How to Remove a Watermark in Microsoft Word? [Guide 2023]

You may need to remove a watermark in Microsoft Word for several reasons. Perhaps you added a watermark to a document as a draft but now want to remove it for the final version. Or maybe you inherited a file from someone else that contains an unwanted watermark. Fortunately, Word provides two straightforward methods to remove watermarks from documents: using the Watermark menu and editing the header or footer.

Method 1: Using the Watermark Menu

The easiest way to remove a watermark in Word is through the Watermark menu. Here’s how:

1. Open the document containing the watermark in Word.
2. Click the Design tab at the top.
3. Click the Watermark button in the Page Background group.
4. Select the watermark you want to remove from the list.
5. Click Remove Watermark.

The watermark will immediately disappear from your document. This method works for any watermarks applied through the Watermark menu in Word, including text and image watermarks.

Method 2: Editing the Header or Footer

If the unwanted watermark doesn’t show up in the Watermark menu, you can remove it manually by editing the header or footer. Here are the steps:

1. Double click the top of the page to open the header, or double click the bottom of the page to open the footer.
2. Select and delete the text or image causing the watermark.
3. Click Close Header and Footer on the ribbon to save the changes.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 for all other pages containing the watermark.

This will remove any watermarks positioned in headers and footers throughout your document.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Removing a Watermark with Each Method

Here are the full steps for both watermark removal methods:

Using the Watermark Menu

1. Open your Word document.
2. Click the Design tab.
3. Click Watermark.
4. Select the watermark you want to remove.
5. Click Remove Watermark.
6. Save the changes.

Editing the Header or Footer

1. Double click the top of the page to open the header.
2. Select and delete the watermark text or image.
3. Click Close Header and Footer.
4. Scroll to the next page.
5. Repeat steps 1-3 to edit the header or footer on every page.
6. Save the changes.

Following these instructions closely when removing your watermark will ensure it’s completely erased from your document.

Troubleshooting Tips

In some cases, you may follow the watermark removal steps but find the watermark still remains:

• Make sure you remove watermarks from all pages, including in between pages. The header and footer have to be cleared on every single page.
• Check that you didn’t insert the watermark as a shape or text box. You’ll need to delete these objects directly.
• Verify the watermark isn’t in the page background. Click Page Layout > Page Color > Fill Effects to remove it.
• Close and re-open the document, then try removing the watermark again. This refreshes the file.
• If all else fails, use the original unwatermarked version of the document.

Additional Tips for Customizing Your Document

Once you’ve removed the watermark, consider adding new elements to customize your document:

• Add a new watermark if needed, Experiment with artistic watermarks using custom text, logos or images.
• Insert a stylish header or footer, like your name or a title.
• Change the font theme to update the look and feel.
• Adjust margins or paragraph settings for better readability.
• Use page borders and background colors to jazz it up.
• Insert your own clipart, smart art, charts or pictures.

The possibilities are endless for designing a document that suits your specific needs!

Conclusion

Removing an unwanted watermark in Word is easy using the built-in Watermark menu or by editing headers and footers directly. Just select the watermark and click remove, or manually delete it from pages. With practice, you can clear out any watermarks in just a few minutes. Remember to also troubleshoot by checking every page carefully and verifying watermarks didn’t get inserted in other ways. The ability to effortlessly remove watermarks gives you greater creative control when customizing professional documents in Microsoft Word.