Headers & Footers

Headers and Footers are special areas located at the top and bottom of every page in a Microsoft Word document. They are commonly used to display page numbers, document titles, chapter names, dates, logos and other repeated information, making documents look professional and well organized.

A Header appears in the top margin of each page, while a Footer appears in the bottom margin. Information placed in these areas is automatically repeated on every page unless different settings are applied.

Headers and Footers can include different types of information depending on the document. Microsoft Word provides built-in fields and templates to insert these elements quickly.

1. Open the Insert tab.

2. Click Header.

3. Choose a built-in
header style.

4. Type the required text.

5. Click Close Header
and Footer.

A Footer appears at the bottom of every page. It commonly contains page numbers, copyright information, file names, dates and other repeated document details.

1. Open the Insert tab.

2. Click Footer.

3. Choose a built-in
footer style.

4. Enter the required
information.

5. Click Close Header
and Footer.

Microsoft Word allows users to edit Headers and Footers at any time. You can modify text, insert images, update dates, add page numbers or remove unwanted information without affecting the main document content.

The Different First Page option allows the first page of a document to have a unique Header or Footer. This is useful for reports, books, assignments and official documents where the cover page should not display the same information as the remaining pages.

1. Double-click the
header area.

2. Open the Header &
Footer tab.

3. Check Different
First Page.

4. Enter a separate
header for page one.

5. Close Header and
Footer editing.

The Link to Previous feature connects the Header or Footer of the current section with the previous section. Disabling this option allows different sections of the document to have unique headers and footers.

Insert Tab

→ Header

Choose Blank

Type:

Computer Basics

Click Close Header
and Footer.

Insert Tab

→ Page Number

Bottom of Page

Choose Style

Save the document.

Open Header

Enable Different
First Page

Leave first page blank

Add header from
page two onward

Close editing.

• Keep headers and footers simple and consistent.
• Use page numbers for long documents.
• Place document titles in the header for easy identification.
• Use Different First Page for cover pages.
• Insert logos only when necessary.
• Maintain readable font sizes.
• Avoid overcrowding the header or footer area.
• Use section breaks when different chapters need different headers.
• Preview the document before printing.
• Save your work after making header and footer changes.