This article explains how to remove watermarks in Microsoft Word. This information applies to Word 2019, 2016, 2010, 2007, Word for Mac, Word for Microsoft 365, and Word Online.

What to Know

  • Word for Windows or Word Online: Go to the Design tab and select Watermark > Remove Watermark.Word for Mac: Select the Design tab. In the Page Background group, choose Watermark. Select No Watermark.All versions of Word: If the document includes sections that are not linked, repeat these steps for each section.

How to Remove a Watermark in Word for Windows or Word Online

Watermarks in Word mark pages of your document, protect your content, and identify the status or security needs of your project. Removing them when they’ve completed their purpose is as easy as adding them in the first place.

Under the Design tab, select Watermark, located on the far right of the screen. Select Remove Watermark. In Word 2010 and Word 2007, Watermark is found under the Page Layout tab, and in the Page Background group.

If the watermark is still there, it’s possible Word anchored the watermark in the header area if it’s tied to a specific section. Double-click the header area, select the watermark itself, and then press Delete.

How to Remove a Watermark in Word for Mac

Click the Design tab. In the Page Background group, click Watermark to display the Insert Watermark box. Select No watermark. In Word for Mac 2011, click the Page Layout tab, select the Page Background group and then click Watermark.

If your document includes sections that are not linked together, these steps must be repeated to remove the watermark from each independent section.

If the watermark is still there, it may be anchored to the header in a specific section. The solution is the same as the Windows version of Word: Double-click the header area to open it, click the watermark and select Delete.

As with Word for Windows, if your Word for Mac document contains multiple sections and section breaks that are not linked and contain watermarks, you need to remove the watermark from each section individually by repeating the steps above.

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