How to Remove Header and Footer in PowerPoint When Printing?

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Trish Dixon

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When preparing a PowerPoint presentation for printing, you may notice that the header and footer sections automatically appear on the printed slides. These sections can sometimes contain unnecessary information like the date, slide number, or the footer text, which may not be needed for your printed version.

Removing the header and footer is a simple process, but it requires some specific steps depending on whether you are working with slides, handouts, or notes pages. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process to ensure you can print a clean, professional-looking PowerPoint presentation.

Table of contents

Before we dive into the steps, it’s essential to understand what header and footer mean in the context of PowerPoint.

  • Header: The section at the top of each slide, often used for titles or logos.
  • Footer: The section at the bottom of each slide, typically containing information such as slide numbers, dates, or a custom footer text.

Why Remove Headers and Footers in PowerPoint?

While headers and footers are useful for certain presentations, there are times when you might want to remove them from printed copies for the following reasons:

  • To maintain a clean design on printed slides.
  • To focus on the content without distractions.
  • To save space for more important content.

Follow these easy steps to remove headers and footers from PowerPoint slides when printing:

Step 1: Open the PowerPoint Presentation

Begin by opening the PowerPoint presentation from which you want to remove the header and footer. Ensure all the slides are prepared before making changes to the layout.

To access the header and footer options, follow these steps:

  1. Click on the Insert tab located in the top toolbar.
  2. In the Text group, you will see an option labeled Header & Footer. Click on it to open the dialog box.

Once the Header and Footer dialog box appears, you can uncheck the boxes for the elements you wish to remove:

  1. Slide Number: If you do not want the slide number to appear on your printed slides, uncheck the Slide Number box.
  2. Footer: To remove any custom text, uncheck the Footer box.
  3. Date and Time: If you don’t need the date and time displayed, uncheck the Date and Time box.
  4. Apply to All: After making your selections, click on Apply to All to remove the header and footer from all slides.

Step 4: Preview the Slides Before Printing

It’s always a good idea to preview your slides before printing. To do this:

  1. Click on the File tab.
  2. Select Print from the menu.
  3. In the Print Preview window, review your slides to ensure the header and footer have been removed.

If you plan to print handouts or notes pages, you will need to follow a slightly different process to remove the header and footer. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Click on the View tab at the top of the PowerPoint window.
  2. In the Master Views group, click on Handout Master.
  3. On the Handout Master page, uncheck the options for Header, Footer, Date, and Page Number in the Placeholders group.
  4. Once you’ve unchecked these, click on the Close Master View button to return to your presentation.

To remove headers and footers from notes pages:

  1. Go to the View tab and select Notes Master from the Master Views group.
  2. Uncheck the options for Header, Footer, Date, and Page Number in the Placeholders group.
  3. After making these changes, click on Close Master View.

Removing Headers and Footers from Printouts (Alternative Method)

If you only want to remove the header and footer while printing, but leave them visible in the presentation, there is another method you can use:

  1. Click on the File tab in PowerPoint.
  2. Select Print from the left-hand menu.
  3. In the Settings section, under Print Layout, choose one of the options that exclude the header and footer:
  • Full Page Slides
  • Notes Pages
  • Outline

4. By selecting one of these layouts, the header and footer will not be included in your printed slides.

    This method allows you to maintain the header and footer in the digital version while removing them only from the printed copy.

    Using Slide Master to Permanently Remove Headers and Footers

    If you want to permanently remove all instances of the header and footer from your PowerPoint presentation, you can use the Slide Master feature. Here’s how:

    Step 1: Access the Slide Master

    1. Click on the View tab.
    2. In the Master Views group, select Slide Master.

    Step 2: Remove Headers and Footers

    Once in Slide Master view:

    1. Select the Master Slide (the first slide in the list).
    2. In the Placeholders group, uncheck Footer, Date, and Slide Number to remove these elements from all slides.
    3. You can also delete or modify the header and footer areas directly on the Master Slide by selecting and deleting the text boxes.
    4. Click Close Master View to save your changes.

    Step 3: Apply to All Slides

    The Slide Master changes will automatically apply to all slides in your presentation, removing any headers and footers.

    MethodUse CaseSteps
    Removing via Header & FooterRemoving from slides before printingInsert tab > Header & Footer > Uncheck relevant boxes > Apply to All
    Handout MasterRemoving from handoutsView tab > Handout Master > Uncheck relevant boxes > Close Master View
    Notes MasterRemoving from notes pagesView tab > Notes Master > Uncheck relevant boxes > Close Master View
    Print SettingsRemoving only from printed copiesFile tab > Print > Select Layout that excludes headers and footers
    Slide MasterPermanently removing from all slidesView tab > Slide Master > Uncheck relevant boxes or delete text boxes > Close Master View

    Sometimes, you may encounter issues where the header and footer don’t disappear even after following the steps above. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

    1. Check Individual Slides: If headers or footers are still visible on certain slides, they may have been manually added. You will need to remove them by selecting the text box directly on the slide and pressing Delete.
    2. Slide Layout Issues: Sometimes, the issue might be with the slide layout. Go to the Home tab, click on Layout, and ensure the correct layout is applied to your slides.
    3. Master Slide Not Updated: If changes to the Slide Master are not reflecting on the individual slides, make sure you are editing the correct Master Slide for your theme. Sometimes presentations have multiple Slide Masters if different templates are used.

    Final Thoughts

    Removing headers and footers from your PowerPoint presentation before printing is a straightforward process that can help improve the visual appearance of your slides. Whether you need to remove them from slides, handouts, or notes pages, PowerPoint offers multiple methods to suit your needs. By following the steps outlined above, you can ensure your printed presentation looks clean and professional without any unnecessary distractions.

    FAQs

    To remove the footer from PowerPoint slides, go to the Insert tab, select Header & Footer, uncheck the Footer box, and then click Apply to All.

    To remove the header and footer from handouts, go to the View tab, select Handout Master, uncheck the Header, Footer, Date, and Page Number options, then close the Handout Master view.

    Yes, you can remove the header and footer from notes pages by going to the View tab, selecting Notes Master, and unchecking the relevant boxes. Close the Notes Master to save changes.

    To remove the header and footer only for printing, go to File, select Print, and choose a layout like Full Page Slides that excludes the header and footer.

    What is the Slide Master and how does it help in removing headers and footers?

    The Slide Master allows you to control the overall layout of your presentation. By editing the Slide Master, you can permanently remove headers and footers from all slides in your presentation.

    Why are headers and footers still visible after following the steps?

    If headers and footers are still visible, check individual slides for manually added text boxes, or ensure that the correct Slide Master has been edited for the applied template.

    Trish Dixon
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