However, not all documents have such simple requirements. But don’t worry because Word’s up to the task. I’ll demonstrate how to design various headers and footers for the same document in this article. In particular, the header for the first page will be disabled, and different headers will be used for odd and even pages. I’ll focus on headers, but you can work with footers as well.
Although I’m using Microsoft 365 on a 64-bit installation of Windows 10, you can use an earlier version. I advise you to hold off upgrading to Windows 11 until all the bugs are ironed out. For your convenience, you can download the demonstration . docx and . doc files. Headers and footers are not displayed in Word Online, but you won’t lose them. Although you won’t be able to see the headers or footers if you open a document with headers in the online version, they are still present.
How To Add A Header In Microsoft Word
How to create headers in word
There is a quick and easy header installation process in Word that only needs a few commands. In a similar easy manner, you can edit and modify your headings. Create and edit your headers following the processes below:
Creating the header
Creating headers in Microsoft Word requires a few steps. Start by following the process below:
After finishing, your headers should remain consistent across each page. Any changes made on one page occur throughout the document.
Adding specific header fields
Inserting header fields may enhance the formatting of your documents and supply constant data for your headers. Follow these steps to insert these fields:
Additionally, you can choose “Title,” “Author,” and “Subject” to add these values. By selecting “Properties” from their “File” drop-down menu and editing the relevant text box, users can set these fields. After completing this step, use the “Fields” menu to add the appropriate terms.
Setting a different first page
When a document begins with unrelated documentation, such as editing notes, some users may choose to set different first pages for their documents. Follow this step to keep your page numbers consistent:
Now, instead of referring to the actual first page, all other header changes and documentation use this different first page. By following the same procedures on a different page header, you can alter the first page once more.
Editing header settings
Word includes multiple heading settings to personalize your documents design. These steps can be used to change the font and paragraph settings for the headers:
Changing the text font and the direction of the paragraphs can help your document in a number of ways. First, a new font may make the header and body of your document distinct.
Inserting photos in headers
The procedures listed below can be used to insert images, including branded images or content you own, in your headers:
By clicking an object, choosing a circle on the frame surrounding the object, and dragging it in or out, you can change the size of the image. Holding “Shift” while resizing maintains object proportion while holding “Ctrl” keeps the image centered. Holding both buttons down while resizing allows you to combine these two actions.
Resizing pictures to specific dimensions
To more easily fit inside your header, you can resize your documents to a specific height and length. Follow these steps to get the proper size:
By choosing “Scale” from the “Shape Format” menu’s “Size” drop-down menu, you can also resize based on proportion. You now enter a scale percentage for height and width based on the requirements of your header.
Removing headers
Perform these steps to remove headers from your document:
Before deleting your headers, make sure you’re prepared for the change because these changes affect headers on all the documents pages.
What are headers in Word?
Document headers are positioned in the top margin of each page and are constant throughout the document. When sharing uniformly important information throughout a document, authors may use headers. Data shared on headers may include:
Headers may also provide consistent information between multiple resume pages. For instance, a two-page resume could have headers with your contact information to reduce the chance of confusion with other resumes and make yours easier to read. To reduce confusion between pages, students can use headers in a similar way by including information about their assignments in them.
Tips for creating headers in Word
The following advice can help you create headers that are better by avoiding common mistakes and properly positioning header information. Take these steps the next time you create Word headers:
Add headers after finishing
Because you may have a better understanding of the header information you need, adding your headers later may work best. If you don’t need total page counts or dates, you might decide to use just page numbers and document titles. By matching your current text and reducing style issues, waiting might also make formatting the header simpler.
Adjust your settings as you insert heading details
You can alter their settings when adding header information to orient header items and reduce clutter. Author name and document title should be centered to keep them clear of right- or left-oriented page numbers, dates, and times. As you work, you can also change the font family and size to enhance the overall appearance of your headers.
Add other descriptive information
Some header fields may contain scant information that you can accentuate with customized text. For instance, adding a page number only adds a numerical digit and no additional textual information. Before this number, you could put “Page” to add more context and clear up any ambiguity. When you add the total page count information to your headers, this step may help to differentiate this page number.
Please be aware that Indeed is not connected to any of the organizations mentioned in this article.
FAQ
How do I create a custom header for each page in Word?
Click the Header drop-down menu under the Insert tab. Then, select Edit Header from the list of options. As an alternative, you can access the header section by simply double-clicking the top margin of the page.
How do I put a header on every page?
…
Try it!
- Select Insert > Header or Footer.
- Select one of the built in designs.
- Type the text you want in the header or footer.
- Select Close Header and Footer when you’re done.
