Formatting Issues

How to Place an Excel Footer Image Behind Text: Formatting Guide

Olivia Miller Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to place an image behind the text in an Excel footer, as the image currently overlaps and obscures the printed footer text.

How to Place an Excel Footer Image Behind Text

Product: Microsoft Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a printed Excel spreadsheet to include a background image or logo alongside text in the footer section.
Observed behavior: An image inserted into the Excel footer prints over the footer text instead of behind it, whereas header images correctly display behind their text.

Before you start

Verify the overlap issue by checking the Print Preview (Ctrl + P), as the standard Page Layout view can sometimes render headers and footers differently than the final printed document.

Solution 1Recommended

Report the Defect to Microsoft Support

Since Excel lacks a standard control to change the layering of footer images, submitting a ticket helps Microsoft investigate this recognized defect.

Currently, Excel does not provide a native 'Send to Back' or 'Bring to Front' option for images placed directly into the header or footer fields. The footer image overlap is widely considered an application defect by support teams.

Prepare a test workbook

Create a new Excel file, add sample text and a footer image to accurately reproduce the overlapping issue, and save the file.

Upload to cloud storage

Upload your sample workbook to OneDrive or SharePoint and generate a sharing link so the support team can access it.

Submit a support ticket

Log in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigate to the Support section, and create a new service request explaining the footer image layering issue along with your sample file link.

Admin Access Required: You may need IT administrator privileges to submit a ticket through the Microsoft 365 admin center. If you are on a personal account, use the standard Microsoft Support contact page.

Solution 2

Workaround: Combine Image and Text in an Editor

Bypass Excel's layering limitations by combining your footer text and image into a single picture file before inserting it.

Solution 3

Workaround: Use Bottom Rows Instead of Footers

Format the bottom rows of your spreadsheet to act as a footer, giving you full control over image and text layering.

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Struggling with Excel's rigid formatting limitations like footer image overlapping? WPS Office Spreadsheet provides a highly compatible, free alternative that makes page layout and document preparation effortless. Enjoy advanced print preview capabilities and intuitive design without the hefty subscription fees.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website to download and install the free suite for your device.
2. Open your spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open your existing .xlsx file directly without needing any format conversion.
3. Adjust page setup: Navigate to the Page Layout tab to easily manage your headers, footers, and print areas.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my header image go behind text, but the footer image doesn't?

This is a known behavioral inconsistency in Microsoft Excel. The application handles header rendering slightly differently than footer rendering, causing footer images to overlap text. Microsoft has not provided a standard toggle to correct this specific footer behavior.

Can I use the 'Send to Back' option for images in the Excel footer?

No. The standard Picture Format layering tools, such as 'Send Backward' or 'Send to Back', are disabled or ineffective for images inserted directly into the designated Header & Footer fields.

Does saving the Excel file as a PDF fix the footer image overlap?

Usually, no. The 'Save as PDF' or 'Print to PDF' functions in Excel process the document exactly as it appears in the Print Preview. If the image overlaps the text in Print Preview, it will remain overlapped in the resulting PDF document.

Document & File Issues