Remove Watermark in Word: Quick Steps

Watermarks in Microsoft Word—whether a faint “DRAFT,” a company logo, or a “CONFIDENTIAL” label—can be removed in a few clicks once you know where to look. This guide covers both the modern ribbon menu (Word 2013 and later, including Microsoft 365) and the older “Behind Text” method for watermarks that won’t delete normally. You’ll need the document open and, ideally, the watermark visible on the page.

What You’ll Need

• A Microsoft Word document containing a watermark (any version from 2010 onward works, though menu names vary slightly).
• Access to the document’s header area—this is where Word stores watermarks.

Step-by-Step

1. Open your document in Microsoft Word. If you have multiple windows open, make sure the correct file is active.
2. Go to the “Design” tab on the ribbon (in Word 2010 and 2013, this tab is called “Page Layout”). It’s usually between “Insert” and “Layout” or “References.”
3. Click “Watermark”—it’s in the “Page Background” group on the far right of the ribbon. A drop-down gallery opens showing preset watermarks like “CONFIDENTIAL,” “DRAFT,” and “DO NOT COPY.”
4. Click “Remove Watermark” at the bottom of that drop-down menu. This is the direct command—it deletes any watermark currently in the document, whether it’s text or a picture.
5. Check your document. Scroll through a few pages to confirm the watermark is gone. If it’s still visible, proceed to the alternate method below.

Alternate method (when the ribbon command fails):

6. Double-click inside the header area of any page (the blank space above the top margin). This opens the header/footer editing view, which also reveals the watermark as a selectable object.
7. Click once on the watermark text or image. You’ll see a dashed border around it with selection handles—this means it’s now an editable object, not just a background element.
8. Press the Delete key on your keyboard. The watermark disappears.
9. Click “Close Header and Footer” (or double-click outside the header area) to return to normal editing mode.

If the watermark is on only one page or section:

10. Check section breaks. Word applies watermarks to entire sections. If your document has multiple sections, you may need to repeat the removal steps in each section. Navigate to the next section and repeat steps 2–4 or 6–9.

Common Mistakes

• Looking in the wrong tab: In Word 2010 and 2013, the command is under “Page Layout,” not “Design.” If you can’t find “Watermark,” switch tabs.
• Clicking a preset instead of “Remove”: The gallery shows many watermark options. Clicking one of those adds a new watermark—it doesn’t remove the existing one. Always scroll to the bottom and click “Remove Watermark.”
• Deleting the header entirely: If you select all header content and press Delete, you might remove page numbers or other header elements along with the watermark. Be selective.
• Editing in Print Preview: You can’t remove a watermark from the print preview screen. You must be in normal editing mode.
• Forgetting about tracked changes: If “Track Changes” is on, your deletion might be recorded as a change, not applied. Turn off Track Changes (Review tab) before removing the watermark.

Tips

• Use the header method first if the ribbon command seems unresponsive—it’s often more reliable for watermarks inserted via the header.
• Check for multiple watermarks: It’s possible to have both a text and a picture watermark layered. After removing one, look again to see if another remains.
• Save a copy before removing if you’re unsure whether you’ll need the watermark later. Use “Save As” to keep a version with the watermark intact.
• Reapply quickly: If you remove a watermark by accident, press Ctrl+Z (Undo) immediately to restore it.
• For a permanent fix: If you’re sharing a template and don’t want others to add watermarks, you can restrict editing (Review tab → Restrict Editing), but this also limits other edits.

Troubleshooting

Watermark still visible after “Remove Watermark”: This usually means the watermark was inserted as a floating image or text box in the header, not via the standard watermark tool. Double-click the header, click directly on the watermark, and press Delete. If it still won’t select, try clicking the edge of the watermark rather than the text itself.

Watermark appears on some pages but not others: Your document likely has multiple sections. Select the section where the watermark persists, then repeat the removal steps. In the header, you may also see a “Link to Previous” button—if it’s active, the watermark may be controlled by an earlier section.

Can’t find the “Remove Watermark” option: In some versions, the watermark command is under “Design” → “Watermark” → “Custom Watermark” → “No watermark.” Click “Custom Watermark” and select “No watermark” in the dialog box.

Watermark won’t delete because it’s part of a PDF or scanned image: If the watermark is baked into the document’s images (not a Word object), you cannot remove it with Word tools. You’d need image editing software to crop or retouch it.

Watermark reappears after saving and reopening: Check if the file is stored in a location with automatic versioning (like OneDrive). If so, a previous version with the watermark might be syncing. Save a new copy with a different name to avoid conflicts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does removing a watermark affect page numbers or headers?
A: No, the “Remove Watermark” command only deletes the watermark. If you use the manual header-deletion method, be careful not to select other header content.

Q: Can I remove a watermark from only one page?
A: Not directly. Word applies watermarks to entire sections. To have a watermark on only one page, you’d need to insert a section break before and after that page, then remove the watermark from the other sections.

Q: Why is the watermark grayed out and unclickable?
A: This happens when you’re in “Read Mode” or print preview. Switch back to “Print Layout” view (bottom-right corner of the window) to edit the watermark.

Q: Will removing a watermark work in Word Online (free web version)?
A: The free web version has limited features. Watermark removal may not be available. Open the document in the desktop app to remove it, then save back to the cloud.

Q: How do I remove a watermark that was added by a template or add-in?
A: Templates often place watermarks in the header. Follow the header method (steps 6–9). If an add-in added it, disable the add-in first (File → Options → Add-ins).

Q: Can I remove a watermark from a PDF I opened in Word?
A: If Word converts the PDF to an editable document, the watermark may become an image or text box. Try the header method. If it’s part of the PDF’s background graphics, you may need dedicated PDF editor software.

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