i am getting error inserting watermark in word office 365 . getting http error 400

One thing is, you do not really need the "Watermark" feature at all.

Watermarks, in Word, are graphics in the header that have a special tag on them to tell Word that they are a Watermark. That tag is used to delete it using the command or to replace it if you add another using the Watermark command. Except when using the Watermark feature, they do not matter.

You can simply edit the header and add the image yourself, setting it behind text and semi-transparent.

(This is a workaround, and also a way to do things you cannot do using the Watermark feature.)

Yes, text Watermarks, in Word, are graphics. The text is converted into a WordArt graphic and it is treated as a graphic, not as text, for other features in Word.

• Watermarks in Ribbon Versions of Word
• Troubleshooting Watermarks
• Headers Unbound - put header elements anywhere on a page by Suzanne Barnhill, MVP

I have received this reply from my Word contact:

The bug we have tracking this is still open and the crew is investigating. We’re unable to repro internally, so the team is trying to gather more information. I was able to reproduce the issue shortly after it was reported, but it resolved itself on my end. 

If you’re able to collect information from users, the crew is looking to confirm if the issue occurs with all these entry points: 

• Ribbon > Insert > Pictures > Online Pictures.
• Ribbon > Home > Paragraph > Bullet Library > Define New Bullet > Picture > Bing Image Search
• Ribbon > Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark > Picture Watermark > Select Picture

If one of these gives the HTTP error, do the other scenarios listed here work?

Hi sir,

I'm not using any browser i installed this word application through microsoft 365(office) and i already updated on latest version of office 365 but this error is not solved.

This problem has been reported to the Word team and is being investigated. Until it is corrected, you can insert a watermark by accessing the header, inserting your picture, increasing the brightness to make it wash out, and setting the text wrapping as Behind Text.

Hi Shivraj S

Welcome to the forum. My name is Segunfunmi, and I am an Independent Advisor and Microsoft user just like you. I appreciate you reaching out to me with your query.

I’m sorry to hear that you’re having trouble inserting a watermark in Word Office 365. This issue might be due to a bug in the software. Here are a few suggestions that might help:

You can insert an image directly into the header of your document1. Here’s how:

Double-click on the header of your document. Navigate to Insert -> Picture and select your image. After inserting the image, select it. On the top ribbon, adjust the transparency and resize the image as needed.

If the issue continues, consider performing an online repair of your Office installation.

Another workaround is to click the “Work Offline” button in the second window. This action opens File Explorer, where you can select the image file.

Remember, it’s important to keep your software updated to benefit from the latest fixes and improvements.

I hope that the information provided has been helpful to you. If you have any further questions or concerns, please feel free to ask.

Warm regards Segunfunmi