If you’ve inherited a document marked “Confidential” or “Draft,” or you’ve inserted a watermark by mistake, you’ll want to know how to remove watermark in Word. Whether it’s a faint background image or a diagonal text label, getting rid of it is quick and easy with the right steps.
This guide shows you exactly how to remove a watermark in Word on Windows, macOS, and Word Online, no hassle, no confusion 💡
What Is a Watermark in Word?
A watermark in Word is a semi-transparent image or text that appears behind the content of your document. Common uses include:
- 📄 Marking a document as “Draft” or “Sample”
- 🔐 Branding with a company logo
- ✍️ Signifying copyright or ownership
Watermarks usually reside in the header or footer section, making them easy to manage once you know where to look.
How to Remove Watermark in Word (Windows)
Follow these simple steps:
- Open your document in Microsoft Word
- Click the Design tab on the ribbon
- Click Watermark on the far-right side
- Select Remove Watermark
✅ The watermark will disappear from all pages of your document.
How to Remove Watermark in Word (macOS)
Here’s how to do it on a Mac:
- Open your Word document
- Go to the Design tab
- Click Watermark
- Select Remove Watermark from the dropdown
🎉 The watermark is now removed across the entire file.
How to Remove Watermark in Word Online
Word Online does not currently support full watermark removal. But here’s a workaround:
- Open the document in Word Online
- Click Open in Desktop App
- Follow the Windows or macOS instructions above
- Save your changes, they will sync with OneDrive
🌐 If you don’t have the desktop app, ask someone with it to remove the watermark for you.
Alternative Method: Manually Delete a Watermark
If the above methods fail, the watermark might have been inserted manually as an image or shape.
- Double-click inside the header or footer area of the document
- Click on the watermark text or image
- Press the Delete key
💡 This method works for both text and image watermarks that are not linked to the default watermark feature.
Why Can’t I Remove the Watermark?
Here are some common issues and how to solve them:
- 🔒 Protected documents: If editing is restricted, ask for permission
- 🧱 Section breaks: You may need to remove watermarks in each section
- 🧩 Inserted shapes: These require manual deletion
- 🔁 Header/footer sync off: Enable “Link to Previous” in the header/footer tools
🛠️ Troubleshooting these issues should solve 99% of watermark problems.
FAQs: How to Remove Watermark in Word
How do I remove a watermark in just one section of the document?
Use section breaks. Go to the header/footer of the specific section, and delete the watermark manually.
Why is the watermark not disappearing when I click ‘Remove Watermark’?
It could be manually inserted as a shape or image. Double-click the header/footer, select the watermark, and press Delete.
Can I remove a watermark in Word Online?
Not directly. You’ll need to open the file in the desktop version of Word to remove it.
Will the watermark be removed from all pages?
Yes, unless your document has section breaks and different headers/footers.
How can I remove a watermark on a Mac?
Go to Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark. It’s similar to the process on Windows.
Do watermarks print?
Yes, unless you manually disable printing of background elements.
Conclusion: Clean Up Your Document by Removing Unwanted Watermarks
Now that you know how to remove watermark in Word, you can quickly clean up your documents for a professional, distraction-free presentation. Whether you’re using a PC, Mac, or Word Online, removing a watermark is only a few clicks away. Don’t let “DRAFT” or unwanted logos clutter your work, take control of your formatting today!
Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts
If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.
https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/
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