How to Insert the Title Document Property in Word

To insert the Title document property in Word, first set the document’s Title under File > Info > Properties > Advanced Properties > Summary. Then place the cursor where the title should appear and choose Insert > Quick Parts > Document Property > Title. This inserts a linked property control, so the same title can be reused in the body, cover page, header, or footer without typing it again.

Key Takeaways

• The Title document property is file metadata; it is not the file name or the visible Title style.
• Set the Title property before inserting it, or the inserted result may be blank.
• Use Quick Parts > Document Property > Title for the fastest method.
• Use the Field dialog when Quick Parts is unavailable or when you need a traditional DOCPROPERTY field.
• After changing the metadata, update fields with F9 or Ctrl + A, then F9 on Windows.

What Is the Title Document Property in Word?

The Title document property is metadata stored inside the Word file. It can describe the document independently of the text users see on the page. When you insert that property into the document, Word creates a reusable value that can appear in several places and stay consistent across a report, proposal, contract, or template.

The following elements are related, but they are not interchangeable:

Element	What it controls	Does it update an inserted Title property?
Title document property	Metadata under File > Info or Advanced Properties	Yes. This is the source value.
File name	The name of the saved .docx file	No. Renaming the file does not normally change the Title property.
Title style	The visual formatting of text on the page	No. Applying the Title style does not create or edit metadata.
Inserted Title field/control	Displays the metadata value inside the document	It reflects the Title property after the value is refreshed.

This distinction matters when a document displays an old project name even though the file has been renamed. In that situation, edit the Title property itself rather than the file name or the visible heading.

How to Insert the Title Document Property in Word on Windows

The complete process has two parts: set the metadata value, then insert that value into the document. Use the desktop version of Word so that the full Quick Parts and Field commands are available.

Step 1: Set the Title property

1. Open the document and select File.
2. Choose Info.
3. In the Properties area, click Add a title if that field is visible. Otherwise, choose Properties > Advanced Properties.
4. In the Summary tab, enter the document title—for example, Q3 Customer Onboarding Proposal.
5. Select OK, return to the document, and save the file.

Use a descriptive title that identifies the document without relying on a folder name. This makes the property useful in templates, document libraries, search results, and exported files.

Step 2: Insert the Title property with Quick Parts

1. Place the cursor where the title should appear.
2. Open the Insert tab.
3. In the Text group, select Quick Parts.
4. Choose Document Property > Title.

Word inserts a linked document-property control at the cursor position. You can format the displayed title like normal text, including its font, size, alignment, and spacing.

Step 3: Confirm that the value is linked

Save the document, then change the Title under File > Info. Return to the inserted value and verify that the new title appears. If you used a field rather than a document-property control, select it and press F9, or right-click it and choose Update Field.

Alternative Method: Insert the Title with the Field Dialog

The Field dialog is useful when Document Property is not shown in the Quick Parts menu, when you want more control over field formatting, or when you are working with an older Word interface.

1. Place the cursor where the title should appear.
2. Select Insert > Quick Parts > Field. In some versions, use Insert > Field.
3. Choose Document Information from the Categories list.
4. Select DocProperty, then choose Title as the property name. Some Word versions list Title directly in the Field names list.
5. Leave Preserve formatting during updates selected if you want the field to keep its text formatting.
6. Click OK.

A traditional field may display a code such as { DOCPROPERTY Title \* MERGEFORMAT } when field-code view is enabled. Press Alt + F9 to switch all field codes back to their results, or press Shift + F9 for the selected field.

How to Insert the Title Property in a Header or Footer

Adding the Title property to a header or footer is useful for reports, policies, proposals, and templates that need the document name repeated on every page.

1. Double-click the header or footer area, or choose Insert > Header or Footer > Edit Header/Footer.
2. Place the cursor where the title should appear.
3. Select Quick Parts > Field.
4. Choose Title or select DocProperty and set the property to Title.
5. Select OK, format the result, and close the header or footer.

For more detailed placement options, see how to insert the document title in a Word footer.

How to Change or Update the Title Property

Changing the visible text on the page does not necessarily change the stored Title property. Edit the metadata first, then refresh any inserted fields.

1. Go to File > Info.
2. Edit the value next to Title, or open Properties > Advanced Properties > Summary.
3. Return to the document and save it.
4. To refresh one field, select it and press F9 or right-click and choose Update Field.
5. To update all fields in the main document, press Ctrl + A, then F9.

If the document contains fields inside tables, headers, footers, text boxes, or other separate areas, you may need to update those areas individually.

Fix Common Title Document Property Problems

The inserted Title is blank

The Title metadata is probably empty. Open File > Info and add a title, or use Advanced Properties > Summary. Save the file and update the inserted field. If you inserted a document-property control, click outside the control and reopen the document to confirm the value was saved.

The Title shows an old project or template name

Renaming the .docx file does not automatically replace its Title metadata. Templates and copied documents often retain the previous Title property. Edit the property under File > Info, then update the field with F9.

Word shows a field code instead of the title

If you see { DOCPROPERTY Title }, Word is displaying field codes. Press Alt + F9 to switch all fields to their results, or right-click the field and choose Toggle Field Codes.

Quick Parts or Document Property is missing

Expand the Word window and check the Text group on the Insert tab; the command may be collapsed in a narrow ribbon. You can also use Insert > Quick Parts > Field and insert a DocProperty field instead. For browser-based Word, open the file in the desktop app when you need the complete field and Quick Parts workflow.

The title will not update

Confirm that you inserted a linked property control or a field rather than ordinary typed text. Select the field and press F9. If it is locked, press Ctrl + Shift + F11 to unlock it, then update it again. Also check whether editing restrictions are enabled for the document.

How to Insert the Title Document Property in Word on Mac

Word for Mac uses a different route for metadata and may not show the same Quick Parts gallery as Word for Windows.

1. Open the document and choose File > Properties.
2. Open the Summary tab and enter the Title.
3. Place the cursor where you want the title to appear.
4. Choose Insert > Field.
5. Select DocProperty or Title, depending on the version, and insert the field.
6. Select the field and press F9 to refresh it. Some Mac keyboards require the Fn key with F9.

If your Mac version includes Insert > Quick Parts > Document Property, you can use the Windows-style path instead.

Using Title Property Fields in WPS Writer

WPS Writer can open and edit .docx files that already contain many Word fields and document-property controls. The exact field menu and supported property types can vary by WPS Office version, so verify the result before distributing a template.

1. Open the .docx file in WPS Writer.
2. Check whether the existing Title property value displays correctly.
3. To insert a field, look for Insert > Field. You can also use Ctrl + F9 to create field braces in versions that support manual field codes.
4. If DOCPROPERTY Title is available, insert it and press F9 to update the result.
5. If the property does not resolve in your version, create the Title property field in Microsoft Word first, save the .docx file, and reopen it in WPS Writer for normal editing.

For a broader overview of fields, read how to insert fields in Word using WPS Office.

Related Word Document Property Guides

• Insert the document title in a Word footer
• Add a Company document property field in Word
• Insert fields in Word using WPS Office

FAQs About the Title Document Property in Word

What is the Title document property in Word?

It is metadata stored inside the Word file. You can view or edit it under File > Info and insert it into the document as a linked property control or field.

Is the Title property the same as the file name?

No. The file name identifies the saved .docx file, while the Title property is separate metadata. Renaming the file does not normally change the Title property.

Does applying the Title style create a Title document property?

No. The Title style only formats visible text. To set metadata, use File > Info > Properties or Advanced Properties > Summary.

Can I insert the Title property in a header or footer?

Yes. Open the header or footer, select Quick Parts > Field, and choose Title or DocProperty: Title.

How do I update every Title field in the document?

Edit the Title metadata, then press Ctrl + A followed by F9 in Word for Windows. Fields in headers, footers, tables, or text boxes may need to be updated separately.

Why does the Title field show blank text?

The Title metadata is probably empty, or the field has not been refreshed. Add a Title under File > Info, save the file, and press F9 on the inserted field.

Final Checklist

• Set the Title metadata before inserting it.
• Use Quick Parts for the fastest linked-property method.
• Use the Field dialog when you need a DOCPROPERTY field.
• Update fields after changing the metadata.
• Check headers, footers, and templates for old Title values before sharing.