How to Add a Running Header in Word 2010 Step by Step

To add a running header in Word 2010, open the document, choose Insert > Header, select a layout, and type the text you want repeated at the top of the pages. Word repeats that header throughout the document by default. You can also add page numbers, leave the first page different, or make headers vary between sections if your document needs those options.

A running header is a small line of information in the top margin, often a short document title, chapter name, author name, or page number. It helps identify printed or separated pages and gives a long document a consistent appearance. The steps below apply to Word 2010 for Windows; Word 2010 was not released for Mac, so the ribbon paths here do not have a direct Word 2010 Mac equivalent.

What You’ll Need

A document open in Microsoft Word 2010 for Windows.
The wording you want in the header, such as a shortened report title or chapter label. Keep it brief so it fits within the page margins.
If you want page numbers, decide whether they should appear in the header or somewhere else. You can add them while editing the header.
If the document has multiple sections, know whether every section should use the same header. Section breaks can make headers independent or linked.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check the page layout. Open the file in Word 2010 and, if useful, select View > Print Layout so you can see the page and its top margin. Save a copy first if you are changing a finished document. A header is positioned in the page margin area, not in the main body text, so the page may shift slightly if you later change the margin or header position.
Open the header area. Select the Insert tab on the ribbon. In the Header & Footer group, click Header. A gallery of built-in header layouts appears. Choose a simple layout such as Blank if you want to create your own, or select a layout that already matches the style you need. The header area opens and Word displays the contextual Header & Footer Tools – Design tab.
Enter the header text. Click in the header placeholder if it is not already active, then type the wording you want repeated. For example, a report called “Quarterly Customer Survey Results” might use the shorter header “Customer Survey Results.” Avoid putting a full title, subtitle, author details, and other information all on one line; long text can collide with page numbers or wrap into the body area.
Format the text if needed. Select the header wording and use the Home tab to choose a font, size, bolding, or text color. A header is usually more readable when it is modest in size and visually quieter than the main heading. Use the alignment buttons on the Home tab to align the header paragraph left, center, or right. If you change the font or paragraph spacing, check that it still fits inside the page margins.
Add a page number if you want one. Click where the number should go in the header, then select Header & Footer Tools – Design > Page Number > Current Position and choose a plain-number style. This inserts a page-number field, which updates automatically as pages are added or removed. Do not type a number by hand: a typed number would be identical on every page and would not update when the document changes. If your chosen header layout already includes a page-number field, do not insert a second one.
Place the page number on the other side, if necessary. For a header with a title at the left and a page number at the right, place the cursor after the title and use the alignment-tab control on the Header & Footer Tools – Design tab to insert a right-aligned tab stop, then insert the page number at that position. In Word 2010, the alignment tab dialog lets you choose an alignment and whether it is relative to the margin or page. This is more dependable than repeatedly pressing the spacebar, because spaces can shift when fonts or margins change. Check the result in Print Preview before printing.
Choose whether the first page should have a header. On the Header & Footer Tools – Design tab, look in the Options group. Select Different First Page if the cover or title page should not show the same header as the rest of the document. This creates a separate first-page header; it does not remove headers from later pages. If you want the first page to have a different label, edit that first-page header separately after selecting the option.
Check how headers work in sections. If your document contains section breaks, click inside the header in each section and check the Link to Previous setting on the Design tab. When it is selected, that section normally uses the preceding section’s header. Turn it off only when you want that section to have its own header, then edit the section’s header. Word treats the first-page header and the regular header as separate types, so check the appropriate header area when working with Different First Page.
Close the header and inspect the document. Click Close Header and Footer on the Design tab, or double-click in the document body. Review at least the first few pages, including any section boundaries, and use File > Print to check the preview. Confirm that the header is not clipped, does not overlap body text, and appears where expected. Save the document after you are satisfied.

Common Mistakes

Typing into the body instead of the header. Text entered at the top of the first page while the body is active will not repeat on other pages. Double-click in the top margin or use Insert > Header > Edit Header to make sure you are editing the header area. The header editing controls appear while it is active.
Expecting a manually typed page number to update. A number typed as ordinary text stays the same on each page. Insert a page-number field using Page Number > Current Position while the header is active.
Using spaces to push a number to the right. A long row of spaces may look aligned on one page but can move when the font, printer, or margins change. Use an alignment tab or a suitable built-in header layout instead.
Forgetting that a first-page header is separate. When Different First Page is on, editing the first-page header does not necessarily change the regular header on later pages, and vice versa. Check both areas if you want them to match.
Editing the wrong section. A section break can give a document more than one header. Before changing a header that appears unexpectedly, note the section number shown while editing and check whether Link to Previous is on.
Putting too much text in the header. A long title can crowd a page number or wrap. Shorten the wording, reduce the font slightly, or use separate left and right positions rather than shrinking the text until it is difficult to read.

Tips

Use a short, recognizable label instead of repeating the full title of the document. A consistent abbreviated title is easier to scan on printed pages.
Keep headers consistent in font, size, and placement. If you use different headers for chapters, keep a shared visual style so the changes look intentional.
Use Word’s built-in page-number field so numbering stays current after edits. If numbering should begin at a value other than 1, use Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set the starting number for the relevant section.
Use Different Odd & Even Pages only when you need alternating headers, such as a book with chapter names on one side and a short title on the other. You will need to edit both the odd-page and even-page header types.
Remember that headers are part of the document layout. If text appears too close to the top edge, adjust the header position using the Position controls on the Header & Footer Tools – Design tab or review the page margins, rather than adding blank lines in the body.
Before printing a long document, inspect pages around section breaks as well as the first and last pages. That is where different header settings or a broken section link are most likely to be noticed.

Troubleshooting

The header appears only on the first page. Check that the text is actually in the header and not in the document body. If Different First Page is selected, the first page has its own header area; add the regular header by moving to page two and editing that header. If the document has sections, check the header in each one and review Link to Previous.

The header is missing from a particular page. Look for a section break before that page and open its header. Confirm that the correct header type is being edited: first page, odd page, or even page. If odd and even headers are enabled, a page may use a different header from the one you just edited. Check the relevant option on the Design tab.

The page number repeats or is incorrect. Delete the manually typed number, click in the header, and insert a page-number field through Page Number > Current Position. If numbering restarts unexpectedly, click in the affected section and open Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Check whether numbering is set to continue from the previous section or start at a chosen number.

The header is too close to the top edge or overlaps text. Open the header, then adjust the header position in the Design tab’s Position group. Also check Page Layout > Margins and the document’s printer preview. A printer may not print to the very edge of the paper, so do not judge spacing only from the on-screen editing view.

Changes in one section affect another. Click in the header where you want a distinct design and turn off Link to Previous before editing. If that control is unavailable or the result is unexpected, verify that the document has an actual section break rather than only a page break. A page break starts a new page but does not create an independent header.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Word 2010 repeat the header on every page automatically?
Yes. A standard header repeats on pages in that section by default. First-page, odd/even-page, or section settings can create exceptions.

Can I have a header on every page except the cover?
Yes. Edit the header, select Different First Page on the Header & Footer Tools – Design tab, and leave the first-page header blank. The regular header remains available on later pages.

How do I put the page number at the right side of the header?
Use a header layout with a number position, or insert a right-aligned alignment tab and add the number with Page Number > Current Position. Avoid using spaces to position it.

Can different chapters have different running headers?
Yes. Put each chapter in a separate section, then turn off Link to Previous in the new section before changing its header. A page break by itself is not enough to create an independent header.

How do I remove a running header?
Select Insert > Header > Remove Header to remove the header from the current document or section as appropriate. In documents with multiple sections, inspect each section afterward because its headers may be independent.

Will the header show up when I print?
Normally, yes. Check File > Print and review the preview. If it is not visible, check that the header is within printable margins and that the printer settings and page layout are correct.

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