How to Add Page Numbers in Word: A Step-by-Step Guide

Microsoft Word is a powerful tool for creating professional documents, and adding page numbers is essential for navigation and reference. Whether you are preparing a report, thesis, or any lengthy document, proper pagination can greatly enhance the readability and structure of your work. This guide will walk you through the process of adding, formatting, and removing page numbers in Microsoft Word.

Video: Add Page Numbers in Word

Insert Page Numbers in Word

Adding page numbers to your document helps readers navigate and reference sections or information easily. Here’s how you can insert page numbers:

Step 1: Open your Word document

Launch Microsoft Word and open the document you wish to edit.

Step 2: Use the Page Number feature

Click on the Insert tab in the Ribbon. In the Header & Footer group, click on Page Number.

Step 3: Select the position and style

You'll see a dropdown menu providing various options for where you can place the numbers.

1. Choose where you would like the page numbers to appear (Top of Page, Bottom of Page, Page Margins, or Current Position).
2. After selecting the position of the page numbers, Word will present a range of styles showing different fonts and alignments. Choose one that aligns with the overall formatting of your document.

Result

After you have placed the page numbers, Word will automatically number each page in your document.

Format Page Numbers in Word

To customize the format of your page numbers, please do as follows.

Step 1: Open Page Number Formatting

Go to the Insert tab in the Ribbon and click on Page Number. Then select Format Page Numbers from the dropdown menu.

Step 2: Choose your Numbering Format

In the Page Number Format dialog box, you can select different numbering formats including Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3,...), Roman numerals (i, ii, iii,...), letters, and more. Select the format that best suits your document's style or requirements.

Result

Click OK to apply your formatting choices.

Hide Page Number from the First Page in Word

Often, the first page of a document, such as a title page, does not require a page number. Here’s how to omit the number from the first page.

Step 1: Enter the Header or Footer

Double-click the header or footer area (where your page numbers are) to activate the Header & Footer Tools.

Step 2: Select Different First Page

In the Header & Footer tab that appears, check the Different First Page option.

Result

The page number of the first page is now removed.

Make the Second Page the First Page in Word

If you need the actual content to start from the second page of the document, but treat it as page 1, follow these steps.

Step 1: Insert page numbers as normal

Start by inserting page numbers into your document as the steps above: Insert Page Numbers in Word.

Step 2: Adjust the numbering sequence

1. Go to the Insert tab in the Ribbon and click on Page Number. Then select Format Page Numbers from the dropdown menu.

1. In the Page Number Format dialog box, check the Start at option, and set the Start at box to 0.

1. Click OK. You can see the first page is numbered as page 0 and the second page as page 1.

Step 3: Hide Page Number from the First Page

1. Double-click the header or footer area (where your page numbers are) to activate the Header & Footer Tools.
2. In the Header & Footer tab that appears, check the Different First Page option.

1. Click Close Header and Footer or press the Esc key.

Result

Now the second page is set as page 1 and the original first page has no numbers.

Remove Page Numbers in Word

If you need to remove page numbers from your entire document, follow these simple steps.

Step 1: Enter the Header or Footer

Double-click the header or footer area (where your page numbers are) to activate the Header & Footer Tools.

Step 2: Remove Page Numbers

1. In the Header & Footer tab that appears, click on Page Number. Then select Remove Page Numbers from the dropdown menu.

1. Click Close Header and Footer or press the Esc key.

Result

Now all page numbers from the document are deleted.

By following these steps, you can master the control of page numbering in Microsoft Word, making your documents more professional and easier to navigate. Whether you need to prepare an official report or submit an academic paper, these skills are essential for any Word user. For more Word tips and tricks, please click here to access our extensive collection of hundreds of tutorials.

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