How to Add Headers and Footers in PowerPoint

Headers and footers can add dates, slide numbers, and consistent identifying text to a PowerPoint presentation. In most versions, you manage these items from the Header & Footer dialog; note that PowerPoint treats slide footers differently from headers, and the available options vary between slides and notes or handouts.

What You’ll Need

A PowerPoint presentation open in the desktop app or PowerPoint for the web. Menu names and available features can vary by version.
The text you want to display, such as a presentation name, department, or copyright notice.
If you need a header on slides, a plan to add it through the slide master, since the standard slide footer dialog does not provide a header field.

Step-by-Step

Open the presentation and choose where the text should appear. Save a copy first if you are changing a shared or finalized deck. Decide whether you want a footer on slides, a header or footer on printed notes and handouts, or both. These are separate settings in PowerPoint.
Open the slide footer controls. In the desktop app, select the Insert tab, then choose Header & Footer. Depending on the version and window size, the command may be in a Text or Header & Footer group. A dialog opens with separate tabs for Slide and Notes and Handouts.
Set the footer for slides. On the Slide tab, select Footer, then type the text in the box below it. You can also select Date and time and choose either an automatically updated date or a fixed date, and select Slide number if you want numbering. These options are independent, so select only the ones you need.
Choose whether the title slide is included. Select Don’t show on title slide to leave the first slide clear. This is useful when the title slide already has a date or other identifying text placed manually. If you want the footer on every slide, leave this option unchecked.
Apply the settings. Choose Apply to update the selected slide only, or Apply to All to use the settings throughout the presentation. If you applied them to one slide by mistake, reopen the dialog and select Apply to All. Review a few slides, including the title slide, to confirm the result.
Add a header to slides using the slide master. PowerPoint’s regular slide Header & Footer dialog has no header field. To make a consistent header, go to View > Slide Master, select the top-level master to affect layouts broadly, or choose a specific layout. Select Insert > Text Box, draw a text box near the top of the slide, and enter the header text.
Format and close the master. With the text box selected, use the formatting options to set its font, size, color, and alignment. Position it within the slide’s usable area and away from existing titles. When finished, select Close Master View. Check slides that use the edited layout; if the header does not appear, confirm that those slides use that layout and that no object covers it.
Add headers or footers to notes and handouts if needed. Return to Insert > Header & Footer and open Notes and Handouts. Select the desired date, page number, header, or footer options, enter any text, then choose Apply to All. These settings are for printed pages or exported notes and handouts, not the slides themselves.
Check the output. For slides, review the presentation in Normal view or Slide Show. For notes and handouts, use File > Print and inspect the preview. If the text is cut off, adjust its position or size in the master, or choose a different print layout.

Common Mistakes

Expecting a slide header option. The Slide tab offers a footer, date, and slide number, but not a header. Use a text box in Slide Master for consistent slide headers.
Confusing slide footers with handout footers. The Notes and Handouts tab controls printed or exported pages. A change there does not add text to presentation slides.
Choosing Apply instead of Apply to All. Apply changes only the current slide. Use Apply to All when the footer should appear across the deck.
Adding duplicate items. If a slide already has a manually inserted date or number, enabling the corresponding automatic option may display both. Remove or reposition the manual object.
Placing a master header over slide content. A header added to the master can overlap titles or images on some layouts. Inspect several slide types after making the change.

Tips

Keep footer text concise so it remains readable and does not compete with the slide content.
Use Slide Master for text that should stay in the same position and style across multiple slides. Editing a master or layout is usually easier than updating each slide separately.
For a different header on particular sections, create or edit the relevant layouts, then assign those layouts to the appropriate slides.
Use the date option that matches your purpose: an automatic date changes with the system date, while a fixed date remains unchanged.
Check a print preview before distributing notes or handouts. Page orientation, margins, and the selected handout layout can affect where the header and footer appear.

Troubleshooting

The footer does not appear on every slide: Reopen Header & Footer from Insert, check the Slide tab options, and select Apply to All. Make sure Don’t show on title slide is not hiding it on the first slide. If only some slides are affected, inspect their layouts in Slide Master and check whether a shape is covering the footer.

The footer is missing from one slide: That slide may use a layout with footer placeholders disabled, or the title-slide exclusion may be active. In Slide Master, select the layout used by the slide and check the footer placeholder settings. You can also test another layout to identify whether the issue is layout-specific.

The header does not show on slides: Confirm that you added it to the slide master or the correct layout, then close Master View. A header placed on one layout will not automatically appear on slides using another. Assign the intended layout or add the text to the other layouts as needed.

The text is clipped or overlaps content: Move or resize the text box in Slide Master, reduce the font size, or adjust the slide layout. For notes and handouts, inspect the print preview and try another layout or orientation. If using PowerPoint for the web, open the file in the desktop app if the controls you need are unavailable.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a header to every PowerPoint slide?
Yes. Add a text box to the slide master or the layouts used by your slides. The standard slide Header & Footer dialog does not include a slide-header field.

How do I add a footer to all slides?
Choose Insert > Header & Footer, select Footer on the Slide tab, enter the text, and select Apply to All. Check the title-slide setting if it is missing from the first slide.

Can I have a different footer on each slide?
Yes. Use Apply on the selected slide to set or change its footer without applying that change to the full presentation. You can also insert text boxes manually for more control.

Can PowerPoint automatically update the date?
Yes. Under Date and time on the Slide tab, choose Update automatically and select the available date format. Choose Fixed if the date should remain the same.

Why does my footer appear on slides but not in printed handouts?
Slide footers and handout headers or footers use separate settings. Open Header & Footer, select Notes and Handouts, enable the relevant option, and apply it to all pages.

Can I remove a footer after adding it?
Reopen Header & Footer, clear the Footer option or its text, and choose Apply to All. If the text was added manually or through Slide Master, delete or edit the text box there instead.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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