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How to Create a Custom Heading Style in Microsoft Word for Mac

By Erin Wright

Laptop on desk with apple with text overlay "How to Create a Custom Heading Style in Word for Mac"In the last tutorial, we created a custom heading style in Microsoft Word for the PC. Today, we’re going to create a custom heading style in Microsoft Word for Mac. We will also look at how to delete a custom heading style in Mac.

Quick Links:

  • How to Create a Custom Heading Style in Word for Mac
  • How to Delete a Custom Heading Style in Word for Mac

This tutorial is also available as a YouTube video showing all the steps in real time.

Watch more than 100 other videos about Microsoft Word and Adobe Acrobat on my YouTube channel.

The images below are from Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac. These steps should be similar in older versions of the software.

How to Create a Custom Heading Style in Word for Mac

  1. Select the Home tab in the ribbon.
Home tab in Word for Mac
Figure 1. Home tab
  1. Select the Styles Pane button.
Styles Pane button in Word 365
Figure 2. Styles Pane button
  1. Select the New Style button in the Styles Pane.
New Style button in the Styles pane in Word for Mac
Figure 3. New Style button
  1. Type a name for your custom heading style in the Name text box in the Create New Style from Formatting dialog box.
Name text box in the Create New Style from Formatting dialog box in Word for Mac
Figure 4. Name text box
  1. Select your heading level in the Style based on menu.

Important Notes:

    • This step is important because your new heading won’t be included in your table of contents or outline without an assigned level.
    • You are creating a new heading style for the level you choose, but you won’t be replacing the existing built-in style for that level. For example, if you choose Heading 2, the built-in Heading 2 style will remain the same and can be used in the same document with your custom level 2 style.
"Style based on" menu in the Create New Style from Formatting dialog box in Word for Mac
Figure 5. “Style based on” menu
  1. Select your style’s new font, font size, emphasis (which is bold, italics, or underlining), color, and alignment in the Formatting section.
Formatting options in the Create New Style from Formatting dialog box in Word for Mac
Figure 6. Formatting options

The preview window will update as you make formatting selections so you can review your style as you make changes.

Preview section in the Create New Style from Formatting dialog box in Word for Mac
Figure 7. Preview section
  1. (Optional) Select Add to template if you want your style to be available in future documents.
"Add to template" option in the Create New Style from Formatting in Word for Mac
Figure 8. “Add to template” option
  1. Select the OK button.
OK button in the Create New Style from Formatting in Word for Mac
Figure 9. OK button

Your style should now appear in the Style gallery.

Custom heading style in the Styles gallery in Word for Mac
Figure 10. Custom style in the Style gallery
  1. Select the X to close the Styles pane.
Styles pane closing X in Word for Mac
Figure 11. Closing X

The new style can be applied to any text in your document.

How to Delete a Custom Heading Style in Word for Mac

  1. Control click (or right-click) your custom heading style in the Style gallery, and then select Remove from Style Gallery in the shortcut menu.
Remove from Style Gallery option in Word for Mac
Figure 12. Remove from Style Gallery option

Your style should now be removed from the Style gallery.

Related Resources

How to Add and Modify Heading Numbers in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Insert and Delete a Blank Page in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Change Page Orientation in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

How to Insert Section Breaks in Microsoft Word (PC & Mac)

Updated May 20, 2022

Filed Under: Microsoft Word Tagged With: formatting, headings, Word for Mac

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Technical Writer and Editor Erin Wright

Hello! My name is Erin. I am a technical writer and editor who shares writing-related software tutorials on this website and on YouTube.

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