How to Add a Watermark in Word (Text or Image)

A watermark is faint text or a picture that sits behind your content, like “DRAFT” or a company logo. Word stores it in the header, so it repeats on every page of the section.

• Add a preset text watermark
• Create a custom text watermark
• Add a picture or logo watermark
• Place an image behind text by hand (shown in the video)
• Remove a watermark

Adding a preset watermark from the Design tab

Use this when a standard label like CONFIDENTIAL, DRAFT or DO NOT COPY is enough.

1. Open the document in the Word desktop app.
2. Go to the Design tab and select Watermark (in the Page Background group).
3. Pick a preset from the gallery, such as CONFIDENTIAL 1 or DRAFT 1.

Result: The watermark appears behind the text on every page. Microsoft’s guide to putting a watermark on all pages shows the same steps.

Tip: To mark a single page, right-click a preset in the gallery and choose Insert at Current Document Position. Word adds it as a text box on the page you clicked.

Creating a custom text watermark

Use this when you need your own wording, such as “Internal Use” or a client name.

1. Go to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark.
2. Select Text watermark.
3. Type your words in Text, or pick one from the list.
4. Choose the Font, Size and Color. Keep Semitransparent checked so the text stays readable.
5. Under Layout, choose Diagonal or Horizontal.
6. Select OK.

Result: Your custom text appears faintly across each page.

Adding a picture or logo watermark

Use this when you want a logo or stamp on every page and don’t need to position it precisely.

1. Go to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark.
2. Select Picture watermark, then Select Picture.
3. Choose an image from your device or search Bing images, then select Insert.
4. Leave Scale on Auto and keep Washout checked.
5. Select OK.

Result: The picture is centred on every page in a light, washed-out tone. Turn off Washout if your logo is already pale.

Placing an image behind text as a watermark

Use this when you want full control over the size, position and fade of an image. This is the method shown in the video.

1. Click where you want the image and go to Insert > Pictures > This Device.
2. Select the picture, then go to Picture Format > Wrap Text > Behind Text.
3. Drag the image to where you want it and resize it from a corner handle.
4. Go to Picture Format > Transparency and choose a preset such as 65% or 80%.
5. For an exact value, choose Picture Transparency Options and drag the Transparency slider.

Result: The image sits faded behind your text on that page only.

To repeat it on every page, double-click the header area first and insert the picture there. Anything placed in the header appears on each page of the section.

Note: If you don’t see Transparency, your version of Word doesn’t have it. Use Picture Format > Color > Washout instead.

Wrap Text settings are explained in more detail in how to put an image and text side by side in Word. For a rounded logo, you can first crop the picture into a circle.

Removing a watermark

Use this when a document still carries DRAFT or an old logo.

1. Go to Design > Watermark.
2. Select Remove Watermark. On a Mac, select No watermark in the Insert Watermark box.

If the watermark stays, follow Microsoft’s steps for removing a watermark:

1. Double-click near the top of the page to open the header area.
2. Click the watermark to select it.
3. Press Delete. Repeat for each section that has its own header.

Comparing the methods

Platform differences

• Windows: Design > Watermark opens a gallery of presets; Custom Watermark opens the Printed Watermark dialog.
• Mac: Design > Watermark opens the Insert Watermark box directly, with Picture and Text options.
• Word for the web: you can’t add a watermark. Select Editing > Open in Desktop App, then add it there.

Troubleshooting watermarks in Word

• The watermark is missing on some pages: the document has several sections with different headers. Add the watermark in each section, or link the headers with Link to Previous.
• You get two watermarks on one page: remove the existing watermark before adding a new one to all pages.
• The watermark covers your text: for a manual image, set Wrap Text to Behind Text and raise its transparency.
• The watermark is too dark when printed: turn on Washout or Semitransparent, or choose a lighter colour.
• You want a colored page instead of faded text: a watermark isn’t a fill; change the page background color in Word with Design > Page Color.
• You need it in a PDF: the watermark is kept when you convert the Word document to PDF.

Printing a flyer or handout too? You can also insert a QR code in Word that links to your website. For more ways to add pictures, shapes and controls, browse the Microsoft Word guides.