How to Add Page Numbers in Microsoft Word (Step-by-Step)

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:

1. How to add page numbers
2. How to format page numbers
3. How to remove the page number from the first page
4. 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 250 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.”

How to Add Page Numbers in Microsoft Word

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.

1. Select the Insert tab in the ribbon.

1. Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group.

1. 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.

1. 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.

1. Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
2. Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group (see figure 2).
3. Select Format Page Numbers from the drop-down menu.

1. 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.)

1. 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.

1. Select the Insert tab in the ribbon (see figure 1).
2. Select the Header or Footer button in the Header & Footer group. (Choose the location where your page numbers are located.)

1. Select Edit Header or Edit Footer from the drop-down menu.

1. 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.

1. Select the Page Number button in the Header & Footer group.

1. Select Format Page Numbers from the drop-down menu (see figure 5).
2. Enter the number 0 into the Start at menu in the Page Number Format dialog box.

1. Select the OK button (see figure 7).

The page number on the second page should be changed to number 1.

1. Select the Close Header and Footer button.

Related Resources

Updated March 01, 2024