Formatting Issues

How to Show Personal Details on First Page Only and Page Numbers on All Pages in Word

Camila Milosovich Oct 14, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to display personal information exclusively in the header of the first page, while ensuring that page numbers continue to appear in the footer across every page of the document.

How to Show Personal Details on First Page Only and Page Numbers on Every Page in Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up professional document formatting where the cover page or first page requires distinct header details without interrupting the standard page numbering in the footers.
Observed behavior: The goal is to apply layout settings that isolate the first page's header content from the rest of the document while keeping footer page numbers continuous.

Before you start

Before modifying your headers and footers, it is recommended to have your document fully drafted. Ensure that your page margins are properly set so header and footer content does not overlap with your main text.

Solution 1Recommended

Enable the 'Different First Page' Feature

Using the 'Different First Page' option is the standard method for isolating the first page's header and footer from the rest of the document.

When you enable this feature, Word creates a distinct 'First Page Header' and 'First Page Footer'. Because they are unlinked from the rest of the pages, you will need to ensure that your page numbers are inserted into both the first page's footer and the subsequent pages' footers.

Access the Header and Footer Tools

Double-click the very top margin of your document's first page to open the Header & Footer tab on the ribbon.

Select Different First Page

In the Options group of the Header & Footer tab, check the box labeled 'Different First Page'.

Add Personal Details

Click inside the 'First Page Header' area and type in your personal information. This will now only appear on page one.

Insert Page Numbers

Scroll down to the 'First Page Footer' and insert your page number. Then, scroll to the second page, click into its standard 'Footer' area, and insert the page number again to ensure it continues through the rest of the document.

Enable the 'Different First Page' Feature

Section Breaks: If your document contains multiple section breaks, the 'Different First Page' setting applies to each section individually. You may need to repeat this process if your document is divided into multiple parts.

Efficient Document Formatting

Format Headers and Footers Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Office offers intuitive and highly accessible tools to manage complex headers, footers, and page numbering. With its familiar layout, you can quickly customize your document's first page without disrupting the rest of your formatting.

1. Open Header/Footer View: Launch your document in WPS Writer and double-click the top margin of the first page.
2. Enable First Page Customization: On the Header and Footer ribbon that appears, check the 'Different First Page' box.
3. Insert First Page Information: Type your personal details into the first page header area.
4. Set Up Page Numbers: Use the 'Insert Page Number' tool to add numbers to the first page footer, then verify that the second page footer also has page numbers applied.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and layouts.Easily configure 'Different First Page' with a single click.Lightweight software with a clean, user-friendly interface.Completely free to download and use for all basic editing tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my page numbers disappear from the rest of the document when I changed the first page?

When you enable 'Different First Page', the first page's footer becomes entirely separate from the rest of the document. You must insert page numbers into both the 'First Page Footer' and the standard 'Footer' on the second page to keep them continuous.

Can I have different headers for odd and even pages as well?

Yes. Inside the Header & Footer tools, you can check the 'Different Odd & Even Pages' option. This allows you to set up alternating headers, which is especially useful for formatting books or printed manuals.

How do I stop a header from carrying over to a new section?

Click inside the header of the new section, navigate to the Header & Footer tab, and click the 'Link to Previous' button to turn it off. This disconnects the current section's header from the formatting of the previous section.

Document & File Issues