How to Make the First Page Header or Footer Different in Word

Learn how to change a page header when formatting a Word file

What To Know

  • To remove from first page: Select Header & Footer > Different First Page. Remove the header on the first page.
  • To change first page: Do above, and then Header & Footer > Header or Footer > select a format (optional) > type your new header/footer.

This article explains how to add a different header or footer to the first page of your Word document or remove it from the first page altogether.

Remove a Header or Footer From the First Page

Here's how to remove a header or footer from only the first page:

  1. Double-click the header or the footer on the first page to open the Header & Footer tab.

    A screenshot of Word with the Header & Footer menu highlighted
  2. Select Different First Page to remove the contents of the header or footer on the first page, while leaving the header or footer on all the other pages.

    A screenshot of Word with the Different First Page option highlighted

Add a Different Header or Footer to the First Page

If you want to put a different header or footer on the first page without affecting the headers and footers on the other pages:

  1. Remove the header or footer from the first page, as described above.

  2. Go to the Header & Footer tab, click the Header or Footer icon, select a format if desired, and type the new information on the front page.

  3. Click anywhere outside the header or footer to return to the body of your document.

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