How to Easily Remove Headers in Microsoft Word

Headers are useful for adding things like titles, page numbers, or logos to the top of pages in Word. But sometimes you need to get rid of a header entirely.

Removing headers in Word is simple once you know the steps. In this comprehensive guide, I’ll cover everything you need to know to delete headers on both individual and multiple pages.

What is a Header in Word?

First, let’s quickly recap what headers are in case you’re unfamiliar.

A header is text, images, or other content that appears at the top of every page in a Word document Headers sit in the margin area outside the main text

Some common examples of headers:

• Document titles
• Page numbers
• Company logos
• Author name

Headers are part of the section formatting in Word, This means a header defined in one section will carry over to every page in that section

Now let’s look at how to remove them

How to Delete a Header from the First Page

Deleting a header from just the first page is simple:

1. Double-click in the header area of the first page. This will open the header for editing.

2. On the Header & Footer Tools tab, check if “Different First Page” is selected. If not, select it.

3. Delete any text or images you don’t want in the first page header.

4. Press Esc to close the header and return to the document.

The header will now be removed from the first page but remain on subsequent pages.

Removing a Header from a Single Interior Page

To remove a header from any page except the first, you’ll need to use section breaks:

1. Place your cursor where you want the new headerless section to start.

2. Go to the Layout tab and click Breaks > Next Page to insert a section break.

3. Double-click the header area to open the header for editing.

4. Uncheck “Link to Previous” to unlink this header from the previous section.

5. Delete the header content or click Remove Header.

6. Press Esc to close the header and return to the document.

The header will be removed only from that page forward. All previous pages will still display the header.

Deleting the Header Completely

Follow these steps to delete the header entirely from a Word document:

1. Double-click the header to open it.

2. Click the “Header” drop down in the Header & Footer Tools tab.

3. Select Remove Header.

4. Repeat this process for the footer by double-clicking the footer, clicking the “Footer” drop down, and selecting Remove Footer.

This will delete the headers and footers completely from the current section.

To remove headers from all sections:

1. Select all text by pressing Ctrl + A.

2. Click the dialog box launcher in the Paragraph group on the Home tab.

3. In the Paragraph dialog box, go to the Line and Page Breaks tab.

4. Select “Delete headers and footers” and click OK.

This will remove headers and footers throughout the entire document.

Troubleshooting Header Deletion Issues

Here are some common issues that can happen when trying to remove a header in Word:

• Can’t delete header contents: Make sure you double-clicked the actual header to open the editing window.

• Header reappears on other pages: Use section breaks to change or remove headers from specific pages.

• Header won’t delete completely: Click the “Remove Header” option in the Header & Footer Tools tab.

• Header deleted but footer remains: Delete both headers and footers separately.

• Header keeps reappearing: The header may be part of a template attached to the document. Try detaching the template.

• Deletion is grayed out: The document may be protected. Unprotect it first before deleting.

Paying attention to sections, templates, and protection will help avoid most header deletion issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are answers to some common questions about removing headers in Word:

How do I delete the header on just the first page?

Double-click to open the first page header, enable Different First Page, and delete the header contents.

What’s the fastest way to delete headers and footers completely?

Use Ctrl + A to select all text, open the Paragraph dialog box, and enable “Delete headers and footers”.

Will deleting the header also delete page numbers?

Only if the page numbers are contained inside the header. Page numbers added separately won’t be affected.

Can I delete the header without affecting the footer?

Yes, headers and footers can be removed independently by clicking the corresponding option.

I deleted my header but it’s still showing on some pages?

Use section breaks to remove headers from specific pages. The header will remain on pages in other sections.

What if I delete a header by accident?

Press Ctrl + Z right away to undo the deletion, or close without saving to revert back to the original document.

Why is the header deletion option grayed out?

The document may be protected. Unprotect it first by going to the Review tab and clicking Unprotect Document.

Pro Tips for Removing Headers

Here are some pro tips to make header removal quick and easy:

• Use section breaks to delete headers from specific pages rather than the whole document.

• If you just want to temporarily hide a header, toggle “Different First Page” instead of permanently deleting.

• Be methodical and delete headers and footers separately in case you want to keep one.

• To delete headers from the entire document at once, use the Paragraph dialog box.

• If a header won’t delete, check for templates and document protection first.

• Remember headers are tied to sections. You may need to remove them from each section.

• When in doubt, use Ctrl + Z to undo any accidental deletions.

Quick Video Summary

Here’s a quick video summarizing the steps to remove a header in Word:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VTmbtB_wRA

Follow along with the visual steps to see header deletion in action.

Final Thoughts

And there you have it – everything you need to know to easily remove pesky headers in Word!

The key points to remember are:

• Use section breaks to delete headers from specific pages.

• Enable “Different First Page” to remove just the first page header.

• Delete headers and footers separately if needed.

• Look for templates and protection if you can’t delete a header.

• Leverage the Paragraph dialog box to delete all headers at once.

With the right technique for your situation, you’ll be a header deletion expert. No more frustration when you need to quickly get rid of headers in Word.