How to Format a Running Head in APA 7th Edition (Without Losing Your Mind)

You’ve been staring at the header for 20 minutes. The page number keeps jumping. The title won’t stay in uppercase. And you’re one Ctrl+Z away from throwing your laptop out the window.

Formatting a running head in APA 7th edition shouldn’t be this painful. But Microsoft Word has a way of turning a two-minute task into a formatting nightmare. Whether you’re writing a thesis, a journal article, or a term paper, the running head is one of those small details that professors and editors spot instantly. Get it wrong, and your credibility takes a hit.

Let’s fix that—for good.

What Exactly Is a Running Head in APA 7th Edition?

In APA 7th edition, the running head is a shortened version of your paper’s title. It appears in the header of every page, flush left, in all capital letters. The page number sits flush right on the same line.

Here’s the catch: APA 7th edition requires a running head only for professional manuscripts (like journal submissions). Student papers typically don’t need one—unless your instructor says otherwise. Always check your assignment guidelines first.

If you do need one, the rules are simple:

• Maximum 50 characters (including spaces and punctuation)
• All uppercase letters
• Flush left in the header
• Page number flush right
• Appears on every page, including the title page

Step-by-Step: How to Format a Running Head in APA 7th Edition

We’ll walk through this using Microsoft Word (the most common tool). If you’re using Google Docs or another platform, the logic is the same—just locate the header editor.

Step 1: Open the Header Area

Double-click the top margin of your document. This opens the header section and activates the “Header & Footer” tab in Word. You’ll see a dotted line labeled “Header.”

Step 2: Check “Different First Page”

In the “Header & Footer” tab, check the box for “Different First Page.” Why? APA 7th edition requires the running head to appear on the title page, but the label “Running head:” is no longer used (that was APA 6th edition). On the first page, the running head is just the shortened title in all caps. On subsequent pages, it’s the same—no label, just the title.

This setting lets you have a different header on page 1 versus the rest of the document.

Step 3: Type the Running Head on the First Page

With the first-page header active, type your shortened title in all caps. For example: EFFECTS OF SLEEP ON MEMORY. Then press Tab once or twice to move the cursor to the right margin. Insert your page number (usually “1” for the title page).

Step 4: Set the Running Head for Subsequent Pages

Close the first-page header (or scroll down to page 2). Now, in the main header area (not the first-page one), type the same shortened title in all caps. Add the page number on the right. Word will automatically increment the page number for each page.

Step 5: Align Everything Properly

Use the ruler or tab stops to ensure the title is flush left and the page number is flush right. A quick way: set a right-aligned tab stop at the right margin. Then press Tab before inserting the page number.

Step 6: Double-Check the Character Count

Count every character in your shortened title—including spaces and punctuation. APA 7th edition caps it at 50. If you’re over, abbreviate or rephrase. For example, “The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Memory Consolidation in College Students” becomes “SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND MEMORY.”

Common Running Head Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Even experienced writers trip up here. Here are the top errors we see in 5 Common APA Formatting Mistakes (And How to Fix Them):

Mistake	Fix
Using “Running head:” label (APA 6th edition style)	Remove it. APA 7th edition does not use this label.
Title case instead of all caps	Hold Shift or turn on Caps Lock. Every letter must be uppercase.
Page number on the left	Use a right-aligned tab stop or insert page number using the “Current Position” option.
Running head missing from title page	Uncheck “Different First Page” or manually add it to the first-page header.
Shortened title exceeds 50 characters	Trim it down. Focus on the core concept.

Pro Tips for a Flawless Running Head

These tricks will save you time and frustration:

• Use a keyboard shortcut. In Word, press Alt+Shift+P to insert the page number quickly.
• Create a template. Set up one document with the correct header, then save it as a .dotx file. Every new paper starts with perfect formatting.
• Check your professor’s preference. Some instructors still want “Running head:” on the title page. Always confirm. If in doubt, follow the official APA 7th Edition Formatting Guide.
• Use a formatting tool. If manual tweaking drives you crazy, tools like Effortless Academic Paper Formatting can automate the entire process—including running heads, margins, and page numbers.

Why Manual Formatting Is a Time Trap

You’ve now learned how to format a running head in APA 7th edition manually. But here’s the truth: every time you start a new paper, you’ll repeat these steps. And if you’re juggling multiple assignments, the odds of a slip-up increase.

That’s why many academics and students are switching to rule-based automation. As we explain in Why Citation Engines Fail: The Case for Rule-Based Automation, manual formatting is fragile. One stray space or accidental keystroke can break your entire header setup.

Automation doesn’t just save time—it eliminates the risk of human error. With a tool like Formatly, you can set your running head once, and it will apply correctly across every page, every time.

Stop Wrestling With Headers. Let Formatly Handle It.

You know how to format a running head in APA 7th edition now. But knowing and doing are two different things—especially at 2 AM the night before your paper is due.

Formatly automates the entire APA formatting process: running heads, page numbers, margins, headings, citations, and references. You focus on writing. We handle the formatting.

Try Formatly free today and see how much time you’ll save. No more header headaches. No more last-minute formatting panic. Just clean, correct APA 7th edition papers—every single time.