To remove page numbers in Excel when printing, the most straightforward and recommended method is to edit or remove the page number directly from the header or footer settings.
Steps to Remove Page Numbers
Excel places page numbers within the Header or Footer sections of your worksheet. Removing them is a quick process:
-
Access Header & Footer Settings:
- You can typically access this via the Page Layout tab on the ribbon, then clicking the small arrow in the bottom right corner of the "Page Setup" group to open the dialog box.
- Alternatively, go to File > Print, scroll down and click Page Setup at the bottom.
- Within the "Page Setup" dialog box, select the Header/Footer tab.
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Open Header or Footer Editor:
- On the Header/Footer tab, click the Custom Header... button or the Custom Footer... button, depending on where your page numbers are located.
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Delete the Page Number Placeholder:
- Inside the Custom Header or Custom Footer dialog box, you will see sections (Left, Center, Right). Look for the section that contains the page number placeholder. This placeholder usually looks something like
&[Page],&[Page] of &[Pages], or similar text combined with symbols. - Select the entire placeholder text (e.g.,
&[Page]) using your mouse. - Press the Delete key on your keyboard.
- Important: Only delete the page number placeholder. Leave any other text or placeholders you want to keep.
- Inside the Custom Header or Custom Footer dialog box, you will see sections (Left, Center, Right). Look for the section that contains the page number placeholder. This placeholder usually looks something like
-
Confirm Changes:
- Click OK in the Custom Header/Footer dialog box.
- Click OK in the Page Setup dialog box.
Your page numbers should now be removed for printing.
Caution: Removing Headers or Footers Entirely
While there might be options to remove headers or footers entirely (such as selecting "(none)" from the Header/Footer dropdowns), this action will remove everything in that header or footer section, not just the page number.
Caution: If you have headers or footers set up, using this option might remove them entirely. Instead, open the header or footer, select the page number, and then press Delete. This ensures you only remove the page numbers and keep any other information you intended to have in the header or footer.
Summary Table
| Action | Method | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Remove Page Number (Recommended) | Edit Custom Header/Footer, delete &[Page] placeholder |
Removes only the page number placeholder. |
| Remove Header/Footer (Caution) | Select "(none)" from Header/Footer dropdowns | Removes all content from that header/footer. |
By following the recommended steps of editing the custom header or footer and deleting only the page number placeholder, you can precisely control what appears on your printed pages.
