How to Add Page Numbers in Word (2026)
Page numbers in Word live in the header or footer and update automatically as your document grows. Adding them takes one click — the tricky parts are skipping the title page, starting numbers partway through, and restarting the count. Here’s all of it.
1. Add Page Numbers (Windows)
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Click Page Number.
- Choose a position: Top of Page, Bottom of Page, or Page Margins.
- Pick a style from the gallery (plain number, “Page X of Y”, etc.).
- Click Close Header and Footer, or double-click anywhere in the body.
The numbers now appear on every page and renumber automatically.
2. Add Page Numbers (Mac)
The steps match Windows: Insert > Page Number > choose Position and Alignment in the dialog, then click OK.
3. Add Page Numbers (Word for the Web)
- Open the Insert tab.
- Click Page Numbers.
- Choose a position from the menu. The footer opens with the number inserted; click back into the body when done.
4. Skip the Number on the First Page
For a title or cover page that shouldn’t show a number:
- Double-click the header or footer to open the Header & Footer tab.
- Check Different First Page.
The first page keeps the count internally but hides its number. Page 2 still shows “2” — see the next section to make it show “1”.
5. Start Numbering at a Specific Number
- Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
- Under Page numbering, select Start at and type the number (for example,
1or0). - Click OK.
Pairing Start at: 0 with Different First Page makes the second page show “1”.
6. Restart Numbering Partway Through (Sections)
To restart at 1 after a cover page or for a new chapter, you need a section break:
- Click where the new numbering should begin.
- Layout > Breaks > Next Page (under Section Breaks).
- Double-click the footer in the new section and turn off Link to Previous on the Header & Footer tab.
- Page Number > Format Page Numbers > Start at: 1.
7. Troubleshooting
Every page shows the same number
The field was typed manually instead of inserted. Delete it and use Insert > Page Number so Word adds the live { PAGE } field.
”Different First Page” isn’t hiding the number
Make sure your cursor is in the first page’s section and that the option is checked on the Header & Footer tab — not the section after a break.
Restart at 1 changes numbers everywhere
The section break didn’t take, or Link to Previous is still on. Confirm a Next Page section break exists and that you unlinked the footer in the new section.
Numbers disappear after a section break
The new section’s header/footer may be empty. Re-insert the page number in that section, or turn Link to Previous back on to inherit it.
Related Word guides: How to add a table of contents · How to delete a page · How to remove a page break · How to insert a text box · How to do a mail merge
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