How to remove watermarks

Question

I want to remove watermarks from the pages of a manuscript.

Answer 1

It depends on how the watermark was inserted in the document.

1

At the top of word, select the Design tab.

Click Watermark in the Page Background section, and click Remove Watermark.

2

If that does not resolve the problem.

Double click the header section of the document to check if the watermark was inserted in the header, select it and press Delete.

Then double click in the document body to return to your document.

Answer 2

Dave has told you the standard method. All Watermarks are images in a header. Those added using the Insert Watermark command will have invisible tags marking it as a Watermark. Other images will not have this tag.

If you have Watermarks not removed by the Remove Watermark command, go to a page that has the Watermark and edit the header. Click on the stubborn Watermark, and press the Delete key. Repeat as needed.

See my writing on Troubleshooting Watermarks: https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Troubleshooting_Watermarks.

If you want to leave the Watermark on most pages but remove it from some, it is more quirky, but can be done. If that is the case, write back with more details about the pages from which you want to remove the Watermark.

Answer 3

In Word, watermarks are part of the header area. Removing them depends on how they were added and whether the document has multiple sections.

To remove a watermark in newer Word versions on Windows:

1. Go to the Design tab on the ribbon.
2. Select Watermark.
3. Click Remove Watermark.

If the watermark remains on some or all pages, remove it directly from the header:

1. Double-click near the top of a page that still shows the watermark to open the header area.
2. Move the pointer over the watermark until a 4‑way arrow appears.
3. Click to select the watermark.
4. Press Delete on the keyboard.
5. Repeat this for any other pages that still show a watermark. In documents with multiple sections, each section header can have its own watermark, so each section’s header may need to be edited.

On newer Word versions for Mac:

1. Go to Design > Watermark.
2. In the Insert Watermark box, choose No watermark.
3. If any watermark remains, double‑click the top of a page to open the header, click the watermark, and press Delete. Repeat for each section that still shows a watermark.

If the watermark still appears only on certain pages after using Remove Watermark, it is likely stored in headers of specific sections that are not linked to the first section; those headers must be edited individually as described above.

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References:

• Remove a watermark
• Remove watermark from all pages of a document. When I press remove watermark it only takes it off the first page - Microsoft Q&A