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Word treats headers and footers as part of a section, not as independent content on each page. That is why deleting a page number from one middle page requires a section break, while hiding the number on a document’s first page can usually be done with Different First Page.
Use the method that matches your document: the first page, a page in the middle, a continuous range, or the entire header/footer.
Remove the page number from the first page
This is the simplest case and works in Word for Windows, Mac, and the web.
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- On the Header & Footer tab, select Different First Page.
- If the number is still visible, click the number on the first page and press Delete.
- Select Close Header and Footer, or press Esc.
Different First Page applies to the first page of the current section. It is not limited to the first page of the entire document. This makes it useful for removing numbers from the opening page of a report chapter as well as from the document’s title page.
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Word for the web
In Word for the web, open the header or footer through Insert > Header & Footer, then select Different First Page. If selecting it removes the number from every page, choose Other Pages on the left side of the header/footer area and add the number again with Insert > Page Number.
Remove a page number from a page in the middle
A regular page break only moves text to a new page. It does not give that page its own header or footer. To remove a number from a later page, separate that page into a new section.
- Click at the beginning of the page that should not display a number.
- Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page. This inserts a section break and starts a new section on that page.
- Double-click the header or footer on the target page.
- On the Header & Footer tab, select Link to Previous to turn it off.
- Click the page-number field and press Delete.
- Close the header or footer.
Do not use Layout > Breaks > Page for this job. A page break does not isolate the header or footer. If a page break is already there, remove it and replace it with Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
Remove numbers from a range of pages
For several consecutive pages, create a section around the range. You need one section break before the range and another after it.
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- Click at the start of the first page in the range.
- Choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page.
- Click at the start of the page immediately after the range.
- Choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page again.
- Open the header or footer in the affected pages.
- Turn off Link to Previous.
- Select the page-number field and press Delete.
The second section break prevents the change from continuing through the rest of the document. Without it, all following pages may inherit the version of the header or footer that no longer contains the number.
Delete only the number, not the rest of the footer
If the footer also contains a copyright notice, document title, logo, or other text, do not use Remove Footer. That command removes the entire footer.
Instead:
- Double-click the footer or header.
- Click the page-number field itself.
- Press Delete.
If the number is inside a text box or a more complex footer layout, select the text box or page-number object and delete it. If another object is covering the number, temporarily move or resize that object so the field can be selected.
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Remove the entire header or footer from a section
Use this only when all content in that header or footer should disappear.
- Click inside the relevant header or footer.
- On the Header & Footer tab, select Header or Footer.
- Choose Remove Header or Remove Footer.
In a document with multiple sections, repeat the operation in each section where the header or footer exists. A header and a footer are separate, so removing one does not remove the other.
Check odd and even page settings
A number can remain on alternate pages when the document uses separate odd-page and even-page headers or footers.
- Double-click the header or footer.
- Check whether Different Odd & Even Pages is selected on the Header & Footer tab.
- Inspect the appropriate odd-page or even-page version.
- Delete the page-number field from that version too, if necessary.
Word stores odd-page, even-page, first-page, header, and footer content as separate variants. Turning off Link to Previous in one variant does not automatically unlink the others. For example, if the number is in the footer, unlink the footer; unlinking the header will not affect it.
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Show section breaks while troubleshooting
When it is unclear why a page number is still appearing, display formatting marks:
Home > Show/Hide (¶)
Look for labels such as Section Break (Next Page). Click in the section after the break and check whether the header or footer still says Same as Previous. If it does, select Link to Previous before deleting the number.
Be careful when deleting a section break. It merges the sections and can change margins, headers, footers, page-number formatting, and other section settings. If you only want to restore shared header/footer content, use Link to Previous rather than deleting the break.
Keep numbering continuous or restart it
Removing a displayed number does not change the document’s numbering sequence. These are separate actions: first hide or delete the page-number field, then decide how the next section should count.
Continue numbering after the omitted page
- Click in the section after the page or range without numbers.
- Select Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
- Choose Continue from previous section, if available.
- Select OK.
Restart numbering
- Click in the new section.
- Choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
- Under Page numbering, select Start at.
- Enter the desired starting number and select OK.
For a hidden first page where the next page should show 1, set the first section’s numbering to start at 0. The first page’s 0 is hidden by Different First Page, leaving 1 on the following page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Use Remove Page Numbers carefully
Word also has a general removal command:
- Windows: Insert > Page Numbers > Remove Page Numbers
- Mac: Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers
- Word for the web: switch to editing mode, then use Insert > Page Numbers > Remove Page Numbers
This is convenient when you want to remove page numbers broadly, but it is not the safest choice for a selective edit. It can remove a header or footer that contains other material, and numbers may remain in other sections or in odd/even variants. For one page or one range, edit the relevant header or footer and delete the page-number field directly.
Quick method guide
| Goal | Use this method |
|---|---|
| Hide the number on the first page of a section | Different First Page |
| Hide the number on one middle page | Section break before the page, unlink the header or footer, then delete the field |
| Hide numbers on consecutive pages | Section breaks before and after the range, then unlink and delete |
| Keep other footer content | Select only the page-number field and press Delete |
| Remove everything from a footer | Remove Footer |
| Numbers remain on alternate pages | Check Different Odd & Even Pages |
FAQ
Why does deleting a page number remove it from every page?
The pages are using the same linked header or footer. Create a section break with Layout > Breaks > Next Page, turn off Link to Previous in the relevant header or footer, and then delete the number.
Can I remove a page number without removing the footer text?
Yes. Open the footer, select the page-number field itself, and press Delete. Do not use Remove Footer when other footer content must remain.
Why is the page number still visible after I turned off Different First Page?
Click the number on the first-page header or footer and press Delete. Also check whether the number is in a text box or in a separate odd/even header or footer.
Does removing a page number renumber the rest of the document?
No. It only removes or hides the displayed field. Use Page Number > Format Page Numbers to continue numbering or set a new Start at value.
Can Different First Page remove a number from the first page of a chapter?
Yes. It applies to the first page of any section, not just the first page of the document.
The Bottom Line
For the first page, enable Different First Page. For a page or range in the middle, use Next Page section breaks, turn off Link to Previous in the correct header or footer, and delete only the page-number field. Check odd/even variants if the number keeps returning, and adjust Format Page Numbers separately if the sequence needs to continue or restart.
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