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How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a repeating line of text to the top of each page of a Microsoft Word document. Open Microsoft Word. It's a blue app with a white 'W' on it.

Part 1 of 2:

Adding a Header

  1. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 1
    Open Microsoft Word. It's a blue app with a white "W" on it.
    • You can also open an existing document by double-clicking it.
  2. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 2
    Click Blank Document. This will open a new document in Word.
  3. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 3
    Click the Insert tab. You'll see it near the top of the Word window, directly to the right of the Home tab.
  4. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 4
    Click Header. It's in the "Header & Footer" section that's on the right side of the row of options near the top of the screen. You'll see a list of header options in a drop-down menu.
    • These options will vary depending on your Office subscription type and version of Word.
  5. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 5
    Click a header option. In most cases, you'll just click the Blank option, since it will apply to the majority of Word documents necessitating a header. Selecting an option will add it to your document.
  6. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 6
    Type in your header's text. This is the text that will appear at the top of every page.
  7. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 7
    Click Close Header and Footer. Doing so will apply it to your document; you'll see your header text at the top of each page.
Part 2 of 2:

Editing Header Settings

  1. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 8
    Double-click your header text. Doing so will open the Header options menu in the bar near the top of the Word window.
  2. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 9
    Review the header's basic settings. There are a couple of aspects of the header that you can edit in the "Options" and "Position" sections:
    • Different First Page - Check this box to customize your document's first page's header. It will appear different than the header on the rest of the pages.
    • Header Position - Change the number in the "Header from Top" box to raise or lower the header's position on the page.
  3. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 10
    Click and drag your cursor across the header text. This will select it, which will allow you to modify it as needed.
    • If you're using the "Different First Page" option, you'll need to do this on a page other than the first for your changes to apply across your document (first page aside).
  4. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 11
    Click the Home tab. Doing so will allow you to edit the header by using options in the following sections:
    • Font - Edit your text's font, size, color, and general formatting (e.g., bolding or underlining).
    • Paragraph - Change your header's orientation (e.g., centered).
  5. How to Add a Header in Microsoft Word Picture 12
    Double-click the "Header" tab. It's below your header's text; doing so will save your changes and close the header section.

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Jessica Tanner

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Jessica Tanner
Update 05 March 2020