Formatting Issues

How to Remove "OFFICIAL" from Word PDF Header or Footer

Olivia Miller Oct 9, 2026 872 views

Question details

The user needs to remove the word "OFFICIAL" that unexpectedly appears in the header or footer of a PDF document exported from Microsoft Word.

How to Remove "OFFICIAL" from Word PDF Header or Footer

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Exporting or printing a Microsoft Word document to a PDF file.
Observed behavior: The text "OFFICIAL" is added to the header or footer of the exported PDF, even though no visible watermark or text exists in the original Word document.

Before you start

Before troubleshooting, save a backup copy of your original Word document and check your standard Print Preview to see if the text appears before the PDF conversion step.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Document Classification or Security Add-ins

Enterprise security add-ins and document classification tools often automatically inject labels like "OFFICIAL" during PDF export.

If your computer is managed by an organization, third-party COM Add-ins (such as Azure Information Protection or Titus) may automatically apply classification stamps to the header or footer when generating a PDF.

Open Word Options

Launch Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top left corner, and select 'Options' at the bottom of the menu.

Navigate to Add-ins

In the Word Options dialog box, click on 'Add-ins' in the left-hand pane.

Manage COM Add-ins

At the bottom of the window next to 'Manage', select 'COM Add-ins' from the dropdown menu and click 'Go...'.

Disable suspected add-ins

Uncheck any add-ins related to document security, PDF creation, or labeling. Click 'OK' and then try saving your document as a PDF again.

Disable Document Classification or Security Add-ins

Administrative Permissions: If you are using a company computer, some enterprise add-ins might be locked by your IT administrator. You may need to request their assistance to disable them temporarily.

Solution 2

Test with a Different PDF Printer

Determine if your default PDF creation software is injecting the text by switching to Microsoft's built-in PDF printer.

Solution 3

Inspect Headers, Footers, and Text Boxes

Check for hidden text boxes, field codes, or properties that only render when the document is printed or exported.

Export Word to PDF Cleanly with WPS Office

If Microsoft Word add-ins keep injecting unwanted text into your PDFs and you cannot disable them, you can use WPS Office to cleanly convert your document. Opening your file in WPS Writer bypasses Office-specific COM add-ins, ensuring a pristine PDF export.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the Word document that is experiencing the PDF export issue.
2. Select Export to PDF: Click on the 'Menu' button in the top left corner, then choose 'Export to PDF'.
3. Save the PDF: Configure your basic PDF settings if needed, click 'Export', and choose your destination. Your PDF will be generated cleanly without the injected "OFFICIAL" text.

Bypasses Microsoft Office COM add-in conflicts nativelyHigh compatibility with .docx, .doc, and other Microsoft Office formatsBuilt-in, one-click clean PDF conversion without unwanted watermarksLightweight and free to use for basic document tasks

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does a text watermark appear only when saving as a PDF?

This is usually caused by active COM Add-ins, macro scripts, or PDF printer drivers that inject classification tags (like "OFFICIAL" or "CONFIDENTIAL") specifically during the print or export process, keeping the original Word view clean.

Removing the watermark using the Design tab didn't work. What else can I check?

Word's built-in 'Remove Watermark' button only removes watermarks added via that specific feature. The text might be manually placed inside a floating text box or shape in the header/footer. Double-click your header area and try clicking around to manually select and delete the text.

Is there a difference between "Save as PDF" and "Print to PDF"?

Yes. "Save as PDF" uses Word's internal conversion engine, which triggers specific export add-ins. "Print to PDF" uses a virtual printer driver, which might bypass certain export add-ins but could apply its own print-specific headers or layouts.

Document & File Issues