A header that looks faded in Word is usually only a screen effect. While you’re typing in the main text, Word dims the header and footer so you can tell which part you’re editing, and it does the reverse when you’re in the header. The header prints, and saves to PDF, in its real color. If it really is faded in the printout or PDF, the cause is the header’s font color, a picture set to Washout, or your printer’s ink-saving mode, and each has a quick fix below.
Applies to: Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016 on Windows and Mac. Last reviewed October 7, 2026.
Step 1: Check whether it’s really faded
- Select File > Print and look at the preview on the right.
- If the header looks normal there, it will print normally. Nothing needs fixing.
- For a second check, select File > Save As, choose PDF, and open the PDF.
To see the header at full strength while you work, double-click it. The header becomes bright and the body text dims instead. Double-click the body text to switch back. Word for Windows and Mac have no setting that turns this dimming off in Print Layout view.
Step 2: Fix faded header text
If the text is pale in the print preview, it has a light color.
- Double-click the header to open it.
- Select the header text.
- On the Home tab, open the Font Color menu and choose Automatic or Black.
- Select Bold if you want it to stand out more.
To fix it everywhere, including future headers in this document, right-click Header in the Styles pane (press Ctrl + Alt + Shift + S to open it), select Modify, set the color and select OK. Templates sometimes set headers to gray on purpose, and changing the style overrides that.
If your document has different headers in different sections, repeat this in each one. See how to make different headers in Word.
Step 3: Fix a faded logo or picture
Pictures in headers are often set to Washout, especially if they were added as a watermark.
- Double-click the header and click the picture.
- Select Picture Format > Color.
- Under Recolor, choose No Recolor.
- If it still looks pale, select Picture Format > Corrections and choose the middle option (Brightness: 0% Contrast: 0%), or Reset Picture.
If the picture sits behind the text across the whole page, it’s a watermark. Select Design > Watermark > Custom Watermark > Picture watermark, clear Washout and select OK.
Step 4: Check the printer
If the print preview looks right but paper copies are faded, the printer is the cause.
- In File > Print, select Printer Properties and turn off Draft, Economode, Toner save or Ink saver.
- In Word, select File > Options > Advanced, scroll to Print, and clear Use draft quality.
- If the whole top of the page is faint, the printer may be low on toner or ink.
Other ways to view the document
- Read Mode (View > Read Mode) hides headers entirely, which helps when you just want to read.
- Print preview and PDF show everything at full strength.
Troubleshooting
The header is faded only on the first page
The first page has its own header because Different First Page is turned on. Double-click that page’s header and fix its color separately.
The header disappears when printing
The header may be too close to the edge for your printer. Double-click it and increase Header from Top on the Header & Footer tab to at least 0.5 inch.
The header only appears on some pages
Each section can have its own header, or none. Check Link to Previous in each section; see how to repeat header and footer in Word.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop Word dimming the header on screen?
No. It’s built into Print Layout view. Double-click the header when you want to see it at full strength.
Will comments or tracked changes in the header print?
Only if markup printing is on. See how to print a Word document without comments.
Related: How to make the header smaller in Word.
Related: how to delete a header in Word.
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.