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...

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What is four less than 7?

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.

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