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How to Stop Word from Printing Date and Time in the Footer
Question details
The user needs to remove an unwanted date and time that continues to print at the bottom of their pages, even after modifying print settings.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Document formatting and printing
- Observed behavior
- A date and time persistently appear on printed documents because they are inserted as dynamic footer fields, header elements, or document properties, rather than being controlled by standard print dialog options.
Switch your document view to 'Print Layout' so you can accurately see headers, footers, and page margins before attempting to locate and remove the unwanted fields.
Manually Remove Date and Time Fields from the Footer
The most common reason a date prints persistently is that it was inserted directly as a dynamic field within the document's footer area.
Navigate to the 'View' tab on the top ribbon and select 'Print Layout' to ensure that all headers and footers are visible on your screen.
Scroll to the bottom of the page and double-click inside the bottom margin. This action will open the Header & Footer editing mode.
Click to highlight the date and time text (it may appear with a gray field background when selected), then press the 'Delete' or 'Backspace' key on your keyboard.
Double-click anywhere in the main document text area to close the footer editing mode. Save your document to preserve the changes.
Disable 'Print Document Properties' in Word Settings
If the date and time print on a separate page at the end of the document, Word might be configured to print document properties.
Remove Unwanted Footers and Print Seamlessly with WPS Writer
If you are struggling with stubborn formatting in Microsoft Word, you can open your document in WPS Office. WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to easily identify, edit, and remove dynamic fields like dates and times from your headers and footers.
- 1. Open the Document in WPS Office: Launch WPS Writer and open the existing Word document that contains the unwanted footer.
- 2. Enter Header and Footer Mode: Go to the 'Insert' tab and click on 'Header and Footer', or simply double-click the bottom margin of the page.
- 3. Remove the Date Field: Select the date and time text, press 'Delete' on your keyboard, and click 'Close' on the dedicated Header and Footer toolbar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my document print a date when it doesn't show on the screen?
This usually happens if you are viewing your document in 'Draft' or 'Web Layout' mode, which hides headers and footers. Switch your view to 'Print Layout' to see exactly what will appear on the printed page.
How do I stop the date from updating automatically every time I print?
If you want to keep a date but stop it from changing, double-click the footer, select the date, and uncheck 'Update automatically' in the Date and Time dialog box. Alternatively, type the date manually instead of using a dynamic field.
Can a custom add-in cause unwanted dates to print?
Yes, certain custom macros or third-party add-ins might be programmed to insert a timestamp upon printing. If manual removal fails, try disabling your Word add-ins or checking macro security settings.
Is there a way to delete all footers at once?
Yes. You can go to the 'Insert' tab, click the 'Footer' button, and select 'Remove Footer' from the drop-down menu to instantly clear the entire footer section across your document.
