How to Insert Page Numbers in Word

Microsoft Word is the most commonly used word processor, if not the most popular computer editing software in the world. However, to get the most out of the performance, you must know how to navigate the software’s increasingly complex screens and menus. Fortunately, adding page numbers is not difficult.

Table of Contents

Insert page number

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Double-click at the top or bottom of the page. This will activate the “Design Menu” which allows you to add page numbers. Or you can click the “Insert” tab in the top bar. A top ribbon will open allowing you to add page numbers.

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Select “Page Number” to bring up options for you. You will be able to choose the position of the page number. Move your mouse pointer over each option (“Top of Page”, “Bottom of Page”, etc.) to see even more options and decide if you want the number to be on the right, left, or center of the page. ^{[1] X Research Source}

In the Design menu, the Page Number option will be on the left.
In the Insert menu, the Page Number option will be centered.

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Select the page numbering style to automatically set up the numbering operation. After you select the correct location of the page book, Word automatically adds numbers to the entire text. ^{[2] X Research Source}

There are many page numbering options. However, you can also tweak it a bit if the page numbers don’t display as you’d like.

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Note: some versions of Word will differ slightly in numbering. The location of some function buttons may vary depending on the Word version. However, all current versions of Word allow page numbering by double-clicking at the top or bottom of the page. This allows you to open the Page Number menu. ^{[3] X Research Sources}

Page number format

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Double-click the page number to change the font, color, or ki. If you want the page number to use a specific font then just double click on it. The page number will be highlighted in blue similar to the selected text on Word. Next, you just need to adjust the font, color, and size as usual. These parameters are automatically applied throughout the text.

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Start the page number using a page break. If you want to start numbering from “1” on a later page of your document, you need to split that page. First, place your mouse pointer at the top of the page where you want to start numbering. Afterward:

Click “Page Layout” → “Breaks” from within the top bar.
Select “Next Page” in the “Breaks” section.
Double-click the current page number.
Click “Page Number” and select “Format Page Numbers”.
Select the bubble labeled “Start At”, then select “1” to renumber this page from 1. ^{[4] X Research Source}

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Skip the first page number to make the title page more attractive. Start by double-clicking the header or footer again to bring up the appropriate menu. Then, find and check the “Different First Page” box. So you are free to click on the first page number and delete it, while keeping the rest of the page numbers intact.

Many times you just need to click the “Different First Page” button and the first page number will be automatically deleted.
Most presentations and newspapers don’t need the first page number because they default to a “1” if it’s already the first page.

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Use the “Format Page Numbers” option for specific changes, such as number styles and volume titles. If you want to improve your skills, you can double-click the top or bottom of the page again, click “Page Numbers” and select “Format Page Numbers” located below the menu that appears. From here you can set up a variety of number styles, such as Roman numerals or letters, as well as customize the basic look and feel of the number. This feature is not necessarily extremely powerful but quite effective.

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Press “esc” to exit the Header and Footer or Design bar. The escape key will return you to normal editing mode, while also applying page number formatting. Now you can continue writing!

Insert page number on mobile app

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Click “Insert”. A simplified menu will appear for you to format the document, which is even easier to use than the software on the computer.

Advice

If you plan to create a complex beginning or end (such as your name or title), try adding page numbers first. Then the operation will be easier.

Steps

Insert page number

Page number format

Insert page number on mobile app

Advice

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