Add Page Numbers in Word and Start Numbering on Page 2

You want page numbers in your Word document, but not on the title page — and ideally you’d like the numbering to begin on the second page.

Why: Word numbers every page by default, including the cover. The fix is two settings: Different First Page removes the number from page 1, and Format Page Numbers > Start at controls what number the count begins from.

Step 1: Insert page numbers

1. Go to the Insert tab.
2. In the Header & Footer group, click Page Number.
3. Choose a position — Top of Page, Bottom of Page, or Page Margins — then pick a style from the gallery.

Word adds a number to every page and opens the Header & Footer editing area.

Step 2: Remove the number from the first page

1. With the header/footer area open, go to the Header & Footer tab that appears on the ribbon.
2. Tick the Different First Page check box.
3. Click into the first page’s header or footer and delete the page number there. Because the first page is now treated separately, this leaves pages 2 onward numbered while page 1 stays blank.
4. Click Close Header and Footer (or press Esc).

If you ever need to reopen this area, double-click in the header or footer region.

Step 3: Make page 2 show “1” (optional)

By default, with the first page unnumbered, page 2 still shows 2. If you want it to read 1:

1. Go to Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
2. In the dialog, under Page numbering, select Start at and type 0.
3. Click OK.

With the count starting at 0, the hidden first page is “0” and the second page becomes “1”.

FAQ

The number still shows on the title page. Make sure Different First Page is ticked (Header & Footer tab) and that you deleted the number specifically from the first page’s header/footer, not a later one.

Different First Page affects more than my cover page. That setting applies to the first page of each section. If your document has section breaks, each section has its own first page. Check Layout > Breaks to see where sections begin.

How do I show “Page X of Y”? Insert a page number, then add the total with a field — Microsoft’s article on including the total page count walks through the field codes.

Sources: Microsoft Support — Start page numbering later in your document, Microsoft Support — Insert page numbers