How to Add or Remove a Watermark in Microsoft Word

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open the document and choose Design > Watermark to add a built-in watermark or choose Custom Watermark to create one; to remove it, choose Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark. A watermark places faint text or an image behind document content, which can identify a draft, mark a copy as confidential, or add branding. Save a copy first if you are changing an important document, especially if it contains several sections or a carefully designed header.

What You’ll Need

A desktop version of Microsoft Word, such as Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows or Mac. The instructions below use Windows unless noted.
The document you want to update. If you plan to use a picture watermark, have the image file ready, preferably a simple logo with a transparent background.
Permission to edit the document. If it is read-only or protected, you may need the owner to unlock it or provide an editable copy.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check its layout. Open the file in the Word desktop app and save a working copy if you want to preserve the original. Scroll through the document to see whether it has multiple sections, portrait and landscape pages, or different first-page headers. Those details can affect which pages display a watermark. If you are working in Word for the web and cannot find the watermark controls, choose the option to open the file in the desktop app; the ribbon options can differ by account and rollout.
Open the watermark menu. On Windows, select the Design tab on the ribbon, then select Watermark, usually at the right side of the tab. The gallery offers ready-made choices such as Draft or Confidential. In Word for Mac, use Design > Watermark; the available controls and dialog layout can vary slightly by version. If the Design tab is missing, make sure the document is open in Word rather than a preview window.
Add a built-in text watermark. Select a gallery option such as Draft or Confidential. Word adds it behind the document text, typically on the pages in the current document section. Check several pages, including the first page and any pages in a different section, to confirm where it appears. If the wording, color, angle, or size is not suitable, use the custom option instead of adding another watermark on top.
Create a custom text watermark. Select Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark. In the Printed Watermark dialog, choose Text watermark. Enter the wording in the Text box, such as INTERNAL REVIEW or NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION. Choose a font, size, and color, then set the layout to Diagonal or Horizontal. Automatic sizing is a useful starting point; choose a specific size if the text looks too large or too small. The Semitransparent option makes the mark lighter so it is less likely to compete with the body text. Select OK to apply it.
Add a picture watermark if needed. Open Custom Watermark, choose Picture watermark, and select Select Picture to browse for an image. Pick the file and confirm the selection. Adjust Scale if the logo is too large or small. Leave Washout selected for a pale image that sits behind readable text; clear it only if you deliberately want a stronger mark. Select OK, then inspect a page with text and a page with a different orientation. A detailed, dark, or wide image may obscure content even when it is technically behind the text.
Review the result and save. Look at the document in Print Layout and use File > Print or Print Preview to check how the watermark will appear on paper or in a PDF. A watermark that looks subtle on screen may be too faint when printed, particularly on a low-quality printer. If you adjust it, return to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark and change the relevant settings. Save the document when the placement and contrast are acceptable.
Remove a watermark using the ribbon. On Windows, select Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark. On Mac, open Design > Watermark and choose the removal command if it is shown in your version. Check the whole document afterward, because section-specific headers or manually inserted header objects can leave a mark on some pages. Removing a watermark does not delete the document’s normal text or images.
Remove a watermark that remains on particular pages. If the ribbon command does not clear every page, double-click in the header area of a page that still shows the mark. This opens the header and footer editing view. Select the watermark object, which may be text or a picture, and press Delete. If you cannot select it, use the Selection Pane from the Shape Format tab when available, or click near the edge of the object rather than on the document text. Be cautious: deleting a header object can also remove a logo, page decoration, or other header content.
Check section links before making further changes. With the header open, look for Same as Previous or the Link to Previous control. A section linked to the previous one can share header content; an unlinked section can have a separate watermark. Move through each section that still displays the mark and remove the watermark there, or inspect whether its header is linked. Close Header and Footer when finished, review the pages again, and save.

Common Mistakes

Adding a second watermark instead of editing the first: Reapplying a gallery option or custom watermark can make the page look darker or cause two marks to overlap. If the current watermark is wrong, adjust it through Custom Watermark or remove it before adding a replacement.

Expecting the mark to behave like body text: A built-in watermark is generally stored as an object in the header area, behind the page content. Clicking in the middle of a paragraph will not select it. Open the header or use the ribbon command to manage it.

Changing only the first section: Documents assembled from templates or copied chapters can contain separate sections with different headers. A watermark can appear to disappear and then return as you scroll. Check pages in every section, including landscape pages and pages with a different first-page header.

Using a picture that is too busy: A detailed logo or a dark photograph can make paragraphs difficult to read. Choose a simple image and test the Washout setting. Remember that a watermark is a visual cue, not a security feature; it does not prevent copying or guarantee that a document is confidential.

Deleting unrelated header content: In header-editing view, the watermark may sit beside page numbers, a company logo, or a line. Select the watermark itself before pressing Delete. If the wrong item disappears, use Undo immediately, then select more carefully.

Tips

Keep text short. One or two words such as Draft, Sample, or Confidential are easier to read across pages than a long sentence.
Use a light color with enough contrast to remain visible in print. Preview both a text-heavy page and a mostly empty page before sharing the file.
For a logo, use a clean image with transparent areas when possible. Large white rectangles or opaque backgrounds can cover parts of the page even when the picture is behind the text.
Check the exported PDF separately. Choose File > Save As or Export to create the PDF, then open it and review representative pages; conversion and printer settings can affect appearance.
If you are preparing a form or template, decide whether the watermark should appear on the first page, every page, or only a specific section. Test with a copy before distributing the template.
For a replacement watermark, remove the existing one first and then add the new one. This makes it easier to tell whether the new text, image, and formatting are correct.

Troubleshooting

The Watermark button is missing or unavailable. Confirm that you are using the desktop Word app and that the file is editable. A restricted document, an older interface, or Word for the web may not expose the same controls. On Windows, look under Design; older Word versions may place the command on Page Layout. If the ribbon is collapsed, expand it or maximize the Word window.

The watermark does not appear after you add it. Make sure you selected a preset or clicked OK in the custom dialog. Switch to View > Print Layout and check Print Preview. A very pale color, a small picture scale, or an image with a white background can make the mark hard to notice. Check another page too, since sections may have different headers.

It appears on some pages but not others. Look for section breaks and different first-page or odd-and-even page headers. Double-click the header on a page without the mark and inspect its link to the previous section. Apply the watermark in the relevant section, or adjust the header’s linking and first-page settings carefully. Review all affected pages before saving because changing a shared header can alter more than one section.

Remove Watermark does not remove a manually inserted image or text box. The object may have been added directly to the header rather than through Word’s watermark command. Open the header, select the object, and delete it. If it is difficult to select, use the Selection Pane from Shape Format when available to identify objects. Avoid deleting other header elements by checking the selected item’s outline before pressing Delete.

The watermark is visible on screen but absent in print or PDF. Review the Print Preview and confirm that the object is not extremely pale or hidden by a layout issue. Check the printer’s settings and the PDF after export. If you use a custom picture, try a darker source image or adjust Washout, then test a single page before printing the full document.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a watermark to just one page? Watermarks are managed through section headers, so the straightforward way is to put that page in its own section and configure the watermark or header for that section. Section breaks and header links can affect neighboring pages, so save a copy and verify the pages before and after the target page.

Can I use my own wording instead of Draft or Confidential? Yes. Choose Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark, select Text watermark, and type your wording in the Text box. You can set the font, color, size, and diagonal or horizontal layout.

Can a watermark be a logo? Yes. Choose Picture watermark in the Custom Watermark dialog and select the logo file. Adjust its scale and use Washout if needed to keep the body text easy to read. Review the result in Print Preview as well as on screen.

Does removing a watermark remove document content? The Remove Watermark command removes the watermark, not the document’s paragraphs or normal pictures. If you manually delete an object in the header, however, make sure you selected the watermark and not a separate logo, page number, or decorative element.

Will a watermark protect a document from being copied? No. A watermark labels or brands pages, but it does not restrict editing, copying, screenshots, or sharing. Use Word’s protection and sharing controls for access management, and do not treat a watermark alone as a privacy measure.

Why can I see a watermark in Word but not in Word for the web? The web app may display a watermark differently or offer fewer editing controls than the desktop app. Open the document in desktop Word to add, change, or remove it when the web interface does not show the required command, then save and reopen the file to confirm the change.

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