How to Add Page Numbers in Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is the preferred choice of many, especially those who are subscribed to the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. After writing a document, novel, or essay, you may want to print it out for later use. Before that, you need to add page numbers to the document for easy reference. Here’s how to add page numbers in Microsoft Word.

Adding page numbers to a Word document is useful when you distribute it to others. This allows others to easily refer to the material without getting lost in the words. Microsoft uses a slightly different user interface for Mac and Windows. On Android and iPhone, Word is now part of the only Office app that Microsoft released a few years ago.

We’ll cover all three Microsoft Word apps on Mac, Windows, and Mobile. Without further ado, let’s get started.

1. Microsoft Word for Mac

Microsoft Word for Mac recently received a nice visual makeover. The app looks native and also supports the latest M1 chip. Follow the steps below to add page numbers in Microsoft Word on Mac.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on Mac.

2nd step: Open a Word document in which you want to add page numbers.

Step 3: Click on the Insert menu at the top.

Step 4: Select Page Number and insert Page Number in the context menu.

It will open a dialog to customize the position and alignment of the page numbers. By default, the position is set at the bottom of the page with alignment on the right side. You can change the position of the top of the page and set the alignment to Left, Center, Inner, or Outer.

In the same dialog click on Format at the bottom and this will open another Format Page Numbers menu.

Here you can change the number format from numeric to alphabetical, Roman numerals, etc. Users can also turn on Include chapter numbers for better reference and more. After making the relevant changes, hit OK at the bottom and you will see the page number appear on the Word document.

2. Microsoft Word for Windows

Microsoft recently redesigned all Office applications for Windows 11. The latest Office applications, including Microsoft Word, sync perfectly with the clean aesthetic of the new Windows 11.

Here are the steps to add page numbers in Microsoft Word on Windows.

Step 1: Open Microsoft Word on Windows and navigate to the document.

2nd step: Click on Insert in the menu bar.

Step 3: Select Page Number and hover over the page number preview. We love how Microsoft provides a live preview of page numbers from the Page Number menu itself.

Check the position and preview of the page number and apply it to the Word document.

You can click Format Page Numbers and change the number format, enable chapter number and much more for formatting. Click OK at the bottom and apply the page numbers to the Word document.

If you frequently use page numbers on Microsoft Word, you can open a blank document and add page numbers by following the steps above.

Now click on the file at the top and go to the Save As menu. Save documents with memorable names on your computer. Now whenever you want to work with page numbers in Microsoft Word, you can open the saved documents and start making changes. At the end, save it under another name and keep the original document as is.

3. Microsoft Word application for mobile

If you’re on the go and want to add page numbers at the last minute, you can do so using the Microsoft Office app on iPhone or Android.

We’ll be using the Office iOS app as a reference here, but rest assured, you can follow the same steps on Android and get the job done.

Step 1: Open the Office app on iPhone or Android.

2nd step: You will see your recently used documents in the app.

Step 3: Open a document and switch to edit mode.

Step 4: Tap the three-dot menu at the top of the keyboard.

Step 5: Press Home and select Insert.

Step 6: Scroll down and tap Page Numbers.

Step 7: Check the position of the page number.

You can customize the page numbers from the Format Page Number menu.

Insert page numbers in Microsoft Word

Whether you’re using Microsoft Word on Mac, Windows, or mobile, it’s easy to add page numbers to a Word document. In what kind of documents should you add page numbers? Share your workflow in the comments below.