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Hi, Microsoft 365 Insiders! I’m Marko Panić, a Product Manager on the Word team. Today, I’m excited to share a new and simplified experience for editing headers and footers in Microsoft Word for the web, which is now aligned with the experience in Word for Windows and for Mac. It includes changes such as:

• the ability to edit headers and footers directly on the canvas.


• a new contextual ribbon tab.


• the ability to remove headers and footers separately, set different headers and footers for the first page or odd and even pages, and customize page numbers.

You can try this update here.

A new header and footer experience in Word for the web

This update is part of our ongoing effort to create a consistent experience across Windows, Mac, and the web. With a familiar workflow for editing headers and footers in documents, it becomes much easier to make changes quickly and collaborate with others who may prefer one platform over another. The new header and footer experience also makes working on the canvas more intuitive and gives you easier access to the options you use most frequently.

Now, when you double-click on the header or footer areas, you can insert or edit the content in-place rather than via an overlay. It’s now easier to see whether you’re editing a header or footer or working in the main body of the document because content that isn’t being edited appears slightly faded. The new contextual ribbon tab offers relevant options like adding page numbers and page count, or adjusting the position and cadence of the header and footer text. Finally, you can remove only headers or only footers.

How it works

1. Open a new or existing document in Word for the web, or navigate here.


2. Double-click on the top of any page to access the header section, or the bottom of any page to access the footer section.

NOTE: The Header & Footer contextual ribbon tab will automatically appear at the top of the page.

3. Write in your header or footer text, or select options under the Header & Footer tab to add page numbers or page count, change the position of page numbers, have a different header or footer for the first page or odd and even pages, or remove headers or footers.
   

    

   
   

4. To exit, click outside the header or footer area, click Close Preview in the Header & Footer tab, or press Esc on your keyboard. 

Availability

This update is available to all Word for the web users. Try it here.

Feedback

We want to hear from you! Please submit your comments and feedback by selecting Help > Feedback.

We hope you enjoy the new header and footer experience in Word for the web. Happy editing!

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