When you create a spreadsheet, you might want to add a header at the top of each page. Often, you’ll see these in printed files. Let’s learn how to add headers in Microsoft Excel.
How to Add a Custom Header in Excel
There are two ways to add headers in Excel: customized and preset. We’ll look at both choices, focusing on customized first.
Working in an Excel spreadsheet, go to the Insert tab on the ribbon. On the far right, click on the Text button’s dropdown arrow. You’ll see a few options inside, including Header & Footer. Choose that one.
This will launch Excel’s Page Layout view, which is a broad overview of your spreadsheet’s layout. At the top of each page, you’ll notice text reading Add Header. This is placeholder text that you can swap out for your own, custom text.
Click on Add Header to select it, then type in your own words. This is how to build a custom header quickly.
As you may see, the text will initially appear off-center. That’s because you’re in the editing mode. To resolve it, simply click into any cell in the worksheet. Your header will now appear centered.
How to Add Preset Headers in Excel
Sometimes, you won’t need custom text in your header. You might want simpler elements, like your file name, or the page number. There’s no need to type these in manually, because Excel has them built-in as preset options.
As before, click on Add Header. But rather than typing in custom text, go to the Header & Footer tab on Excel’s ribbon. Over on the left, you’ll see several buttons for preset options.
These include Page Number, Number of Pages, Current Date, Current Time, File Path, File Name, and Sheet Name. Click on any of those to apply the given header to your sheet.
As you can see, Excel makes adding headers a breeze.