-
Select Insert > Page Number, and then choose the location and style you want.
-
If you don’t want a page number to appear on the first page, select Different First Page.
-
If you want numbering to start with 1 on the second page, go to Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and set Start at to 0.
-
When you’re done, select Close Header and Footer or press Esc.
Tip: To get back to a header or footer to make changes, double-click in the header or footer area.
-
On the Insert tab, click the Page Number icon, and then click Page Number.
-
Select a location, and then pick an alignment style. Word automatically numbers every page, except designated title pages.
-
To change the numbering style, select Format and then choose the formatting you want to use.
-
Select OK twice to close both dialog boxes.
Download Article
Easily add page numbers to the header or footer in your Microsoft Word document
Download Article
- Inserting (PC & Mac)
- Formatting (PC & Mac)
- Inserting (Mobile)
- Video
- Expert Q&A
- Tips
|
|
|
|
|
Adding page numbers in Microsoft Word is easy! Whether you’re writing a 10-page essay or a thesis paper, there are a variety of ways to customize the page numbers. Use the Insert tab to quickly add page numbers. From there, you can change the formatting and numbering options. This wikiHow guide will show you how to add page numbers to your Microsoft Word document on Windows and macOS, as well as in the Word mobile app on your Android, iPhone, or iPad.
Things You Should Know
- On desktop or mobile, go to the Insert tab, then select «Page Number» to add page numbers.
- Double-click the page number to make changes to the font, color, or style.
- Double-click the header or footer, then go to Page Number > Format Page Numbers for additional options.
-
1
Click Insert. This is in the tab menu bar at the top of Word. Alternatively, double-click the top or bottom of the page to open the Header or Footer editing menu.
- Don’t forget to save your work as you go!
-
2
Click Page Number. This opens a pop-up menu for choosing where to place the page numbers.[1]
- In the Insert menu, Page Number is near the center.
- In the Header & Footer design tab, Page Number is on the left.
Advertisement
-
3
Choose a page number position. This can be in the header or footer, and located left, center, or right.
- You can also toggle the option to include the page count in the page numbering (e.g. 1 of 3).
- Selecting a page number position will open the “Header & Footer” tab.
Advertisement
-
1
Double-click a page number. This will select it and show a pop-up menu with options for changing the font, color, and style. This change will edit every page number automatically.
- You could even cross out the page numbers if that’s your style.
-
2
Start numbering on the second page. If you want the first page to have no numbering, and start at 1 on the second page, follow these steps:
- Double-click the header or footer to open the Header & Footer design tab.
- Check the “Different First Page” checkbox.
- Click Page Number then Format Page Numbers.
- Select “Start at” and change it to 0.
-
3
Restart page numbers by using page breaks. If you want to start a new numbering later in the document, you’ll need to use a page break.
- Place your cursor at the beginning of the page you want to restart the numbering on.
- Go to the Layout tab, then click Breaks.
- Select Next Page in the Breaks options menu.
- Double-click the header or footer in the second section. This will open the Header & Footer design tab.
- Click Page Number then Format Page Numbers.
- Select the radio button labeled «Start At,» then select «1» to restart the page count at 1.
-
4
Use «Format Page Numbers» for additional changes. This can be located by going to Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers. You can change:
- The number format. You can change this to Roman numerals, letters, or another style.
- The chapter number.
- The starting number.
-
5
Click Close Header and Footer. This will return you to editing the body of the document. Alternatively, press Esc to close the header and footer editor.
Advertisement
-
1
Open your Word document on your Android, iPhone, or iPad. It’s easy to use Word on your phone or tablet to insert page numbers into your document.
-
2
Tap the more button. While in Edit mode in the Word mobile app, tap the more button (three horizontal dots).
-
3
Tap Home. Then, select Insert to switch to the Insert menu.
-
4
Choose Page Numbers. Then, select the placement location for the numbers.
-
5
Format the page number. After selecting the placement, double-click the page number. Then, tap the text edit button (the icon with the letter A and a pen). You can change the font, size, color, and more!
-
6
Go to Headers and Footers. This is in the Insert menu. You can set a different first page, change how odd and even pages look, or remove the page numbers entirely.
- When working in Online mode, any changes made in the app will appear on your desktop version of Word.
Advertisement
Add New Question
-
Question
In the insert box, the page number icon is grayed out and not available for use. How do I activate it?
Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo.
wikiHow Technology Writer
Expert Answer
The page numbering feature isn’t available in certain layouts. Go to View and select Print Layout. If this doesn’t resolve the issue, try restarting and/or updating Microsoft Word.
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Video
-
If you plan on creating a complex header or footer (like your name, or a title), try and add the page numbers first. They will be much easier to work with.
-
Looking for money-saving deals on Microsoft Office products? Check out our coupon site for tons of coupons and promo codes on your next subscription.
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
About This Article
Article SummaryX
1. Click Insert.
2. Click Page Number.
3. Select a position.
4. Choose a style.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 423,920 times.
Is this article up to date?
This tutorial shows how to add page numbers in Microsoft Word. Then, we will format page numbers, remove page numbers from the first page, and start the second page with page number 1.
Table of Contents
- How to add page numbers
- How to format page numbers
- How to remove the page number from the first page
- How to start the second page with page number 1
Do you want to start your page numbers on a specific page? Please see “How to Start Page Numbers on a Specific Page in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac).”
This tutorial is available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.
Watch more than 200 other writing-related software tutorials on my YouTube channel.
The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365. These steps will also work in Word 2021, Word 2019, Word 2016, Word 2013, and Word 2010. However, your interface may look slightly different in those older versions of the software.
Are you on a Mac? Please see “How to Add Page Numbers in Word for Mac.”
Important Note: Page numbers added to the top of the page or the bottom of the page will be inserted into the header or footer. The page numbers will replace any existing text placed in the same location within the header or footer. Therefore, you should add page numbers before adding other elements to the header or footer.
- Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.
- Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group.
- Select a location to insert the page numbers from the drop-down menu:
-
- Top of Page (in the header)
- Bottom of Page (in the footer)
- Page Margins
- Current Position
The Current Position option is the current location of your cursor in the header, footer, or body of the text. If the current position is in the body of the text, the page number will only appear on the current page. It won’t appear in the same location on other pages.
- Select additional location and style options from the submenu. (The options will depend on the selection made in step 3.)
Your page numbers should appear immediately.
How to Format Page Numbers in Microsoft Word
This section shows how to change the number format, include chapter numbers, and start on a specific page.
- Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
- Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group (see figure 2).
- Select Format Page Numbers from the drop-down menu.
- Select the options you want from the Page Number Format dialog box.
-
- Number format (e.g., numerals, letters, Roman numerals)
- Include chapter number (This option only works if you already established heading numbers.)
- Continue from previous section (When this option is selected, your sections will be number continuously. If you do not want the page numbers to continue from the previous section, select Start at.)
- Start at (This option will default to page 1. However, if you enter another number, such as 5, the page number 5 will appear on the first page of the document or first page of the section.)
- Select the OK button.
Your page number formatting should be applied immediately.
How to Remove the Page Number from the First Page in Microsoft Word
You may want to remove the page number from the first page because it is a title page or a cover page.
- Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
- Select the Header or Footer button in the Header & Footer group. (Choose the location where your page numbers are located.)
- Select Edit Header or Edit Footer from the drop-down menu.
- Select Different First Page in the Options group in the Header & Footer tab.
Pro Tip: The Header & Footer tab only appears while you are working in headers or footers.
The page number on the first page should disappear. If the page number does not disappear, select it and press the Delete key to remove it manually.
How to Start the Second Page with Page Number 1 in Microsoft Word
After removing the page number from the first page, as shown in the previous section, you can force the second page to start with page number 1.
- Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group.
- Select Format Page Numbers from the drop-down menu (see figure 5).
- Enter the number 0 into the Start at menu in the Page Number Format dialog box.
- Select the OK button (see figure 7).
The page number on the second page should be changed to number 1.
- Select the Close Header and Footer button.
Related Resources
How to Adjust Page Margins in Microsoft Word
How to Adjust Line Spacing in Microsoft Word
How to Insert Page Breaks in Microsoft Word
How to Use the Editor in Word for Microsoft 365 (Spelling & Grammar Check)
Updated April 05, 2023
Contents
- 1 How to Add Page Numbers in Word
- 2 How to Format Page Numbers in Word
- 3 How to Start Page Numbers over in Word (Restart Numbering)
- 4 How to Skip the First Page Number in Word
- 5 How to Change Types of Page Numbering in Word
- 6 How to Leave the Header and Footer or Design Bar
- 7 Extra: How to Add Line Numbers in Word
- 8 Extra: How to Add a Page Border in Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word page numbering
Page numbers in Word are a valuable tool to help you order pages after printing or quickly reference information for other readers. Today, we’re going to show you how to add page numbers in Word, format them, and skip the first page number if necessary.
Inserting page numbers in Word is easy, modifying them not so much
Though inserting page numbers in Word in the base form is quite easy, it gets more complex once you start to modify them to suit your exact needs. Microsoft Word has a variety of styles, placement, and formatting choices that can make things feel a little overwhelming.
Not to worry, though – we’ll be breaking down all the major options so you can quickly get your page numbering in Word looking exactly how you want. Let’s get started:
If you’re wondering how to insert page numbers in Word, the first place you might think to look is the “Page Number” tool. Thankfully, you’d be right. This makes the entire process very simple:
- Open the “Insert” tab of the ribbon and press “Page Number > Bottom of Page > Plan Number 2”
Naturally, you can choose a different style for the page number if you like, such as the accent bar. You can also choose to have the number at the top of the page if you wish.
How to Format Page Numbers in Word
After inserting page numbers in Word, you may want to format them to match the styling of the rest of your document. You can quickly change aspects such as font, text color, size, center/right/left justification, and more. Here’s how:
- Double-click your page number and adjust the formatting options in the fly-out
You should already be familiar with the options here – they’re the same as they are for any other text. Once you’ve finished modifying the number, you can double-click anywhere that’s not in the footer to return to your document.
How to Start Page Numbers over in Word (Restart Numbering)
If you want your page numbers restart at a certain point, you need to make use of Word’s section breaks feature. This is a useful tool in many situations, so it’s worth familiarizing yourself with:
- Place your cursor at the start of the page you want to restart page numbers on and insert a “Next Page” break
To do so, open the “Layout” tab of your ribbon, click on “Breaks” below it, then press “Next Page” under the “Section Breaks” heading.
- Double-click the page number, then press “Page Number > Format Page Numbers…” in the ribbon
To clarify, you should double-click the page number of the page you’re planning to restart the page numbers on.
- Tick “Start at” under the page numbering heading select “1”, and press “OK”
How to Skip the First Page Number in Word
In many cases when adding page numbers in Word, you’ll want to skip the first page number. This happens most commonly when you have a cover page or title page. Here’s how to make page numbers start on page 2:
- Double-click the first page number and tick “Different First Page” in the ribbon
The “Different First Page” option can be found in the “Header & Footer” section of the ribbon, which should automatically appear once you double-click your page number.
- Delete the first page number
Due to the “Different First Page” option, deleting the first page number now won’t remove page numbers from the rest of your document.
How to Change Types of Page Numbering in Word
As well as the style, position and starting position of page numbers, you can change the type of page number. For example, whether the numbers take the form of numbers, letters, or Roman numerals, and whether they use dots or dashes:
- Double-click your number and press “Page Number > Format Page Numbers…” in the ribbon
- Press the dropdown arrow next to “Number format”, choose an option, and press “OK”
The changes will automatically apply to all of the page numbers in your Word document.
How to Leave the Header and Footer or Design Bar
If you find yourself stuck in the Header and Footer or design bar with no way to edit the rest of your document, you can use the following trick:
Press the “Esc” button on your keyboard
This will instantly exit the header and footer bar and bring you back to your normal document view.
As well as page numbers, you can add individual line numbers to your document so that you can reference part of it even more easily. Just follow our linked tutorial to do so.
While you’re at it, you can add a page border to your Word document to ensure a clear margin for annotations once it has been printed. You can read our dedicated guide here to learn how to do so.
If you’re publishing and using print-on-demand to sell your book, you know the pain and frustration page formatting causes. Today, we’re going to cover one of the more annoying and (unnecessarily) challenging steps when using Microsoft Word: adding page numbering to your file.
Here’s a tl;dr version, for those of you in a hurry:
Adding Page Numbers in Microsoft Word
- Finishing Writing and Editing
Finalize the content before you do any page layout. You should also add any styling and general formatting before you mess with page numbers.
- Add Breaks
Use Page Breaks for controlling where content appears on the page and Section Breaks to control section-by-section headers.
- Format Header and Footer
Each section break defines a new Header and Footer. Check the settings for all your sections before inserting page numbering.
- Insert Page Numbers
Add the Page Numbers and review each section for proper linking and accuracy.
Step 1: Finish Your File
Do not, under any circumstances, add page numbers before you have finished editing and revising your book. It’s a waste of time and energy. Book formatting is best approached in a thoughtful order; page numbering being among the last steps.
So before you insert page numbers, see to your page layout design. That includes formatting your text, adding styles, setting your page margins, and any images or graphics. Create and add all the front matter and back matter too.
Finally, the last part of formatting your book design ties directly to your page numbering: adding breaks. That’s our next step, but first, turn on Reveal Non-Printing Characters.
Non-Printing Characters include spaces, returns, and breaks. You’ll want these revealed so you can properly add breaks to your file.
Step 2: Add Breaks
Breaks—Page Breaks and Section Breaks—divide the page dynamically, so that when you export your PDF for printing, the spacing will stay uniform.
Please, NEVER use hard returns to create space on the page.
Breaks will allow you to segment and section your file. Importantly, breaking your file into sections allows you to control which pages have page numbers.
Think about it; have you ever bought a book that has a page number on the very first page (the title or half-title usually)? Go grab a couple books off your shelf and have a look. I’ll wait.
I’m guessing you found that the front matter didn’t have any page numbering. Then you get to the first official page of the book and the page numbering begins at 1.
Create Something
Create your book and share it with the world.
Create Something
Create your book and share it with the world.
Page Break
Inserting a Page Break tells Word to stop adding content and move to the next page. Simple as that.
If your book uses the same numbering style for the entire file and you don’t have unique header content, add a Page Break at the end of every chapter to start the next chapter on a new page.
Section Break
Word has four kinds of Section Break you can use:
- Section Break (Next Page) – starts the new section on the next page
- Section Break (Continuous) – starts the new section on the current page
- Section Break (Odd Page) – starts the new section on the next odd page
- Section Break (Even Page) – starts the new section on the next even page
Use the ‘Next Page’ Section Break until you’re very comfortable with Word formatting. A Section Break (Next Page) works exactly like a Page Break with one addition—the file is split into a new ‘section’ on either side of the Break.
Use a Section Break (Next Page) to make each chapter a unique section of the document. You’ll have the control to add unique content for the Header (like chapter titles) for each section.
Word offers a lot of options to format the Header and Footer. With all of your breaks added, start with the first section and work sequentially to update the settings for the header/footer in each section.
- Link to Previous – This setting defaults to being ‘ON’ so you have to check it for all your sections. If selected, the header and footer will link to the header and footer in the previous section. If you plan to add unique content for each section, you must turn off Link to Previous for all sections.
- Different First Page – A lot of authors like to leave off the header and/or footer on the first page of a section. Check this box and you’ll be able to format the first page of the section separately from the rest of the section.
- Different Odd & Even Pages – If you want to have different content on the odd and even pages (like a title on one side and author on the other) you need to check this option.
Step 4: Insert Page Numbers
If you just used page breaks to separate chapters, you’ve got it easy.
Head to the first page you want your numbers to appear on (probably the first page of the first chapter) and double-click on the footer. While in the footer, the ribbon should swap to the header/footer menu and you’ll see the ‘Insert Page Numbers’ button.
Here we see the Page Number menu and the Format… menu opened beside it. Select the alignment for your page numbering. Also set the Start at: to 1 so that the page I’m currently on will show ‘1’ in the footer. Click ‘OK’ for both menus and your page numbering will appear in the footer.
Be sure to close the header and footer (just double-click in the body of your page) to see how the page numbering will look.
If your chapters will have unique content in the header, you’ll need to insert section breaks at the end of each chapter. With that done, add page numbering to the first section. For each successive section, you’ll need to change the formatting when you insert the page numbers: select Continue from the previous section in the Page Number Format menu.
This will link the page numbering independently of the Footer linking, allowing us free to edit the Header/Footer for other content without breaking the page numbering.
Simplifying the Complex
The best way to keep page numbering simple is to do it last. This gives you the freedom to design the pages of your file without having to set up a section and ensures once you get to that step, there won’t be any additional changes to disrupt the page numbering.
Microsoft Word’s method of page numbering is much more challenging than tools like Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher—but these publishing programs are designed for more complex book layouts. Microsoft Word is primarily a word processor and will always struggle to match tools like InDesign for page layout.
Last note: if you’re looking at Word and what you see doesn’t match the screenshots in this article, it’s likely because your version of Word and mine are not the same. Microsoft (infuriatingly) has a tendency to change the layout and location of various commands when they update the Office software. You may need to refer to their help pages for information about your version of Word.
Book Design And Print-On-Demand Services
Once you’ve got all your pages numbered and you’ve added header content, the last test is to export a PDF for printing. Most print-on-demand companies require a PDF to print. I would be very skeptical of a printer that DIDN’T require a PDF.
Finally, once you’re satisfied with your layout in Word and the PDF looks good too, you’re ready to make a print order for a proof copy to see how the book (and your page numbering!) will look in print.
Get Started
Create a free Lulu account today to print and
publish your book for readers all over the world.
Get Started
Create a free Lulu account today to print and publish your book.
Paul H
Paul is the Content Marketing Manager at Lulu. When he’s not entrenched in the publishing and print-on-demand world, he likes to hike the scenic North Carolina landscape, read, sample the fanciest micro-brewed beer, and collect fountain pens. Paul is a dog person but considers himself cat tolerant.