How to Remove the 'Official' Watermark in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
Question details
The user needs to remove the word 'Official' that persistently appears as a watermark or background overlay on their Office documents.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Device & OS
- Windows 10
- Scenario
- Editing or saving documents when a persistent 'Official' watermark suddenly appears.
- Observed behavior
- The text 'Official' appears in the background of documents, presentations, and spreadsheets, often showing up a few minutes after opening or saving the file.
Before proceeding, determine if the 'Official' text is a standard watermark, or if it might be applied by a third-party add-in, sensitivity label, or printer overlay upon saving.
Remove a Standard Watermark in Word
Use this method if the 'Official' text was inserted as a native watermark using Word's built-in background tools.
Launch Microsoft Word and open the document displaying the 'Official' text.
Click on the 'Design' tab located on the top ribbon.
In the 'Page Background' group, click on 'Watermark' and select 'Remove Watermark' from the bottom of the drop-down menu.
Clear Watermarks from Excel Headers and PowerPoint Slide Masters
Since Excel and PowerPoint do not have a dedicated Watermark button, background text is often embedded in headers or master views.
Use Office Safe Mode to Identify Add-in Interference
If the watermark reappears automatically after saving, a third-party add-in or sensitivity label might be inserting it.
Remove or Add Watermarks Quickly with WPS Office
WPS Office provides a highly intuitive interface to quickly remove stubborn watermarks or add custom background text across documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without complex menus.
- 1. Open Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Office and open your affected Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file.
- 2. Access the Watermark Tool: Navigate to the 'Insert' tab on the top ribbon and locate the 'Watermark' option.
- 3. Remove the Watermark: Click on 'Watermark' and select 'Delete Watermark' from the dropdown list to clear the 'Official' text completely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the 'Official' watermark reappear after I delete it?
This frequently happens if your organization uses sensitivity labels or if a third-party add-in is configured to automatically stamp documents with security markings upon saving.
How do I remove a watermark in Excel if there is no Watermark button?
In Excel, watermarks are typically inserted as background images in the document headers. Go to Insert > Header & Footer, click on the header sections, and delete any image references (like &[Picture]) or typed text.
Can my printer settings cause an 'Official' watermark to appear?
Yes, some printer drivers and software have built-in overlay functions that apply watermarks during the printing process. Check your printer properties under the 'Effects' or 'Watermark' tab to ensure none are active.
