Repeat Header and Footer in Word: Step-by-Step Guide

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To repeat a header and footer in Word, add them in the document’s header and footer areas; Word then displays them across the pages in the section. This guide covers the standard setup, page numbering, and the options that change the first page or alternate left and right pages.

What You’ll Need

A Word document with at least two pages, or content that will flow onto additional pages.
Microsoft Word for Windows or Mac, or Word for the web. Menu labels and available controls can vary slightly by version.
The text, logo, date, or page number you want to show in the header or footer.

Step-by-Step

Open the document and check its page layout. Open the file in Word and make sure it is in Print Layout view. Choose View > Print Layout if needed. This view shows page boundaries and makes headers and footers easier to edit.
Open the header area. Double-click near the top margin of a page. Alternatively, select Insert > Header and choose a layout, or choose Edit Header if that option appears. Word opens the header and displays header and footer controls.
Enter and format the header content. Type the text you want repeated, or insert an item such as a logo. Use the usual formatting tools to set the font, alignment, and spacing. Keep the content within the header area so it does not overlap the main text.
Open the footer area. Select Go to Footer on the Header & Footer tab, or double-click near the bottom margin. Type the footer text you want repeated. You can align it left, center, or right, and use tabs or a suitable built-in layout to position separate items.
Add page numbers if required. While editing the header or footer, select Page Number, choose Top of Page or Bottom of Page, and select a style. Word inserts a page-number field that updates automatically; do not type each page number yourself. If the number should appear in a particular position, place the cursor there before inserting it.
Check the repeat settings. In the Header & Footer tab, make sure Different First Page is not selected if the first page should match the rest. Also leave Different Odd & Even Pages off unless you specifically want alternating designs. These settings create separate header and footer areas, so their content may not repeat identically.
Close the header and footer editor. Select Close Header and Footer, or double-click in the document body. The content should now appear in the same position on each page in that section.
Review every page and section. Scroll through the document, including its first and last pages, to confirm the header and footer repeat as intended. If the document contains section breaks, inspect pages on both sides of each break; sections can have independent header and footer settings.

Common Mistakes

Typing the header into the page body. Text placed at the top of the document body does not function as a repeating header. Double-click the margin area or use the Insert menu to edit the actual header.
Leaving Different First Page enabled. This option gives the first page its own header and footer. If those areas are blank, it can look as if the content failed to repeat.
Assuming all sections share one header. A section break can start a new set of headers and footers. Word may label the new area as linked to the previous section, but if it is not linked, you must add the content there separately.
Typing page numbers manually. Manually entered numbers stay the same on every page. Insert a page-number field so Word can display the correct number as pages change.
Using spaces to align items. A string of spaces can shift unpredictably when fonts, margins, or page sizes change. Use alignment controls, tabs, or a header/footer layout instead.

Tips

Keep header and footer wording concise, especially if the document has narrow margins or long body text.
Use Insert > Page Number for numbering, and check its formatting after adding section breaks. A new section may restart numbering unless you choose to continue from the previous section.
For a line, logo, or other object, check that it fits inside the page margins and does not cover the document text.
Save the file after checking the layout. If you export or print it, review the resulting pages too, since page breaks and spacing can vary with paper size and printer settings.

Troubleshooting

The header or footer appears only on the first page: Edit the first page and check whether Different First Page is selected. Turn it off for matching content throughout the section, or fill in the separate first-page area if you want a special cover page.

It disappears after a page or section break: Double-click the header or footer on the page where it is missing. Check the section label and whether Link to Previous is active. If you want the same content as the prior section, select Link to Previous. If you want different content, leave it unlinked and enter the appropriate text in that section.

The header repeats but the footer does not, or vice versa: Header and footer linking can be controlled separately. Open the missing area in the affected section and check its link and first-page or odd/even settings; linking the header does not necessarily link the footer.

Page numbers restart unexpectedly: Click a page number and open its formatting options through Page Number > Format Page Numbers, where available. Choose to continue numbering from the previous section, or set the desired starting number. Also check that the number is a field rather than typed text.

The content is hidden or overlaps the body: Check the header or footer distance from the page edge and the document’s margins under Layout > Margins. Reduce oversized content or adjust spacing carefully, then review the pages again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Word repeat headers and footers automatically?
Yes. Content entered in a section’s header or footer repeats on its pages by default, unless options such as Different First Page or Different Odd & Even Pages change which version appears.

How do I make the header different on the first page?
Open the header or footer and select Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. Add the cover-page content in the first-page area and the regular content in the other-page area.

Can I have different headers in different parts of a document?
Yes. Insert a section break from Layout > Breaks, then edit the new section’s header or footer. Turn off Link to Previous when you want its content to differ.

How do I repeat a table heading on every page?
That is separate from a page header. Select the table’s heading row, then use Table Layout > Repeat Header Rows. The option applies to a table that continues across pages, not to ordinary header text.

Will headers and footers show when I print?
They normally print as part of the page. Check Print Preview and confirm that the content is inside the printable margins; a printer may not print right to the paper edge.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.