What are the best ways to customize headers and footers in Microsoft Word documents?

2 Edit headers and footers

Once you have inserted headers and footers, you can edit them by adding or changing the text, images, or other elements. You can use the tools in the Header & Footer tab that appears when you are in the header or footer area. For example, you can use the Page Number button to insert or format page numbers, the Date & Time button to insert or update the date and time, or the Quick Parts button to insert fields, document properties, or building blocks.

4 Link headers and footers

By default, Word links headers and footers across different sections of your document, meaning that they have the same content and format. However, you can unlink them if you want to have different headers and footers for different sections. To do this, go to the header or footer area of the section that you want to unlink, and uncheck the Link to Previous option in the Navigation group of the Header & Footer tab. This will allow you to edit the header or footer independently from the previous section.

5 Remove headers and footers

If you want to remove headers and footers from your document, you can do this by either deleting them manually or using the Remove Header or Remove Footer option. To delete them manually, go to the header or footer area and select the content that you want to delete, then press the Delete key on your keyboard. To use the Remove Header or Remove Footer option, go to the Insert tab and click on the Header or Footer button, then choose Remove Header or Remove Footer from the drop-down menu.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?