How to Display Headers and Footers in Excel Using Page Layout View
Question details
The user needs to view headers and footers while working on an Excel worksheet, because WPS Office Spreadsheets does not show them in Normal view.
- Product
- WPS Office Spreadsheets
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user is editing a worksheet and wants to see header and footer areas on screen as they will appear when printed.
- Observed behavior
- Headers and footers are not displayed in the normal worksheet view; only the main worksheet cells are visible.
Open the workbook in WPS Office Spreadsheets and select the worksheet you want to check. Header and footer areas are hidden in Normal view, so you need Page Layout view to display them.
Switch to Page Layout View from the View Tab
Use this method to display and edit headers and footers directly while working in the worksheet.
WPS Office Spreadsheets uses Normal view by default, which hides header and footer areas to maximize editing space. Page Layout view shows the worksheet as printed pages with visible header and footer boxes.
In WPS Office Spreadsheets, open the workbook and click the View tab in the ribbon.
In the Workbook Views group, click Page Layout. The worksheet immediately switches to Page Layout view.
Click the header area at the top or the footer area at the bottom of the page to view or edit its content as it will appear on the printed page.
Use the Page Layout Button in the Status Bar
This is a quick alternative when you want to switch from Normal view to Page Layout view using the bottom-right view controls.
View Headers and Footers in WPS Office Spreadsheets
WPS Office Spreadsheets lets you show and edit headers and footers in Page Layout view, so you can see exactly how your Excel-compatible workbook will print without changing the file format.
- 1. Open your Excel file: Open WPS Office Spreadsheets and load the .xlsx workbook that contains the header or footer you want to view.
- 2. Switch to Page Layout view: Click the View tab, then click Page Layout in the Workbook Views group.
- 3. Click the header or footer area: Click the header or footer area on the page to view or edit the text exactly as it will appear when printed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I see headers and footers in Normal view?
Normal view hides repeated page elements such as headers and footers to maximize workspace. Switch to Page Layout view by clicking the View tab and selecting Page Layout, or by clicking the Page Layout button near the bottom-right corner.
Can I edit headers and footers directly in Page Layout view?
Yes. In Page Layout view, click directly inside the header or footer area at the top or bottom of the page and type the text you want.
Does Page Layout view change how my Excel file is saved?
No. Page Layout view only changes the on-screen view. The workbook content and .xlsx file format remain intact.
How do I return to Normal view after viewing headers and footers?
Click the View tab and select Normal, or click the Normal view button in the bottom-right view controls next to the zoom slider.
