How do I change the font for all page numbers? The numbers in my document are centred in the footer, and left and right pages are formatted differently.

Thanks for your help

In a particular document, go into the footer involved and change it.
Insert > Footer > Edit Footer

Each section has three headers and three footers. If there are multiple sections, each of these in different sections can be linked to previous or independent.
Header/Footer Settings Recap

For future reference, one of the worst ways to insert a page number is to use Insert > Page Number and pick something from the gallery. Among other things, this will overwrite existing headers/footers. Instead go into the header or footer and insert the page number manually. Alt+Shift+P will insert a PAGE field at the insertion point. If you want your page numbers to have different formatting from other text in the Header/Footer, apply a character style to it. That way, if you later want to change it, you can simply modify the style and it will change throughout a document.

Thanks. That's what I needed to know.

You are welcome.

I finally figured this out for Word 2010, based on these two web pages, below. Here's the summary:

How to create a footer with page numbers, where it will allow you to change the font and font size
. . . and how to add the File Name, and date of printout

Useful to know:
Insert / Header & Footer - Footer - Remove Footer
Double-click anywhere on the header or footer to unlock it

Adding page numbers . . . Key point: Stay on the Design tab, and Insert from there . . . Word 2013: Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers

Making the most of headers and footers . . . Key point: Use the Building Blocks and Quick Parts . . . Using Headers and Footers

Insert / "Header & Footer" group / Footer - Select "Blank (3 Columns)"

Left field: highlight it / Design tab / "Insert" group / Quick Parts - Field - "FileName" / Ok
Center field: highlight it / Design tab / "Insert" group / Quick Parts - Field - "Date" / Ok
Right field: highlight it / Design tab / "Insert" group / Quick Parts - Field - "Page" / Ok

Put some space between the FileName and Date, if necessary
Highlight all of the text / Home / Change the font and font size as desired
When you're finished, press the Esc key . . . or, Design tab / Close Header and Footer

Did the original answer posted six years ago not solve it for you?

• Page Numbers in Word 2007-2019 (365)
• Header/Footer Settings Recap

Hi! No, that answer didn't solve this for me. What happened was:

1.) lemonphenomenon's question was similar to mine, so I kept reading.

2.) This part of your answer made me think: . . . one of the worst ways to insert a page number is to use Insert > Page Number and pick something from the gallery. Among other things, this will overwrite existing headers/footers. Instead go into the header or footer and insert the page number manually . . . [key take-away points: don't use something from the gallery, insert the page number manually]

3.) Then, I read through the above links, and had to try: 1.) using something from the gallery, and 2.) inserting the page number manually (this was in my mind, but I didn't "insert" them, I changed the Building Block Fields to the Quick Parts fields I wanted) . . . I did what I described above, and it worked! . . . The difficult part of all this is knowing what to click, and in which Group.

You will be ahead of things if you learn how to insert a page number field and where.

I think what I came up with there is the simplest, and covers everything you would want to do: 1.) print up to 3 fields across the bottom, 2.) be able to change the font and font size


I don't want to become a footer/header scientist. I have enough to do, with the documents I'm printing, as it is, LOL!!

It's really quite simple to insert a page # field by:
1. going into the header/footer;
2. positioning the insertion point where you want the # to appear;
3. pressing Ctrl-F9 to create a pair of field braces (i.e. { });
4. typing 'PAGE' between the field braces, so you end up with {PAGE}
5. pressing F9 to update the field.


If you want to control the format of the field, either:
A. apply a suitable Style to it or its paragraph; or
B. at Step 4 above, type 'PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT' between the field braces, so you end up with {PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT}, then format the 'P' of 'PAGE' with the desired font attributes.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

3. pressing Ctrl-F9 to create a pair of field braces (i.e. { });
. . . I had to do it twice for it to work: Ctrl+F9, Ctrl+F9

A. apply a suitable Style to it or its paragraph; or
. . . easier: go to the Home Group, and use font and size drop-downs

B. at Step 4 above, type 'PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT' between the field braces, so you end up with {PAGE \* MERGEFORMAT}, then format the 'P' of 'PAGE' with the desired font attributes.
. . . this requires a manual to understand what you're doing - what's the benefit, or application, over what I have above?

I think what I have above is better - all options of what you can use are there, and up to 3 fields. What more could you want?

In which case you didn't do it right the first time.
That might be 'easier', but it's also less robust...
The recommended approach is more robust than what you did. Applying a Style to the field or using the MERGEFORMAT switch Microsoft's recommended methods. Read up on it - it's all fully documented.

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

For most people, it has to be easy, and straight forward, or guided - or else it's not used


Thanks for the info

It is both of those for anyone who has taken the time to learn the basics. For those who prefer to treat Word as a typewriter, though ...

__________________
Cheers,
Paul Edstein
[Fmr MS MVP - Word]

I agree with Paul. Word is a very complex tool with lots of ways to do things. This makes it very powerful. It is superficially easy to use until you try to do something different. Then you need to know where the switches are.


If you use Word for a major part of your work and care about how things look or feel like you are constantly fighting against the program, you owe it to yourself to learn how your tool works.

Basic Concepts of Microsoft Word - from Shauna Kelly