How to Remove a Watermark in Microsoft Word

Watermarks in Microsoft Word can be a useful tool for adding branding, confidentiality notices, or other information to your documents. However, sometimes you may need to remove a watermark, either because it’s no longer needed or because you need to make edits to the document without the watermark present. Here’s how you can remove a watermark in Microsoft Word:

Method 1: Using the Watermark Removal Tool

1. Open the document in Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the “Design” tab in the top toolbar.
3. Click on the “Watermark” drop-down menu in the “Page Background” section.
4. Select “Remove Watermark” from the bottom of the menu.
5. The watermark will be removed from all pages of the document.

Method 2: Removing the Watermark Manually

If the watermark was added as an image or text box, it can be removed manually:

1. Open the document in Microsoft Word.
2. Click on the watermark image or text box.
3. Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove the watermark.
4. If the watermark is a text box, select the text box and press “Delete” again to remove it permanently.

Method 3: Editing the Header or Footer

If the watermark is part of the header or footer, it can be removed by editing those sections:

1. Double-click on the header or footer of the document to enter the editing mode.
2. Click on the watermark image or text box.
3. Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove the watermark.
4. Exit the header or footer editing mode by double-clicking outside of the header or footer area.

These methods should remove the watermark from your Microsoft Word document. If none of these methods work or if the watermark is still visible after removal, it may be a permanent feature of the document that cannot be edited or removed.