How-to
How to add page numbers to a Word document
The short answer
Open the Insert tab, choose Page Number and pick top or bottom of the page and an alignment. To hide the number on the first page, turn on a different first page in the header and footer settings. To start at a later page, add a section break and restart the numbering.
Page numbers are the small thing that makes a long document feel finished. They help readers find their place, and they are essential when you print. Adding them takes under a minute once you know where the button is.
Add page numbers
- Open the document in the editor. In Wrdio, drop the file on the home page and press Edit.
- Open the Insert tab.
- Choose Page Number.
- Pick the position, such as the bottom of the page, and the alignment: left, centre or right.
- Scroll through the pages to check the numbers appear.
Common situations
No number on the cover page
Open the header or footer area and turn on Different First Page. The first page gets its own, empty footer, while the rest carry the numbers.
Start counting after the cover or contents
Add a section break (next page) where the numbered part begins. In the new section, unlink the footer from the previous one and restart the numbering at 1.
Different looks for odd and even pages
For documents that will be printed back to back, use Different Odd and Even Pages so numbers sit on the outer edge.
Page X of Y
Many documents show "Page 3 of 12". Insert the page number field and the total pages field, with the words around them.
Tips for a clean result
- Keep the number in the footer. Text boxes may not export cleanly.
- Check the margin settings leave room for the footer.
- Look at the first and last pages after you finish. Those are the ones that go wrong.
- Export a PDF and scroll through it before sending. See how to save as PDF without breaking it.
Going further
Once you have page numbers, a contents page is the next step, and it uses the same numbers. See how to make a table of contents. The report template already has the structure for one.
Questions people ask
How do I add page numbers in a Word document?
Open the Insert tab, choose Page Number, then pick the position and alignment.
How do I skip the page number on the first page?
Open the header or footer, then turn on Different First Page and leave the first footer empty.
How do I start page numbering on page 2 or 3?
Add a section break after the pages that should not be counted, then restart the numbering in the new section.
Why are my page numbers not showing in a PDF?
Check that the number is in the footer, not a text box, and that the margins leave room for it.