• Page numbers aren't visible in normal view (normal view: A view that shows text formatting and a simplified page layout. Normal view is convenient for most editing and formatting tasks.) or Web layout view (Web layout view: A view of a document as it will appear in a Web browser. For example, the document appears as one long page (without page breaks) and text and tables wrap to fit in the window.). To view page numbers, switch to print layout view (print layout view: A view of a document or other object as it will appear when you print it. For example, items such as headers, footnotes, columns, and text boxes appear in their actual positions.).

• Page numbers are dimmed in print layout view. In print layout view, you can view page numbers but you can't edit them. To edit page numbers, you need to display the header or footer (header and footer: A header, which can consist of text or graphics, appears at the top of every page in a section. A footer appears at the bottom of every page. Headers and footers often contain page numbers, chapter titles, dates, and author names.) that contains the page numbers.

• Page numbers overlap other text or graphics in the header or footer area. If you inserted page numbers by using the Page Numbers command on the Insert menu, the page numbers are enclosed in frames (frame: A container that you can resize and position anywhere on the page. To position text or graphics that contain comments, footnotes, endnotes, or certain fields, you must use a frame instead of a text box.). If the frame containing a page number overlaps other text or graphics in the header or footer area, try repositioning the frame.

When you add page numbers, dates, times, and so on to a header or footer (header and footer: A header, which can consist of text or graphics, appears at the top of every page in a section. A footer appears at the bottom of every page. Headers and footers often contain page numbers, chapter titles, dates, and author names.), Microsoft Word inserts fields (field: A set of codes that instructs Microsoft Word to insert text, graphics, page numbers, and other material into a document automatically. For example, the DATE field inserts the current date.) for these items. Fields ensure that page numbers are automatically updated as you change the document and that dates, times, and other items are updated when you print the document. If you see field codes such as {PAGE} or {DATE} instead of the actual page numbers, dates, times, and so on, press ALT+F9.

• The document is divided into sections (section: A portion of a document in which you set certain page formatting options. You create a new section when you want to change such properties as line numbering, number of columns, or headers and footers.). When you change or delete page numbers, Microsoft Word automatically changes or removes the page numbers throughout the document. However, if the document is divided into sections, and you have broken the connection between them (by clicking Link to Previous on the Header and Footer toolbar), Word changes or removes the page numbers only from the current section.

• The document contains different first-page or odd and even headers or footers (header and footer: A header, which can consist of text or graphics, appears at the top of every page in a section. A footer appears at the bottom of every page. Headers and footers often contain page numbers, chapter titles, dates, and author names.). In this case, make sure to change or remove the page numbers in each different header or footer.

• Line numbers aren't visible in normal view (normal view: A view that shows text formatting and a simplified page layout. Normal view is convenient for most editing and formatting tasks.) or Web layout view (Web layout view: A view of a document as it will appear in a Web browser. For example, the document appears as one long page (without page breaks) and text and tables wrap to fit in the window.). To view line numbers, switch to print layout view (print layout view: A view of a document or other object as it will appear when you print it. For example, items such as headers, footnotes, columns, and text boxes appear in their actual positions.).

• The margins are too small. Microsoft Word displays line numbers in the left margin or to the left of each newspaper-style column. If the margins are too small, Word can't display or print line numbers. You may need to resize the page margins.

• The distance between the line numbers and the text is too large. If the distance is greater than the margin width, Word can't display or print line numbers. On the File menu, click Page Setup, and then click the Layout tab. Click Line Numbers, and then select the Add line numbering check box. In the From text box, enter the number you want.