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Removing a watermark from a Word document is straightforward once you know where to find the option. In most cases, go to the Design tab and click Watermark > Remove Watermark. However, watermarks inserted through headers, manual shapes, or protected documents require different removal techniques.
Watermarks in Word are typically text or image overlays displayed behind document content. They are commonly used for marking documents as DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, or DO NOT COPY. When you receive a document with an unwanted watermark, or when a draft becomes final, you need to remove it cleanly without affecting the document's content or formatting.
This guide covers every removal method including solutions for stubborn watermarks that resist the standard removal approach.
Open your document in Word, click the Design tab, click Watermark, then click Remove Watermark at the bottom of the menu. Done.
Method 1: Remove Watermark Using the Design Tab
This is the standard removal method that works for all watermarks inserted through Word's built-in watermark feature.
Open Your Document in Microsoft Word
Double-click the Word file or open Word and use File > Open to load the document.
Click the Design Tab
In the ribbon at the top, click the Design tab. In Word 2010, this is called the Page Layout tab instead.
Click Watermark
In the Page Background group, click Watermark. A dropdown menu appears showing watermark options.
Click Remove Watermark
At the bottom of the dropdown, click Remove Watermark. The watermark disappears from all pages immediately.
Tip: If the Design tab is not visible, right-click any tab in the ribbon and select Customize the Ribbon, then check the Design checkbox to make it appear.
Method 2: Remove a Watermark Through the Header
Some watermarks are inserted directly into the document header rather than through the Watermark tool. These do not respond to the standard removal method and must be deleted from the header area.
Double-Click the Top of Any Page
Double-click near the top margin of any page to open the Header editing mode. The main document content will appear grayed out.
Select the Watermark
Click directly on the watermark text or image. It should show selection handles (small squares) around it. You may need to click precisely on the watermark object.
Delete the Watermark
Press the Delete or Backspace key on your keyboard to remove the selected watermark. It will disappear from all pages.
Close the Header
Double-click on the main document area or click Close Header and Footer in the ribbon to exit header editing mode.
Method 3: Remove a Watermark in Word on Mac
The process on Mac is nearly identical to Windows, with minor interface differences in the ribbon layout.
Open the Document in Word for Mac
Launch Word for Mac and open the document containing the watermark.
Go to Design Tab
Click the Design tab in the ribbon.
Click Watermark
Click the Watermark button in the Page Background section.
Select No Watermark or Remove
In the watermark dialog, select No Watermark and click OK. The watermark is removed from all pages.
Warning: If the document is protected (restricted editing), you must unprotect it first before removing watermarks. Go to Review > Restrict Editing > Stop Protection and enter the protection password.
Method 4: Fix a Stubborn Watermark That Will Not Remove
Sometimes a watermark persists even after using the standard removal methods. This usually happens when the watermark is in a different document section or was inserted as a manual text box.
Check Each Section's Header
If your document has section breaks, each section may have its own header with a separate watermark. Open the header in each section and delete the watermark individually.
Look for Hidden Shapes
Open the header, then press Ctrl+A (Cmd+A on Mac) to select all objects in the header area. Press Delete to remove all header objects including hidden watermark shapes.
Use Find and Replace as a Last Resort
If the watermark is a text-based object embedded in the XML, save the document as .docx, rename the extension to .zip, extract it, open word/header1.xml in a text editor, remove the watermark text, re-zip and rename back to .docx.
Why Are There Watermarks in Word Documents?
Watermarks serve as visual labels indicating the status or classification of a document. Organizations use them to mark drafts, indicate confidentiality levels, denote internal documents, protect intellectual property, or add branding to official templates. They are semi-transparent by design so they do not obscure the document content. Word supports both text watermarks (DRAFT, CONFIDENTIAL, etc.) and image watermarks (logos, stamps) that display behind the main content on every page.
Frequently Asked Questions
The watermark may be in the header of a specific section, may be a manual shape rather than a built-in watermark, or the document may be protected. Try Methods 2 and 4 for stubborn watermarks.
Word watermarks apply to all pages in a section. To remove it from one page, insert section breaks before and after that page, unlink the headers, then delete the watermark from that section only.
Yes, open the PDF in Word (File > Open > select the PDF). Word will convert it to an editable document. Then use the standard watermark removal methods. Save as .docx or re-export as PDF.
No, removing a watermark does not change any text formatting, margins, or layout. The watermark is a separate layer behind the content.
Use the same Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark method. If the image watermark was inserted manually, open the header, click the image, and press Delete.
Word does not have a built-in batch watermark removal tool. You would need a macro or VBA script to process multiple files. Alternatively, open each document and remove the watermark individually.
Go to Design > Watermark > Remove Watermark. DRAFT is one of the built-in text watermarks and responds to the standard removal method.
This usually means the document is protected or opened in read-only mode. Check Review > Restrict Editing and disable protection. Also ensure you have editing permissions for the file.
Yes, go to Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark. Change the text, font, color, or layout without removing and recreating it.
Word Online currently does not support watermark removal. Open the document in the Word desktop app to remove watermarks, then save it back to OneDrive.