How to Add a Header on the First Page Only in Word: 2 Easy Methods

To add a header on the first page only in Word, open the header and select Different First Page. This is one of Word’s quickest formatting features and works well for cover sheets, business reports and university assignments. If you are already comfortable with removing headers and footers in Word, this is the natural next step.

In this guide, you’ll learn two methods for adding a header on the first page only in Word, how to format it professionally, and how to fix the most common problems that trip people up.

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What Is a Header on the First Page Only in Word?

A header on the first page only in Word appears exclusively on the opening page of your document while remaining hidden from every page that follows. Word controls this with the Different First Page setting, found inside the Header & Footer tab.

This setup is commonly used for:

• Cover pages and title pages
• Business reports and proposals
• School and university assignments
• Research papers and dissertations
• Project documentation and client presentations

Instead of repeating the same header across every page, a header on the first page only in Word keeps the rest of the document clean and uncluttered. If you need different headers across multiple sections rather than just the first page, the same principle extends to putting different footers on each page in Word.

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How to Add a Header on the First Page Only in Word: Step-by-Step

There are two ways to add a header on the first page only in Word. Both activate the same Different First Page setting and produce the same result — pick whichever suits your workflow.

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Method 1: How to Add a Header on the First Page Only in Word Using Double-Click

This is the fastest route — no ribbon navigation required.

1. Open the Word document where you want to add the header.
2. Double-click near the top margin of the first page to open the header area.
3. In the Header & Footer tab, go to the Options group.
4. Tick the Different First Page checkbox.
5. Click inside the header area and type your content — company name, report title, document number, or anything else you need.
6. Click Close Header and Footer, or double-click anywhere in the document body to exit.

As soon as you tick Different First Page, Word isolates the header on the first page only and leaves every subsequent page clean. Scroll through the document to confirm the header only appears on page one.

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Method 2: How to Add a Header on the First Page Only in Word via the Insert Tab

Use this method if you prefer to work from the ribbon rather than clicking in the margin.

1. Open your document.
2. Click the Insert tab in the ribbon.
3. Click Header in the Header & Footer group.
4. Select Edit Header from the dropdown.
5. In the Header & Footer tab, locate the Options group and tick Different First Page.
6. Type your header content on the first page.
7. Click Close Header and Footer to return to the document.

Both methods add a header on the first page only in Word, with every other page left clean. The only difference is how you enter the header editor.

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Which Method Should You Use?

Method	Best For	Speed
Method 1 — Double-click	Quick edits, experienced users	Fastest
Method 2 — Insert tab	Beginners, ribbon-based workflows	Slightly slower

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Formatting Your Header on the First Page Only

Once your header on the first page only in Word is in place, you can customise it using standard formatting tools — no specialist knowledge required.

Increase Font Size

Select your header text and increase the font size for better visibility. A size between 14–16pt typically works well for title headers — see the guide on how to change font size in Word for the full options.

Apply Bold Formatting

Bold text draws the eye to key information. Select the header text and press Ctrl + B to apply bold instantly.

Centre the Header

Press Ctrl + E to centre-align the header text for a balanced, symmetrical layout.

Add a Bottom Border

A bottom border visually separates the header from the document body. Go to Home → Paragraph → Borders → Bottom Border — see our full guide on how to add a bottom border in Word for detailed steps.

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Common Problems When Adding a Header on the First Page Only in Word

Header Is Appearing on Every Page

The Different First Page checkbox isn’t ticked. Double-click the header area, go to Header & Footer → Options, and enable it. Without this, Word mirrors the same header across all pages rather than restricting it to a header on the first page only.

Header Has Disappeared from All Pages

You may have typed in the wrong header zone. When Different First Page is enabled, Word creates two separate areas: “First Page Header” and “Header” (for all other pages). Make sure you typed your content in the correct zone for the result you want.

Page Numbers Are Affected

Page numbers continue to function normally after enabling Different First Page. If they’re behaving unexpectedly, check whether they were inserted into the first-page header zone rather than the footer — move them to the footer if needed. For a full setup guide see how to insert page numbers in Word.

Header Content Isn’t Saving

If you close the document without saving, header changes are lost like any other edit. Always save with Ctrl + S after closing the header editor.

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Pro Tips for a Header on the First Page Only in Word

• Keep header text concise. A company name or document title is enough — don’t cram in too much information.
• Add a logo. You can insert a company logo or image directly into the first-page header area via Insert → Pictures.
• Use different headers on odd and even pages if you need page-specific headers on the rest of the document — this setting sits next to Different First Page in the Options group.
• Preview before sharing. Check File → Print → Print Preview to confirm the header on the first page only is exactly where you want it — see how to change page size in Word if the header margins don’t look right for your layout.
• Pair with footer page numbers for complete professional formatting — page numbers in the footer are unaffected by the Different First Page header setting.
• To do all of this from the keyboard, see Header and Footer Shortcuts in Word.
• To turn a logo into a letterhead, see How to Turn an Image into a Letterhead in Word.

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FAQs

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Conclusion

To add a header on the first page only in Word, use one checkbox — Different First Page — and two simple routes to get there. Double-click the top margin or go via the Insert tab — the result is the same: a polished header on the first page only, with a clean header-free document body on every page that follows.

Once the header on the first page only in Word is set up, consider removing it entirely later if your needs change — our guide on removing headers and footers in Word walks you through every option.

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Related Tutorials

• How to Remove Headers and Footers in Word
• How to Remove Page Numbers in Word
• How to Insert Page Numbers in Word