How to add and remove a watermark in Microsoft Word

Updated: 05/01/2023 by Computer Hope
Microsoft Word document with a watermark added.

A watermark placed in a document is used to inform other people that it is a draft document, contains confidential information, or that the document should not be copied. Watermarks can be used for other purposes as well, often in the business world.

To add a watermark in a Microsoft Word document, follow the steps below for your version of Microsoft Word.

How to add a watermark in Word 2013 and later

Note

A watermark can only be added in the Microsoft Word desktop application. It is not currently possible to add a watermark in a Microsoft Word Online (the web version) document.

  1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document or open an existing document.
  2. In the Ribbon menu at the top of the program window, click the Design tab.
  3. In the Page Background section, click the Watermark option.

Adding watermark in Microsoft Word

  1. In the drop-down window, find the watermark you want to add and click that watermark option.

To create a watermark, follow the steps below.

  1. In the drop-down window after clicking the Watermark option on the Design tab, select the Custom Watermark option in the drop-down window.
  2. In the Printed Watermark window, select the Picture watermark or Text watermark option.
  3. If Picture watermark is selected, find the picture you want to use as a watermark, then click OK.

Adding a picture watermark in Microsoft Word

  1. If Text watermark is selected, enter the watermark text, and select the font, size, and color of the text. Click OK to add the custom text watermark.

Adding a text watermark in Microsoft Word

How to add a watermark in Word 2007 and 2010

  1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document or open an existing document.
  2. In the Ribbon menu at the top of the program window, click the Page Layout tab.
  3. Click the Watermark option.
  4. In the drop-down window, find the watermark you want to add and click that watermark option.

To create a watermark, follow the steps below.

  1. In the drop-down window after clicking the Watermark option on the Design tab, select the Custom Watermark option in the drop-down window.
  2. In the Printed Watermark window, select either the Picture watermark or Text watermark option.
  3. If Picture watermark is selected, find the picture you want to use as a watermark, then click OK.
  4. If Text watermark is selected, enter the watermark text, and the font, size, and color of the text. Click OK to add the custom text watermark.

How to add a watermark in Word 2003 and earlier

  1. Open Microsoft Word and create a new document or open an existing document.
  2. In the menu bar at the top of the program window, click the Format menu.
  3. In the Format menu, click Background, then select Printed Watermark.
  4. In the Printed Watermark window, select either the Picture watermark or Text watermark option.
  5. If Picture watermark is selected, find the picture you want to use as a watermark, then click OK.
  6. If Text watermark is selected, enter the watermark text, and the font, size, and color of the text. Click OK to add the custom text watermark.

How to remove a watermark in Word

  1. Open the Microsoft Word document containing the watermark you want to delete.
  2. In the Ribbon menu at the top of the program window, click the Design tab.
  3. Click the Watermark option.
  4. In the drop-down window, click Remove Watermark.