Removing header and keeping footer

Question

How do I remove the header of the chapter title page of a document but keep the page number? I’ve tried section breaks, unlinking to previous and the different first page options. I’m losing my mind trying to figure this out as I’m not well oriented with Word.
Finally when I’ve managed to get the page number on and gotten rid of the header (different first page option), I notice the footer is slightly on a lower level than the rest of the document!! Please advise. I’m desperate.

Answer 1

Hi,

This question would be more appropriately asked in the sister consumer answers forum but I will make a stab at it. (That forum is: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word.)

Here is my recap of header and footer settings in a document:
http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Recap_of_Header/Footer_settings

Each section in a Word document has three headers and three footers.
Main or primary header/footer (which also acts as the odd-page header/footer)
Even-page header/footer http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Odd_and_Even
First-page header/footer http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Different_First_Page
Whether or not you see these depends on the options you set for that section and whether there are enough pages to display them all.

To have the Chapter Title page have a different header (no header) from the rest, you want to have a section break before that title page and use the Different first page setting. This setting changes both the header and the footer, as I think you have noticed.

Each section after the first one contains the same six parts which may or may not be connected/linked to the same part in the previous section.

Your page numbers are in the footer(s), apparently.

Your page number that is lower may have a blank paragraph in the footer before the page number, moving it lower.
Turn on display of non-printing formatting marks to see this. Such a paragraph can be deleted.
http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/NonprintChars.htm

I doubt anyone can tell you more without seeing your document (not a screenshot). You could attach a link here. Here is my article explaining how to do this. https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/msoffice_word-mso_win10-mso_365hp/why-a-sample-file-is-important-for-troubleshooting/9441ae3c-1e92-41c6-9a1f-5b377b08e5a5?tm=1619027698258

You may also want to look at:

• http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/FrontMatterRibbon.htm
• https://wordmvp.com/FAQs/Formatting/WorkWithSections.htm

I strongly suggest use of a StyleRef field in your headers so that the same header can work throughout your document and still reflect the content of the current chapter.

• http://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/fields.htm#STYLEREF
• http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/StyleRef.htm

You can download a Quick Reference Card on Headers and Footers from my website.
http://www.addbalance.com/word/download.htm#hfQuickReference
It is based on a now-removed Microsoft Help page.

Answer 2

Thank you so much @Charles Kenyon for your answer! I must admit, all this is greek and latin to me. Nevertheless, I'll take another shot at them headers and footers from what you suggested. The good news is I've got it fixed somehow (I have no idea how that happened) and things look pretty symmetrical now (phew!). But I really appreciate you taking the time to write all this amazing info down. Thanks again and have a great day! :)