How to add page numbers in Word (and start on page 2)

Applies to Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2016-2024 and Word for Mac. Word for the web supports basic page numbers through Insert > Page Numbers.

Add page numbers

Basic page numbers

1. Click Insert > Page Number.
2. Choose a position: Top of Page, Bottom of Page or Page Margins.
3. Pick a style from the gallery (Plain Number 2 is centred).
4. Double-click in the body of the document (or press Esc/click Close Header and Footer) to return to editing.

Skip the cover page

1. Double-click the header or footer on page 1.
2. On the Header & Footer tab, tick Different First Page.
3. Page 1 now shows no number; page 2 shows 2. To show 1 on page 2, open Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 0.

Use Page X of Y

1. Click Insert > Page Number > Bottom of Page.
2. Scroll to the Page X of Y section and choose a style.

Start numbering on page 3 or later (sections)

For a document with a cover and contents page:

1. Click at the very start of the page where numbering should begin.
2. Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page (a section break).
3. Double-click the footer on that page and click Link to Previous on the Header & Footer tab to turn it off.
4. Insert the page number, then Format Page Numbers > Start at: 1.
5. Delete any page numbers left in the earlier section's footer.

Roman numerals for the front matter

In the first section's footer, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers, set Number format to i, ii, iii. Make sure section 2 is unlinked so it keeps 1, 2, 3.

Page numbers are wrong or repeat

If every page shows 1, the numbering is restarting in each section: open Format Page Numbers in each section and choose Continue from previous section. If numbers show as { PAGE }, press Alt+F9 to switch field codes off.