header changes when you edit another section. In the header area, check Link to Previous. When enabled, the current section shares its header with the preceding section. Turn it off before making a change that should apply only to the current section. If changes have already affected several sections, use Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac immediately, then unlink the sections before trying again.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add a header to every page in Word?
Choose Insert > Header, select a layout, and type your content in the header area. Word repeats it on pages in the same section unless settings such as Different First Page or different odd and even pages change the arrangement.

Can I make the first page header different?
Yes. Edit the header and select Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. You can leave the first-page header blank or add different text; later pages use the regular header for that section.

How do I add a page number to the header?
Choose Insert > Page Number, then pick a top-of-page position and style. Word inserts a field that updates automatically, rather than a fixed number you typed yourself.

Can I have a different header in each section?
Yes. Add section breaks from Layout > Breaks, then edit each section’s header. Turn off Link to Previous in a section when its header should differ from the section before it.

How do I remove a header without deleting the document text?
Choose Insert > Header > Remove Header. If only one section should lose its header, unlink it from the previous section first, then remove the header in that section.

Will a header appear in a PDF?
Yes. Headers normally appear when you export or save a Word document as a PDF, just as they do in print preview. Review the PDF or preview before sharing it to make sure the spacing and page numbering look right.

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

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