How to Create a Watermark in Microsoft Word
Have you heard of watermarks? In simple terms, a watermark is like a hidden image, video, or text that blends into other digital content. Imagine typing up a document in Word and having another piece of text faintly visible behind your main text. That slightly obscured text is what we call a watermark.
People often use watermarks to prevent others from copying their work outright. But beyond protecting copyright, watermarks serve several other purposes and benefits.
In this guide, we'll show you how to create a watermark in Word. While many people use programs like Adobe Photoshop for this task, using Word is much simpler and more straightforward. Curious to find out how? Let's dive in!
How to Create a “Confidential” Watermark
Microsoft Word offers various watermark options. Let's start by creating a "Confidential" watermark. You might use text like "confidential" or "do not copy."
We're using Microsoft Office Word 2016 here, but the steps are similar in other versions. Here’s how you can add a "Confidential" watermark to your document:
- Open the Word document you want to add a watermark to.
- Click on the 'Design' menu.

- Select 'Watermark' in the top right corner.

- Word will show several predefined watermark options. Simply choose one that says "Confidential."

- Click on your selection, and Word will automatically insert the chosen watermark.
How to Create a “Disclaimers” Watermark
Creating a "Disclaimers" watermark is similar to the "Confidential" type but with different text options like "Draft" or "Sample."
To add a "Disclaimers" watermark, follow these steps:
- Open your document.
- Go to the 'Design' menu.
- Click on 'Watermark' in the upper right corner.
- Select the type of disclaimer you need from the four available options.

- Click on your choice, and the watermark will automatically be applied to your document.

How to Create an “Urgent” Watermark
Need to mark your document as highly important? You can easily do that with an "Urgent" watermark in Microsoft Word.
This type of watermark highlights that your document is important and meant for specific readers. Here’s how to add an "Urgent" watermark:
- Open the Word document you want to watermark.
- Click on the 'Design' tab.
- Select 'Watermark,' then choose one of the "Urgent" watermark options.
- Click on the option that suits your needs.

- That’s it! The watermark will automatically appear on your document.
How to Create a “Custom” Watermark
If none of Word’s default watermarks work for you, don’t worry—you can create your own custom watermark with personalized text. Here’s how:
- Open the Word document you want to watermark.
- Go to the 'Design' tab and click on 'Watermark.'
- Select 'Custom Watermark.'

- In the text watermark section, type your desired text.
- The watermark will be instantly applied to your document. Easy, right?

You can also customize the font type in the 'Font' section and adjust the size in the 'Size' section. If you want the watermark to be more subtle, check the box to make it semitransparent. Once you're happy with the settings, just click OK, and your custom watermark is ready!

How to Remove a Watermark in Word
Aside from adding watermarks, you can also remove them from Word documents. Before doing so, make sure you have the permission to modify the document, including removing the watermark. Here’s how to do it:

- Open the Word document that contains the watermark.
- Go to the 'Design' tab and select 'Watermark.'
- At the bottom of the options, click 'Remove Watermark.'
- And that's it! The watermark will instantly disappear from your document. Simple, right?
Benefits and Purposes of Watermarks

Watermarks in Microsoft Word aren’t just for adding text to a document. They actually serve specific purposes and offer various benefits. Here are some key ones:
- Tamper-proofing
A watermark can show that a document has been modified from its original version. This helps others recognize that the content has been changed.
- Feature Location
Watermarks can help identify the content or source of a document, making it easier to understand where it came from or what it's about.
- Annotation/caption
Watermarks can provide extra information about a document, offering more context to the reader.
- Copyright Protection
Many people use watermarks to protect their work from being copied, marking it as their intellectual property.
Now you know how easy it is to create or remove a watermark in Word. If you ever need to protect your document with a watermark, go ahead and try it out!