How to Add Page Numbers in Word (2026 Step-by-Step Guide)

Quick Answer: To add page numbers in Microsoft Word, go to the Insert tab, click Page Number, and choose your preferred position (top, bottom, or margins) and style. Word will automatically number every page in your document.

Adding page numbers in Word sounds simple — until you need them to start from page 2, skip the cover page, restart at a new section, or use Roman numerals for the introduction. This complete 2026 guide walks you through every method, covers Word for Windows, Mac, Web, and mobile, and fixes the most common page numbering problems.

How to Add Page Numbers in Word (Step-by-Step)

Follow these five steps to insert basic page numbers in any modern version of Microsoft Word (2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365):

1. Open your Word document.
2. Click the Insert tab on the ribbon at the top.
3. In the Header & Footer group, click Page Number.
4. Hover over a position — Top of Page, Bottom of Page, Page Margins, or Current Position.
5. Select a style from the gallery (Plain Number, Page X of Y, Bold Numbers, etc.).

Word inserts the page number on every page automatically. Double-click anywhere in the body to close the header/footer editor.

How to Add Page Numbers at the Top or Bottom

The position you choose depends on your document type:

• Bottom of page (center or right): Best for essays, reports, and academic papers.
• Top of page (right-aligned): Standard for professional documents and books.
• Page Margins: Creates a vertical number on the side — great for thesis-style layouts.

To switch position later, click Insert > Page Number again and pick a new location — Word automatically replaces the old one.

How to Start Page Numbers from a Specific Page

This is the most-searched page number problem in Word. To start numbering from page 2, page 3, or any custom page, you need to use Section Breaks.

1. Place your cursor at the end of the page before the page where numbering should start.
2. Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page (this inserts a section break).
3. Double-click the footer of the new section to open it.
4. On the Header & Footer tab, click Link to Previous to turn it OFF.
5. Click Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
6. Under Page numbering, choose Start at: 1 (or any number you want).
7. Click OK.

Now your page numbering starts fresh on the page you selected, while earlier pages remain unnumbered.

How to Add Page Numbers Starting from Page 2 (Skip the Cover Page)

If you only want to skip the title page and number everything from page 2 onwards:

1. Double-click the header or footer of your first page.
2. On the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page.
3. Go to Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
4. Set Start at: 0 so the second page becomes page 1.
5. Click OK and close the header.

The cover page will have no number, and counting starts at 1 from the next page.

How to Use Roman Numerals or Different Number Formats

For documents with a Table of Contents or introduction, you can use Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) for front matter and regular numbers (1, 2, 3) for the main body.

1. Insert a section break at the end of the front matter (Layout > Breaks > Next Page).
2. Click in the footer of the front matter section.
3. Go to Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
4. Under Number format, choose i, ii, iii…
5. Click in the next section’s footer, turn off Link to Previous, and set the format back to 1, 2, 3… starting at 1.

Available formats include: 1, 2, 3 / a, b, c / A, B, C / i, ii, iii / I, II, III.

How to Remove the Page Number from the First Page

This is the quickest fix for a cover page that shouldn’t show a number:

1. Double-click the header or footer area of the first page.
2. Under Header & Footer, tick the Different First Page checkbox.
3. Delete the page number from the first page only — every other page retains its number.

How to Add Page Numbers in Word for Mac

Word for Mac uses almost the same steps:

1. Open the document and click the Insert menu.
2. Choose Page Numbers…
3. Select a Position (top or bottom) and Alignment (left, center, right).
4. Check or uncheck Show number on first page.
5. Click Format for Roman numerals, starting number, or chapter style.

How to Add Page Numbers in Word Online (Web)

Word for the web has a simplified ribbon but supports basic page numbering:

1. Click Insert on the ribbon.
2. Click Page Numbers.
3. Choose a position from the gallery.

For advanced options like section-based numbering, open the file in the desktop app instead — Word Online doesn’t support all section break features.

How to Add Page Numbers in Word on iPhone, iPad, or Android

1. Open the document in the Word mobile app.
2. Tap the Edit (pencil) icon.
3. Tap Home and switch to the Insert tab.
4. Tap Page Numbers and choose a position and style.

How to Remove Page Numbers from a Word Document

To delete all page numbers in one go:

1. Go to Insert > Page Number.
2. Click Remove Page Numbers at the bottom of the menu.

If your document has multiple sections, repeat this step in each section’s header or footer.

Common Page Number Problems and Fixes

Page numbers showing the same number on every page

You typed a number manually instead of inserting a field. Delete it, then use Insert > Page Number properly.

Page numbers won’t restart in a new section

You forgot to turn off Link to Previous in the new section. Open the footer, click Link to Previous to disable it, then format the page numbers.

Page numbers disappear when printing

The page number sits inside the non-printable margin area. Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins and increase the bottom margin to at least 0.5 inch.

Page numbers showing {PAGE} instead of a number

Word is displaying field codes instead of values. Press Alt + F9 (Windows) or Option + F9 (Mac) to toggle field display off.

Tips to Make Page Numbers Look Professional

• Use Page X of Y format for long reports — it shows total length at a glance.
• Match the page number font to your body text font for a clean look.
• For booklets, use the Page Margins position so numbers appear on the outer edge.
• Add chapter numbers (e.g., 1-1, 1-2) using Format Page Numbers > Include chapter number.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I add page numbers in Word without the first page?

Double-click the header, check Different First Page, then insert page numbers normally. The first page stays blank while others are numbered.

How do I start page numbering from page 3 in Word?

Place your cursor at the end of page 2, insert a Next Page section break, disable Link to Previous in the page 3 footer, and use Format Page Numbers > Start at: 1.

Why are my page numbers all showing as 1?

Each section has been set to “Start at: 1” individually. Open Format Page Numbers in each section and switch to Continue from previous section.

Can I add page numbers in different formats in the same document?

Yes. Use section breaks to separate the front matter from the main content, then assign Roman numerals (i, ii, iii) to one section and Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3) to another.

How do I add total page count (Page 1 of 10) in Word?

Go to Insert > Page Number, then in the gallery choose the style labeled Page X of Y. Word auto-updates the total as you add or remove pages.

Does Word for free (Office Online) support page numbers?

Yes, the free web version of Word supports basic page numbering through Insert > Page Numbers, but advanced features like multiple number formats per section require the desktop app.

Conclusion

Adding page numbers in Microsoft Word takes just three clicks for a basic document, but mastering section breaks, custom starting numbers, and mixed formats turns you into a Word power user. Bookmark this guide — it covers every Word version from 2016 to Microsoft 365, including Word Online and the mobile apps. Once you understand section breaks and the Link to Previous toggle, you can format page numbers exactly the way professional reports, theses, and books require.