Template Issues

How to Fix Word Templates Not Updating Header and Footer Colors

Phi Hung Vo Oct 7, 2026 869 views

Question details

Applying a Word template updates document fonts but fails to replace or update the existing header and footer designs, colors, or images.

How to Fix Word Templates Not Updating Header and Footer Colors

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: A user is applying a new template to an existing document to standardize or change its visual formatting and branding.
Observed behavior: The template successfully changes text styles such as fonts, but it does not replace the existing header and footer elements, leaving old colors and images intact.

Before you start

Before making structural changes, ensure you save a copy of your current document. This prevents any accidental loss of your original text while modifying template elements.

Solution 1Recommended

Create a New Document from the Template and Transfer Content

The most reliable way to ensure all template elements, including headers and footers, are applied is to start fresh and paste your existing body text.

When you attach a template to an existing document, Word only updates style definitions (like paragraph and font settings). It does not automatically overwrite physical objects such as text, images, or background colors that already exist in the header or footer. Creating a new document circumvents this limitation.

Create a new document

Open Word, click on 'File' > 'New', and select the specific template you want to use. This new document will perfectly inherit the template's headers, footers, and themes.

Select original text

Open your original document. Press Ctrl + A to select all the body text. Try to deselect the final paragraph mark at the very end of the document to avoid copying over page-level formatting.

Copy the content

Right-click the selected text and choose 'Copy', or press Ctrl + C on your keyboard.

Paste into the new template

Switch to your newly created document. Right-click in the body area and select 'Keep Text Only' or 'Merge Formatting' under the Paste Options to ensure the text adopts the new template's styles.

Create a New Document from the Template and Transfer Content

Preserving Layout: By pasting the text into a fresh template-based document, you guarantee that all intricate header and footer designs remain exactly as the template designer intended.

Solution 2

Manually Copy Header and Footer Elements

If you prefer to keep working within your existing document, you can manually open the template file and copy its specific header and footer designs over.

Easy Template Management

Easily Manage Headers and Footers with WPS Office

WPS Writer offers an intuitive approach to document templates. It simplifies the process of applying consistent headers, footers, and styles across your documents without the usual formatting struggles.

1. Start with a Free Template: Open WPS Writer and navigate to the built-in Template library to choose a professionally designed layout, which automatically includes formatted headers and footers.
2. Access Header and Footer Tools: Go to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and click 'Header and Footer', or simply double-click the top margin of your page to activate the editing mode.
3. Customize Your Design: Easily insert your company logo, page numbers, or background colors using the dedicated Header and Footer toolbar that appears.
4. Paste Your Content: Paste your existing document text into the body area. WPS Writer intelligently adapts the text to the document's theme while keeping your customized headers locked in place.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Word formats (.docx, .doc)Intuitive and easy-to-navigate header and footer editing toolsVast built-in template library for professional documentsLightweight software that handles complex formatting with ease

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't the 'Automatically update document styles' option change my header image?

The 'Automatically update document styles' feature only refreshes text and paragraph style definitions (like Heading 1 or Normal) based on the attached template. It does not import or overwrite physical objects like images, shapes, or static text located in the header or footer.

Can I apply a new template to an existing Word document without losing formatting?

Yes, you can attach a new template via the Developer tab by clicking 'Document Template'. However, this action will only update styles that share the same name in both files, leaving your existing headers, footers, and page margins completely unchanged.

How do I remove an old header before applying a new template?

Double-click the top margin of your document to open the Header area, press Ctrl+A to select everything inside, and press the Delete key. Alternatively, navigate to the Insert tab, click on Header, and select 'Remove Header' from the drop-down menu.

Document & File Issues