Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated April 23, 2022)
This tip applies to Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365
Anthea wonders if there is a way to embed a watermark in a Word document so that it cannot be deleted. Ideally for Anthea, the watermark would travel with text that is copied and pasted into another document.
There are any number of ways to add watermarks to a document, as discussed in other issues of WordTips. For the purposes being considered by Anthea, the best place to put the watermark graphic is in the header of the document. Get the graphic positioned as you want it to appear, and then protect the document. (Protect it as a form, as described in other issues of WordTips.) This will stop the watermark from being deleted in the current document.
If you want the watermark to travel with any text copied and pasted to another document, the problem becomes a bit stickier. If a person copies just a portion of text (perhaps a few words or a few paragraphs), then the watermark won't go with the text. If, however, a person copies all the text in a document (by pressing Ctrl+A, for instance, prior to copying), then the watermark will be pasted into the other document along with the text. This occurs because in Word headers are an attribute of sections, and if what you are copying includes the end-of-section or end-of-document markers, then the header is copied along with the text.
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13246) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Permanent Watermarks in a Document.
Do More in Less Time! An easy-to-understand guide to the more advanced features available in the Microsoft 365 version of Word. Enhance the quality of your documents and boost productivity in any field with this in-depth resource. Complete your Word-related tasks more efficiently as you unlock lesser-known tools and learn to quickly access the features you need. Check out Microsoft 365 Word For Professionals For Dummies today!
You want your documents to look as good as they can. If those documents include graphics, then you also need to make sure ...
Discover MoreWord allows you to add watermarks to your documents. If you inherit a document that includes a watermark, you may be at a ...
Discover MoreDo you struggle with getting your graphics and surrounding text to appear just the way you want it? Here are some ...
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 © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Comments