OmniDocPrint a Word Document Without Header and Footer
Print a Word document without its header and footer while keeping them on screen, using a print copy, a first-page setting and a preview check.
Many people want a clean printout of a Word document, with no running header or footer, but they still need that header and footer in the file for editing or sharing. Deleting them from the original is a poor fix, because you would have to rebuild them later. This guide shows you how to print without the header and footer while leaving the source document exactly as it is.
The short answer is that most word processors do not offer a single "print without headers" switch. The reliable approach is to print from a copy whose header and footer areas are cleared, or to use a first-page setting if only page one should be clean. Both methods keep your original file intact.
The steps below work for any Word document (.docx). They also apply if you are working with a PDF version of the same file, since you can only remove a header from a PDF by editing the source and exporting it again.
How do you print a Word document without its header and footer? The short answer
Use a copy for the whole document, or a first-page setting for page one only. Pick the row that matches your situation.
| Your situation | What to do | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Every page should print without a header and footer | Save a copy, clear the header and footer in the copy, then print the copy | The original keeps its headers for screen use and future printing |
| Only the first page should be clean | Turn on the setting that gives the first page its own header and footer, and leave that one blank | Pages 2 onward keep their headers, and you edit nothing else |
| The document has several sections with different headers | Clear each section's header and footer in the copy, checking each section separately | Sections can hold different content, so one fix may miss some pages |
| You need a fixed file that prints the same everywhere | Export the cleaned copy to PDF and print that PDF | The layout stays put regardless of the printer's font or driver |
| You only need the header hidden for a single print | Print a page range that skips the header-only area, or use the copy method | Ranges do not remove headers from pages you include, so use a copy when every page is affected |
Before you start
Check these items first. Each one prevents a common mistake.
- Confirm the header and footer locations. Some documents put a logo or page number inside the body text, not in the header area. Clearing the header will not remove those, so look at the page itself.
- Save the copy under a new name. Working in the original means you may lose the header for good. A name like "report-print-copy.docx" keeps the source safe.
- Note whether the document uses sections. Section breaks can hold separate headers. If the first section is clean but later ones still show a header, you have missed a section.
- Know your printer's double-sided setting. Duplex printing can move the page content on the back side. Check the back of a test page before you print the full job.
- Decide whether you need a fixed file. A PDF made from the copy holds its layout, so it is a better choice when the printout will be shared or printed at another office.
Printing a copy without headers and footers, step by step
- Open the original and save a copy. Use Save As and give the copy a clear name. The original stays in its current state, with headers and footers intact.
- Go to the header and footer area in the copy. Double-click near the top or bottom margin of any page to open the editing area. The header and footer will appear with a dashed outline.
- Clear the text, images and fields. Select everything in the header and footer, including page numbers and any date fields, and delete it. Repeat this for each section if the document has more than one.
- Use the first-page setting if only page one should be clean. Open the header and footer options and turn on the setting that gives the first page its own header and footer. Leave that first-page header blank and keep the rest as they are.
- Close the header editing area. Return to the body text so the page layout updates.
- Open print preview and scroll through the pages. Confirm that no header or footer text remains on any page you plan to print. Check the first page, the last page and any section break.
- Print, or export to PDF first. Print directly if the document is for one printer. If you need a fixed file, export the copy to PDF and print that file.
If you prefer not to work in a desktop word processor, you can open the copy in the UniDoc web editor at app.unidoc.top, which supports Word-compatible editing. Clear the header there in the same way, then download the file for printing.
Check the result
Look at these points before you send the job to the printer. Each one is a common reason a printout still shows a header.
| Check | How to see it | If it's wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Headers are gone from every page | Scroll through print preview from the first page to the last | Return to the copy, find the missed section or page, and clear it |
| The first page is clean but the rest are not | Look at page 2 in print preview | Turn off the first-page setting or clear the header in the later sections |
| Page numbers are missing when you wanted them | Check the footer on pages you expected to show numbers | Add the number back in the copy only, since the original is unchanged |
| Body text moved after the edit | Compare the first and last lines of each page to the original | Reset the margins in the copy, or check the top and bottom spacing |
| The printout looks different from the screen | Print one test page on plain paper | Export to PDF and print the PDF, which keeps the layout fixed |
❓ FAQ
1. How do I tell whether a line is in the header or in the body?
Open the header editing area by double-clicking the top margin. Text inside the dashed outline belongs to the header, and anything outside it is body text that will still print after you clear the header.
2. Why is a page number still showing after I cleared the footer?
The number is often a field inserted in the body text or in a separate section's footer. Scroll through each section in the copy and check for a number outside the footer area, then delete it there.
3. Can I remove a header from a PDF I received without the Word file?
You can cover header text in the OmniDoc desktop client's PDF editor using its redact feature, which is permanent, so save a copy first. If you need a clean reprint with no trace of the header, ask the sender for the Word source, since that is the easiest way to clear it properly. You can download the desktop client at download.omnidoc.top.
📝 Summary
Printing a Word document without its header and footer is a matter of printing from a cleaned copy, or using a first-page setting when only page one should be clear. Keep the original file untouched so you can print it with headers later. Check every page in print preview before you send the job, and print a test page for double-sided work.
