Remove Watermark in Excel: Complete Guide for All Watermark Types

A Watermark in Excel is a logo that appears on all pages of a worksheet. Many people add logos of their brands in the form of watermarks to avoid copyright issues. However, just like Microsoft Word, Excel doesn't have a built-in watermark feature, so you can add watermark by inserting an image or using header/footer settings. But what if you want to remove a watermark in Excel? If you don't like those logos on your worksheet and want to learn how to remove watermark from Excel, this article is for you. In this blog, we will tell you how to remove different types of watermark in Excel using simple methods. Let's get started!

Part 1: What Is a Watermark in Excel?

Watermarks are the best way to keep documents confidential and copyright-protected. People add watermarks in Excel when they want to secure their documents, so others can't use them without their permission. There are various methods for adding a watermark in Excel, including using background images, logos, and adjusting the header and footer text.

Common Use Cases of Watermarks in Excel

Watermarks in Excel are used for various purposes across personal, academic, and business settings. Typical use cases include:

• Draft documents: To indicate that a file is incomplete or still under review.
• Confidential files: To mark sensitive documents that shouldn't be shared or modified without permission.
• Company branding: To insert logos or slogans for professional and consistent documentation.
• Legal or proprietary content: To prevent unauthorized duplication or misuse of content.

Whether for protection or presentation, watermarks are a useful tool in Excel-but there may be times when you need to remove them. In the next section, we'll show you how to do just that.

Part 2: Types of Watermarks in Excel

As mentioned above, Excel doesn't have a built-in watermark like Word, so you can easily make your own watermarks and add them to your worksheet according to your requirements. There are different types of watermarks in Excel, including:

1. Header or Footer Watermarks
2. Inserted Background Image Watermarks
3. WordArt or Text Box Watermarks
4. Cell-Based Text Watermarks
5. Template-Based or Default Watermarks

You can decide which type of watermark you want to use and add it accordingly. The most commonly used watermark in Excel is the header and footer watermark, as it is easy to add and can be seen on all your pages. Moreover, you can remove a watermark on Excel with one click, which means you don't need any third-party apps to remove for this purpose.

Part 3: How to Remove Header or Footer Watermark in Excel

If you have added a header or footer watermark, but it's not looking good on your worksheet, then removing the watermark in Excel is the only solution left. You can use the "Page Layout View" to locate and remove it. Apart from that, if you want to remove the watermark from multiple pages, here is another method that you can try.

• Open your Excel Sheet and look for the menu.
• Now, click the "Insert" option and choose the "Header & Footer" option.
• Click inside the header section, such as center, left, or right.
• Next, visit Header & Footer Tools and click the "Design Tab" option.
• Now, look for "& [Picture]" and click delete to remove it.

By following these simple steps, you have learned how to remove a watermark from Excel. Now, let's check some other methods of removing watermark on Excel.

Part 4: How to Remove Background Image Watermark in Excel

You can add a background image as a watermark to help keep your worksheet secure. However, if you want to edit or remove the watermark from the Excel background, you can use the Page Layout method. This is a simple and effective way to remove a watermark in Excel. Here's how you can do it:

• Go to the menu and choose the "Page Layout" option.
• In the Page Setup group, click the "Delete Background" and your watermark will be removed.
• If you have added floating images, you can click and delete the images manually.

Part 5: How to Remove WordArt or Text Box Watermark in Excel

Wondering how do you remove a watermark in Excel? It's pretty simple if you have used a text box or WordArt watermark. Here are the steps that you can follow to remove a watermark in Excel.

• Open your Excel sheet where you have added the watermark and want to remove it.
• Locate the watermark and click it to get the drawing layer.
• Once the WordArt or Text box watermark is activated, click the watermark and press the delete button.
• That's it, the watermark will be removed instantly.

Part 6: How to Remove Cell-Based or Template Watermarks in Excel

Finally, you have learned different types of watermarks and how to remove them. It's time to learn about the last type, which is cell-based or template watermarks. These are grey text in cells which can be found in some sheets. Companies use a light gray font to add these watermarks. To remove these watermarks, you just have to follow the steps below.

1. Cell-Based Watermarks:

• Open your Excel file and look for grayed-out text. You can see that text in your background.
• Choose the cell where this text is added.
• Click or press the delete button on your keyboard, and that's it, you have removed the watermark on Excel.

2. Template-Based Watermark:

To remove template-based watermarks, you have to first review the layout or look for the hidden objects.

• Go to the menu and look for the "Page Layout" option.
• On the sheet, look for shapes, text boxes, or wordart.
• Choose all of them and press the delete button for removing the watermark in Excel.

Bonus Tips: Best Tool to Remove Watermark from Image & Video

HitPaw Watermark Remover is the best tool for removing watermark from image and video. This tool has all the powerful features that you can use to edit and remove your watermark from any image or video. What's more, it doesn't disturb your image or video quality like other watermark removers. It supports many image and video formats. You can use the free version to check out its features

Key Features of HitPaw Watermark Remover

• 1. AI-Powered and Fast Removal

It uses AI technology to detect and remove watermarks from videos and images. This tool can remove watermarks within 5 seconds.

• 2. Versatile Modes

It offers multiple modes to remove your watermarks. You can use different modes like Brush, Marquee, and Polygonal Lasso.

• 3. Supports Various Formats

It supports a wide range of image and video formats.

• 4. User-Friendly Interface

It has a simple and intuitive interface, so anyone can use it without any issues. You can open this tool on your Windows and macOS.

• 5. Multiple Subscription Plans

You can visit the official website and choose different subscription plans according to your requirements.

Steps to Use HitPaw Watermark Remover for Videos and Images

Step 1: Open HitPawWatermark Remover and import

Launch the tool and upload your image or video from where you want to remove the watermark. You can also drag your videos and images.

Step 2: Choose the Best Watermark Mode

After you are done importing the video or image, you have to choose your best mode to remove the watermark. You will see five modes like color filling, matte filling, AI model, and so on.

Step 3: Remove Watermark

Once you have chosen the mode, mark the area from where you want to remove the watermark. You can also choose the duration if it is a video.

Step 4: Export Your Image or Video

Click the preview option after removing the watermark. If you are satisfied with the results, click the "Export" option and download your final version.

Conclusion

Now that you've explored the different ways watermarks can appear in Excel, you're ready to remove watermarks from Excel - whether they're background images, WordArt, text boxes, gray cell-based text, or template watermarks. Additionally, before printing or sharing your file, double-check your layout views and print settings to make sure you don't have any unwanted watermarks. You can also use HitPaw Watermark Remover to delete watermarks from your images and videos. We hope that after reading this article, you finally know how to remove watermark in Excel.

(*Final Reminder: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Before using the relevant features, please make sure to:
① Consult a qualified legal professional in your jurisdiction to evaluate any legal risks that may apply;
② Carefully read and fully understand the HitPaw Term of Service and HitPaw Privacy Policy;
③ Ensure that all generated content complies with applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations, particularly those related to synthetic media and deepfake technologies.)