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How to Display Arabic Numerals in Excel Footers
Question details
The user wants to format footer page numbers as Arabic numerals, but the automatic page numbering field continues to display standard numerals.
- Product
- Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Adding page numbers to the footer of a spreadsheet intended to display Arabic numerals.
- Observed behavior
- While numerals entered directly into Excel cells format correctly as Arabic numerals, automatic page numbers (such as &[Page]) in the footer ignore cell formatting and use Western numerals or system defaults.
Before adjusting your footer, check your current Windows language and regional settings, as Excel's automatic footer fields rely entirely on the operating system defaults rather than application-specific cell formatting.
Update Windows Regional Settings
Since Excel's automatic footer numbering relies on the operating system's language configuration, changing the Windows regional format is the best way to apply Arabic numerals dynamically.
Excel does not provide a built-in feature to change the language or numeral format exclusively for headers and footers. The automatic &[Page] field draws its formatting directly from Windows. Adjusting this system setting will affect how dates, times, and numbers appear across Windows applications.
Press the Windows key, type 'Control Panel' in the search bar, and hit Enter. Navigate to the 'Clock and Region' section.
Click on 'Region'. Under the 'Formats' tab, click the 'Format' dropdown menu and change it to an Arabic-speaking locale (for example, Arabic (Saudi Arabia)).
Click 'Apply', then click 'OK'. Completely close Microsoft Excel and reopen your spreadsheet. Insert the &[Page] field into your footer, and it should now display Arabic numerals.
Type Numerals Manually in Page Layout View
If you cannot or prefer not to modify your system's global regional settings, you can manually type the Arabic numerals into the footer. Note that dynamic numbering will not work with this method.
Easily Manage Spreadsheets and Layouts with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly intuitive Page Layout interface, making it easy to add page numbers, adjust formatting, and prepare your spreadsheets for professional printing.
- 1. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your existing spreadsheet or create a new workbook.
- 2. Access Header and Footer Settings: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click on 'Header and Footer'.
- 3. Customize Your Footer: Click on the footer section to manually type your preferred numerals or use the ribbon tools to insert automatic page fields.
- 4. Save and Print: Review your document formatting in the Page Layout view, then save or print your spreadsheet effortlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do my Excel cells show Arabic numerals but the footer does not?
Cell formatting in Excel operates independently from header and footer fields. You can apply specific language formats to individual cells, but automatic footer fields (like &[Page]) lack this setting and draw their formatting directly from your Windows Regional settings.
Can I format automatic page numbers within Excel without changing Windows settings?
No, Excel does not offer a built-in, application-level setting to change the numeral format exclusively for automatic page number fields in the footer. Modifying the Windows regional format is the only way to change the automatic &[Page] output.
How do I view headers and footers to edit them manually?
Navigate to the 'View' tab on the ribbon and select 'Page Layout'. This view splits your worksheet into individual, print-ready pages, allowing you to click directly into the header or footer areas and type your text.
