Excel spreadsheets are usually easy to read on a computer screen without changing too many settings. Things can get a little tricky if you have a lot of columns or rows, but it’s still typically manageable.
Most of the formatting and display issues that arise come when you need to print that spreadsheet. Printed data can be tough to decipher, especially if you haven’t done anything to make your spreadsheet easier to read. One thing that you can do is add page numbers, which we will show you how to do in the steps below.
How to Insert Page Numbers in Excel
The steps in this article were performed in the Microsoft Excel for Office 365 version of the application, but will work in most other versions as well.
Step 1: Open your spreadsheet in Excel.
Step 2: Select the View tab at the top of the window.
Step 3: Choose the Page Layout option in the Workbook Views section of the ribbon.
Step 4: Click inside the section of the header or footer where you want the page number.
Step 5: Click the Header & Footer Tools tab at the top of the window.
Step 6: Click the Page Number button in the Header & Footer Elements section of the ribbon.
This is going to add text to the header or footer that looks like &[Page]. If you want to repeat additional information in that location, such as your last name or the name of the report, simply type that information in front of the page number code.
Is some of your data tough to understand simply because you can’t tell which column it belongs to on pages after the first one? Find out how to repeat the top row on every page in Excel so that you can have your identifying headers appear at the start of each new page.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop and more.