Keyboard Shortcut to Access Header and Footer

Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated October 18, 2021)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016

Amol is the type of guy who prefers using the keyboard whenever possible. He's looking for a shortcut to switch between the header (or footer) and the main body of the document, or vice versa. He wonders if such a shortcut actually exists.

You could, if you desire, create your own shortcut to access the header or footer (how you create a shortcut has been discussed in other WordTips), but there is little need to do so. Word includes a very easy-to-use shortcut that allows you to jump right to the header: Alt+V, H. (Press the Alt and V key at the same time, then press H. You can continue holding down the Alt key as you press H or not, it is up to you.) A helpful mnemonic for this shortcut is "Alt View Headers," and it works great.

Once you are in the header area, you can then use the Down Arrow to move to the footer area and use the Up Arrow to move back to the header area.

Getting back to the main document using the keyboard requires a different shortcut key: Shift+Alt+C. This closes the header and footer areas completely and returns you to where you were in the document.

WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (4630) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, and 2016.

Author Bio

Allen Wyatt

With more than 50 non-fiction books and numerous magazine articles to his credit, Allen Wyatt is an internationally recognized author. He is president of Sharon Parq Associates, a computer and publishing services company. Learn more about Allen...

MORE FROM ALLEN

Changing the Default Drive

Do you have a macro that needs to read and write files? If so, then there is a good chance you need to specify the ...

Discover More

Printing Portions of Mail Merged Documents

When you use a data source to create a bunch of documents in a mail merge, you might not want to print all the documents ...

Discover More

Missing Page Break Indicator

Enter a page break in Word, and that page break may not appear on the screen as you expect it to appear. This has to do ...

Discover More

Comprehensive VBA Guide Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) is the language used for writing macros in all Office programs. This complete guide shows both professionals and novices how to master VBA in order to customize the entire Office suite for their needs. Check out Mastering VBA for Office 2010 today!

More WordTips (ribbon)

Suppressing Headers or Footers

Don't want a header or footer to appear on just a portion of your document? It's easy to do when you understand that ...

Discover More

Creating Page Footers and Headers

Headers and footers can add a final, professional touch to your printed document. Here's the quick way to add the headers ...

Discover More

Using Last-page Headers and Footers

Headers and footers add a nice touch to your documents, particularly if they are printed. You may want Word to use a ...

Discover More

FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."

View most recent newsletter.

Comments

If you would like to add an image to your comment (not an avatar, but an image to help in making the point of your comment), include the characters [{fig}] (all 7 characters, in the sequence shown) in your comment text. You’ll be prompted to upload your image when you submit the comment. Maximum image size is 6Mpixels. Images larger than 600px wide or 1000px tall will be reduced. Up to three images may be included in a comment. All images are subject to review. Commenting privileges may be curtailed if inappropriate images are posted.

Notify me about new comments ONLY FOR THIS TIP

Notify me about new comments ANYWHERE ON THIS SITE

Hide my email address

What is 7 + 1?

2018-07-28 04:31:47

Svatsa

Hey.. the tip was very useful.. hitting Esc also exits the header and goes to main document.. easier and intuitive option..

2017-10-30 09:59:37

Maritta

Question - what are the new keyboard shortcuts in Word 2016 for the Spelling - once the Spelling dialog box comes up and the options are on the side - Alt and the letter that's underlined no longer works

2017-10-30 09:48:13

Nicole

Hello, this tip doesn't work for me, using Word 2007.

2017-10-30 05:19:32

Dr. Bartolo

Actually this is not quite right (at least, not in my copy of Word 2016). To access the header in Word 2016 I need to press Alt + Shift + V, H, not just Alt + V, H.

2017-10-30 00:10:40

Phil Maier

Ref the tip "Keyboard Shortcut to Access Header and Footer", to return to my place in the main document I simply use the Esc key (Word-2010). It's jus a single key stroke. As a keyboard warrior I appreciate tips like this.

2017-10-28 16:22:24

Amol

Thank you very much sir for help ans suggestions

2017-10-28 13:40:55

Martin Rickerd

No need to remember a shortcut - I find it easy enough to just double-click while hovering over header/footer (and then over main text to return to it).

2017-10-28 12:49:15

PFL

In my Word 2013, this does work.
ALT-V H also acts as a toggle, so while SHIFT-ALT C does work, it is not needed.
UP arrow and DOWN arrow do not work to move from header/footer, but PGUP/PGDN do perform that operation.
PFL

2017-10-28 09:38:34

Ewald Hesse

This keyboard shortcut for getting into the header certainly does work for Office 2016 but not for 2013.

This Site

Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.