Formatting Issues

How to Keep the Page Number When Removing the First-Page Header in Word

Emma Brown Oct 15, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to remove or hide the header content on the first page of a document without losing the page number located in that header or margin.

How to Keep the Page Number When Removing the First-Page Header in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting document headers where the first page requires a blank header but still needs a visible page number.
Observed behavior: Enabling the Different First Page option removes all header and footer content on the first page, causing the page number to disappear.

Before you start

Ensure your document layout is finalized before adjusting headers, and double-click the top margin of your page to activate the Header & Footer tools.

Solution 1Recommended

Copy and Re-insert the Page Number into the First-Page Header

Since Word treats the first-page header independently, you must manually paste the page number back onto the first page while leaving the rest of the header blank.

When you enable Different First Page, Word creates a completely blank canvas for the first page's header and footer. There is no built-in toggle to hide text while keeping page numbers, so a manual copy-paste workaround is required.

Enable Different First Page

Double-click the header area on the first page to open the Header & Footer tab. Check the box for 'Different First Page'. This will clear out the current header and page number on page one.

Copy the existing page number

Scroll down to page two (or any subsequent odd/even page where your header and page number are intact). Highlight the page number or click on its text box frame, and press Ctrl+C to copy it.

Paste into the first-page header

Scroll back up to the first page, click inside the now-blank First Page Header area, and press Ctrl+V to paste the page number.

Clear unwanted header text

If copying the page number also brought over unwanted header text, simply highlight and delete that text on the first page, leaving only the page number. Click 'Close Header and Footer' when finished.

Copy and Re-insert the Page Number into the First-Page Header

Margin Page Numbers: If your page number is positioned in the side margin, it is likely contained within a text box anchored to the header. Make sure you click the outer edge of the frame to copy the entire text box, not just the number inside it.

Manage Headers Easily

Format Headers and Page Numbers Effortlessly in WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface for managing complex document layouts, making it easy to customize headers, footers, and page numbers exactly how you want them.

1. Open the Header and Footer Tools: Open your document in WPS Writer and double-click the top margin of the first page to access the Header and Footer tab.
2. Apply Different First Page: Check the 'Different First Page' option in the toolbar to isolate the first page's formatting.
3. Insert Page Number: Click the 'Page Number' button in the toolbar and select your preferred position to add the number to the first page without adding unwanted header text.

Intuitive Header and Footer tab for quick layout adjustmentsFully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formattingEasily insert and customize page numbers independently on any pageFree, lightweight, and highly efficient for everyday office tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my page number disappear when I select Different First Page?

Selecting 'Different First Page' tells Word to create a completely new, blank header and footer specifically for page one. Because the original header (which contained your page number) is replaced by this blank slate, the page number disappears.

Can I automatically hide the header text but keep the page number?

No, Word does not have a built-in feature to selectively hide text while preserving page numbers in a header. You must use the 'Different First Page' setting and manually re-insert the page number into the blank header.

How do I remove the page number on the first page but keep it on the rest?

Double-click the header or footer area on the first page, check the 'Different First Page' box in the Header & Footer tab, and simply delete the page number on that first page. The page numbers on subsequent pages will remain intact.

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