# MS Word for Mac: page numbers not printing

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [May 8, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509 "2008-05-08T01:22:58Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2008, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509/1 "2008-05-08T01:22:58Z")

</div>

I am using Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac, version 11.3.8, and Mac OS X, version 10.5.2 (Leopard). In my text document, I inserted page numbers by using Insert -\> Page Numbers -\> Bottom of page (Footers). In Page Layout view, the page numbers appear, in the footer area, as gray numbers inside a darker gray box only slightly larger than the number. The rest of the text on the page outside the footer is black, not gray.

When I print the document, no page numbers appear. What’s wrong?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2008, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509/2 "2008-05-08T01:59:54Z")

</div>

[QUOTE=Walloon]  
I am using Microsoft Word 2004 for Mac, version 11.3.8, and Mac OS X, version 10.5.2 (Leopard). In my text document, I inserted page numbers by using Insert -\> Page Numbers -\> Bottom of page (Footers). In Page Layout view, the page numbers appear, in the footer area, as gray numbers inside a darker gray box only slightly larger than the number. The rest of the text on the page outside the footer is black, not gray.

When I print the document, no page numbers appear. What’s wrong?  
[/QUOTE]

Are they outside the printable area on your printer, by any chance?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2008, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509/3 "2008-05-08T10:17:35Z")

</div>

Yes, according to MS Word, “A footer in section 1 is set outside the printable area of the page”. But how do I set the footer within the printable area? I have tried tinkering with the bottom margin. No success.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\
**Post date:** [May 8, 2008, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ms-word-for-mac-page-numbers-not-printing/448509/4 "2008-05-08T10:49:57Z")

</div>

Send me the file @ my user CP. I’ll take care of it. If I’m not fast enough, tell the folks @ Word Mactopia.