Using Microsoft Word is a breeze, especially if you’re working on a simple document. However, as the file starts getting bigger, some people might struggle with editing text and pages they’ve already written.

For example, not everyone knows how to add page numbers in Word. If you’re curious about this, too, this brief guide should be able to help you out.

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It doesn’t matter whether you’ve just opened a blank Word document or if you’ve been working on it for hours. In both scenarios, you’ll use the same method to add page numbers.

The first thing you should do is head over to the Insert tab on the Ribbon at the top. You’ll notice that there’s a section labeled Header & Footer. In that section, click the Page Number button. So far, things are pretty simple.

Step 1: Switch to the Insert Tab

Once you click on that option, a drop-down list will appear, showing you multiple choices for where you’d like the page numbers to be. You can pick from:

After making up your mind about where you prefer the numbers to be located, it’s time to choose the style of your numbers. Simply, let your cursor hover over each one of the options on the previous list, allowing a page number gallery to appear.

Each option in that gallery will give you a quick preview of how your number should appear on every page. Once you find your favorite candidate, click it, and Microsoft Word will instantly number all the pages in the document.

Step 2: Choose the Location and Style of the Numbers

If you’ve chosen the top or the bottom of the page as your number location, the header or footer section of the document opens up. This can be a great opportunity for you to make any further adjustments around your page numbers if you want to.

When you’re done, all you’ll have to do is click the Close Header & Footer button on the Ribbon to resume working on your document. Easier still, you could just double-click anywhere on the sheet outside the header or footer section.

Step 3: Make Adjustments

Sometimes, you may need to make special adjustments to how you number your pages in Word. For instance, some documents require you to have a title page, so you might not want to insert a page number on the first page.

Also, if you’re writing a book, you may need to skip the first few pages before you start adding numbers. This is usually the case where there’s a dedication, a table of contents, etc. So, how can you modify your document to match your needs?

Just head over to the header or footer area where the page number is located and double-click there. Microsoft Word will automatically open a new Designs tab on the Ribbon under the section Header & Footer Tools.

Once you reach this point, choose the Different First Page option. This will remove the existing header or footer from your first page. So, if you want to, you could add another header or footer on the first page with whatever information you need.

Of course, the previous solution won’t work if you want the numbers to start on the second or third page. For that reason, you’ll have to use another method.

First off, switch to the Home tab on the ribbon, then click on the paragraph sign (¶). Once you do, you’ll be able to see the section break. Then, move the cursor to the place after the text on the page that’s supposed to be the last one without a number.

Next, open the Layout tab, then select the option Breaks, followed by Section Breaks, then Next Page. The step after that is to put the cursor on the page where you want the numbering to start, a.k.a. section two of the document.

Then, head over to the Insert tab and click Page Number. The rest is pretty simple since you’ll only have to pick the location and style of your numbers.

After that, activate the Header & Footer menu by double-clicking on the top or bottom of the page. Once you do, deactivate the option Link to Previous and make sure that Different First Page is unchecked.

The only thing left to do here is to choose the number that you want to begin counting at. Of course, this depends on the layout of your book. To do that, head to Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers > Page Numbering > Start at, then add the number of your choice.

Step 4: Customize Your Page Numbering

If you’re writing a book, you’ll probably need the positions of odd and even pages to be different. Most books have their left (even) pages numbered toward the left side, while their right (odd) pages have numbers on their right side. So, how can you do that on Word?

After choosing the location and style of your numbers, just go to the Design tab in the Header & Footer Tools. Then, click on Different Odd & Even Pages, and Word will automatically set your document to appear as a book would.

If there’s something else that needs fixing, making adjustments is quite simple. Just activate the header or footer area, based on where your numbers are, and customize your numbers manually.

How to Add Page Numbers in Word?

How to Add Page Numbers in Word?

Step 1: Switch to the Insert Tab

Step 2: Choose the Location and Style of the Numbers

Step 3: Make Adjustments

Step 4: Customize Your Page Numbering

Step 5: Consider Numbering Odd and Even Pages Differently

How to Add Page Numbers in Word?

How to Add Page Numbers in Word?

Step 1: Switch to the Insert Tab

Step 2: Choose the Location and Style of the Numbers

Step 3: Make Adjustments

Step 4: Customize Your Page Numbering

Step 5: Consider Numbering Odd and Even Pages Differently

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