Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteiTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To change page numbers in Word, first decide whether the change applies to the whole document, just the first page of a section, or a later section. For an independent change in the middle of a document, insert a section break, turn off Link to Previous in the relevant header or footer, then use Page Number > Format Page Numbers or edit the number field. A page break alone cannot isolate numbering.
Choose the right method for the change
| What you want | Document structure | What to change |
|---|---|---|
| Change number style or restart numbering in a later part | Create a section break before that part if one does not already exist. | Unlink the relevant header or footer, then choose a format or starting number in Format Page Numbers. |
| Hide the number on the first page of a document or section | No new section break is needed if the first page is already the section’s first page. | Enable Different First Page and remove the number from that first-page header or footer if it remains. |
| Remove or edit the number on one later page | Put that page in its own section with section breaks as needed. | Unlink the relevant header or footer, then remove or edit its page-number content. |
| Remove numbering throughout | Check all sections, especially if the document uses different header/footer arrangements. | Remove the page-number content from the header or footer where it appears. |
Headers and footers have separate links to the previous section. If numbers appear in both, handle each independently. Microsoft’s instructions cover Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, 2021, 2019, and 2016, with different steps for Windows and Mac; ribbon labels can vary by version. See Microsoft’s instructions for customizing page numbers in sections.
Change the number format or restart numbering in a section
- Place the cursor between the content that needs different numbering and the preceding content.
- In the desktop Word ribbon, choose Layout > Breaks and insert a section break. Use Next Page when the new section should begin on a new page. Word also offers Continuous, Odd Page, and Even Page section breaks; choose one that fits the layout. Microsoft explains the options in its section-break guidance.
- Open the header or footer in the new section—the one that contains the page number—and turn off Link to Previous. If the number is in both header and footer, unlink each separately. If the control is dimmed, check that you inserted a section break.
- With the cursor in that section’s header or footer, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Pick a number style, such as Arabic or Roman numerals. To restart numbering, select Start at and enter the desired first number; otherwise, leave numbering set to continue from the previous section.
- Close the header or footer and check pages on both sides of the section boundary to confirm the numbering and layout are correct.
Hide the number on the first page
- Open the header or footer on the first page of the document or section.
- Enable Different First Page.
- If a number remains in the first-page header or footer, select and delete that page-number field.
Different First Page applies to the first page of any section, not only the document’s opening page. If you want the second page to display “1,” open Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 0. Microsoft describes these options in its guide to starting page numbering later in a document.
Remove or change the number on one later page
A later page needs its own section boundary if its numbering or header/footer treatment should differ from the surrounding pages. Insert a section break at the start of that page and, if the change should end there, another break after it. Then open the new section’s header or footer, turn off Link to Previous for the relevant area, and remove or edit the page-number content. If the page number is present in both the header and footer, make the change in each one.
#1 Best Overall
- Classic Office Apps | Includes classic desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for creating documents, spreadsheets, and presentations with ease.
- Install on a Single Device | Install classic desktop Office Apps for use on a single Windows laptop, Windows desktop, MacBook, or iMac.
- Ideal for One Person | With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
- Consider Upgrading to Microsoft 365 | Get premium benefits with a Microsoft 365 subscription, including ongoing updates, advanced security, and access to premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, plus 1TB cloud storage per person and multi-device support for Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android.
For a change limited to one page, check the sections on both sides of it as well as the target page. A section can have its own header/footer behavior, and a change made while sections remain linked may affect neighboring pages.
Remove page numbers throughout the document
Open the header or footer where the number appears and remove the page-number content. In a document with multiple sections, inspect each section’s header/footer and its link to the previous section: linked sections may share the same content, while unlinked ones can have independent content. Unlink only when you need a change to stay within a particular section. Microsoft’s guidance on changing or deleting a header or footer on one page explains the section-based approach.
Rank #2
- Designed for Your Windows and Apple Devices | Install premium Office apps on your Windows laptop, desktop, MacBook or iMac. Works seamlessly across your devices for home, school, or personal productivity.
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook | Get premium versions of the essential Office apps that help you work, study, create, and stay organized.
- 1 TB Secure Cloud Storage | Store and access your documents, photos, and files from your Windows, Mac or mobile devices.
- Premium Tools Across Your Devices | Your subscription lets you work across all of your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices with apps that sync instantly through the cloud.
- Easy Digital Download with Microsoft Account | Product delivered electronically for quick setup. Sign in with your Microsoft account, redeem your code, and download your apps instantly to your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices.
Do not delete section breaks as a shortcut for removing numbers. Section breaks also control section formatting, so deleting one in the middle of a document can change layout or formatting.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Word for the web and section breaks
Word for the web can add page breaks but cannot add section breaks. If you need to isolate numbering for a later section or page, open the file in the desktop Word application to create the section break, then make the header/footer and numbering changes. Microsoft states this limitation in its section-break guidance.
Quick Recap
Best Value
![Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 | Classic Desktop Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote | One-Time Purchase for 1 PC/MAC | Instant Download [PC/Mac Online Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41H8B5iqO4L._SL160_.jpg)
- [Ideal for One Person] — With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
- [Classic Office Apps] — Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote.
- [Desktop Only & Customer Support] — To install and use on one PC or Mac, on desktop only. Microsoft 365 has your back with readily available technical support through chat or phone.
Rank #4
- Designed for Your Windows and Apple Devices | Install premium Office apps on your Windows laptop, desktop, MacBook or iMac. Works seamlessly across your devices for home, school, or personal productivity.
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook | Get premium versions of the essential Office apps that help you work, study, create, and stay organized.
- Up to 2 TB Shared Cloud Storage | Store and access your documents, photos, and files from your Windows, Mac or mobile devices.
- Premium Tools Across Your Devices | Your subscription lets you work across all of your Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices with apps that sync instantly through the cloud.
- Share Your Family Subscription | You can share all of your subscription benefits with up to 6 people for use across all their devices.
Rank #3
- THE ALTERNATIVE: The Office Suite Package is the perfect alternative to MS Office. It offers you word processing as well as spreadsheet analysis and the creation of presentations.
- LOTS OF EXTRAS:✓ 1,000 different fonts available to individually style your text documents and ✓ 20,000 clipart images
- EASY TO USE: The highly user-friendly interface will guarantee that you get off to a great start | Simply insert the included CD into your CD/DVD drive and install the Office program.
- ONE PROGRAM FOR EVERYTHING: Office Suite is the perfect computer accessory, offering a wide range of uses for university, work and school. ✓ Drawing program ✓ Database ✓ Formula editor ✓ Spreadsheet analysis ✓ Presentations
- FULL COMPATIBILITY: ✓ Compatible with Microsoft Office Word, Excel and PowerPoint ✓ Suitable for Windows 11, 10, 8, 7, Vista and XP (32 and 64-bit versions) ✓ Fast and easy installation ✓ Easy to navigate
Troubleshoot changes that affect the wrong pages
- The page number changed in an earlier section: Check whether Link to Previous is still enabled in the header or footer you edited.
- Unlinking the footer did not fix the header: Header and footer links are separate; turn off the link in the area that contains the number.
- Link to Previous is unavailable: Confirm there is a section break between the sections. A page break does not create an independent section.
- The layout shifted after deleting a break: Restore or adjust the section structure; section breaks can carry formatting as well as numbering boundaries.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
