Changing the color of your page numbers in Microsoft Word is straightforward, as they are treated like regular text within the header or footer area.
Step-by-Step Guide to Changing Page Number Color
To modify the appearance of your page numbers, including their color, you need to access and edit the header or footer where they are placed.
1. Access the Header or Footer
Page numbers are typically located in the header (top of the page) or the footer (bottom of the page). To edit them:
- Double-click anywhere within the header or footer area of any page in your document. This will open the header/footer for editing and dim the main document text.
2. Select the Page Number
Once the header or footer is active:
- Click on the page number to select it. It should become highlighted.
3. Change the Color Using Home Tab Font Options
With the page number selected, you can use the standard text formatting tools on the Home tab, as mentioned in the reference: Select the page number. Go to Home Font choices and Font dialog box to change the font family, style, size, and color.
- Go to the Home tab on the Word ribbon.
- Locate the Font group.
- Click the dropdown arrow next to the Font Color button (it looks like an 'A' with a colored bar underneath).
- Choose a color from the theme colors, standard colors, or click More Colors for additional options. The page number will update to the new color immediately.
4. Exit the Header or Footer
After changing the color (and any other formatting):
- Double-click anywhere in the main body of your document outside the header or footer area.
- Alternatively, go to the contextual Header & Footer tab that appeared and click the Close Header and Footer button on the right side of the ribbon.
This change will apply to all page numbers throughout your document (unless you have different headers/footers set up for specific sections).
Why This Method Works
Page numbers inserted via Word's built-in tools are inserted into the header or footer as a special field, but they behave like standard text. Therefore, you can format them using the same text formatting tools available on the Home tab that you would use for any other text in your document.
Other Page Number Formatting Options
Using the Font group and the Font dialog box on the Home tab while the page number is selected, you can also change other aspects of its appearance, including:
- Font Family: Change the typeface (e.g., Arial, Times New Roman, Calibri).
- Font Style: Apply bold, italic, or underline formatting.
- Font Size: Make the page number larger or smaller.
These options are all available right alongside the Font Color choice in the Font group or by opening the Font dialog box (using the small arrow at the bottom right of the Font group).
| Formatting Aspect | Location on Home Tab (Font Group) |
|---|---|
| Font Family | Font dropdown menu |
| Font Style | B (Bold), I (Italic), U (Underline) buttons |
| Font Size | Font Size dropdown menu / Increase/Decrease Font buttons |
| Font Color | A with color bar (Font Color button) |
By selecting the page number and using the formatting tools on the Home tab, you gain full control over its appearance.
