Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Editing Headers and Footers.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 5, 2025)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365
You are probably already aware that you can create and/or edit headers and footers in Word by using the tools in the Header & Footer group on the Insert tab of the ribbon. Once you've created a header or footer, though, the easiest and quickest way to edit it is to switch to make sure you are in Print Layout view and double-click in the header or footer area. You can also double-click anywhere above or below the document area.
Some users have reported that double-clicking in the header or footer area doesn't reliably work for them. In other words, it will work at times, but at other times Word refuses to open the header or footer area. If you suffer this aggravation when using Word, just right-click on the header or footer area and, from the resulting Context menu, choose either Edit Header or Edit Footer.
To return to document editing mode when you are done making changes to the header or footer, double-click anywhere in the normal document area, press the Esc key, or click the Close Header and Footer button on the Design tab of the ribbon. (This tab is visible only when working in a header or footer.)
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (11669) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Editing Headers and Footers.
The First and Last Word on Word! Bestselling For Dummies author Dan Gookin puts his usual fun and friendly candor back to work to show you how to navigate Word 2019. Spend more time working and less time trying to figure it all out! Check out Word 2019 For Dummies today!
Adding a running header or footer to a document can be a nice touch. If you want, you can even tell Word to use a ...
Discover MoreLike to have your page numbers displayed using different types of numbers? Here's how you can choose from the several ...
Discover MoreTrying to figure out how you want Word to handle footers in your document can be a challenge, primarily because Word ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
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.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here:
Comments