How to Remove a Watermark in Microsoft Word

Working in Microsoft Word, watermarks are often used to label documents as drafts, confidential, or samples. However, there may come a time when you need to remove a watermark to clean up your document.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to remove a watermark in Word using two simple methods, including how to delete stubborn watermark images that don’t disappear with the standard option.

Contents hide

1 Why Watermarks Don’t Always Remove Easily

2 Method 1: Remove Watermark from the Design Tab

3 Method 2: Remove Watermark from Header (Advanced Fix)

4 How to Check Where the Watermark Is Placed

5 Common Issues When Removing Watermarks

Why Watermarks Don’t Always Remove Easily

Most watermarks in Word are added using the built-in feature — covered in our companion guide on how to add a watermark in Microsoft Word — but in some cases, they are inserted manually as images in the header.

This means:

The standard “Remove Watermark” option may not work
The watermark is actually placed behind the document via the header or footer
You’ll need a different method to remove it

Understanding this difference is key to fixing the problem quickly.

Watch the Video Tutorial

If you prefer to see this in action, the full video walkthrough is below, showing each method step by step.

Method 1: Remove Watermark from the Design Tab

This is the easiest and most common way to remove a watermark.

Steps:

Go to the Design tab
Click Watermark

Screenshot of Microsoft Word showing the Design tab and Watermark option to remove a watermark from a document

Select Remove Watermark

Screenshot showing how to remove a watermark in Microsoft Word using the Design tab and watermark options

👉 In most cases, this will instantly remove the watermark from your document.

Method 2: Remove Watermark from Header (Advanced Fix)

If the watermark doesn’t disappear, it’s likely inserted as an image in the header — see how to remove headers and footers in Microsoft Word for the full breakdown of editing the header area.

Steps:

Double-click at the top of the page to open the header
Try selecting the watermark image
Press Delete on your keyboard
Click Close Header and Footer

Screenshot showing deleting a confidential watermark in Microsoft Word by selecting and removing the watermark element

👉 This method removes watermarks that were manually inserted and cannot be removed using the default option.

How to Check Where the Watermark Is Placed

If you’re unsure which method to use:

Try Method 1 first
If it fails, open the header area
If you can click the watermark, it’s an image inside the header

This quick check saves time and helps you apply the correct fix immediately.

Common Issues When Removing Watermarks

Here are a few problems you might encounter:

Watermark appears on all pages → it’s part of the header
“Remove Watermark” does nothing → watermark is an inserted image
Watermark is hard to click → try selecting it from the header area, similar to handling embedded images covered in how to make an image transparent in Word

Key Takeaways

Most watermarks can be removed from the Design tab
If that fails, the watermark is likely inside the header
Double-click the header to access and delete it manually
Always close the header to return to your document

FAQs

Why won’t my watermark delete in Word?

It’s likely inserted as an image in the header rather than using the built-in watermark feature.

Can I remove a watermark from only one page?

Yes, but you’ll need to use section breaks and edit headers individually.

Are watermarks part of the main document text?

No, they are usually placed in the header behind the content.

Will removing a watermark affect my document formatting?

No, removing a watermark does not change your text or layout.

What’s the fastest way to remove a watermark?

Use the Design → Watermark → Remove Watermark option first.

Conclusion

Removing a watermark in Microsoft Word is usually quick and straightforward once you know where the watermark is stored.

By using the Design tab or editing the header directly, you can remove both standard and stubborn watermarks, giving your document a clean and professional finish.