The quickest way to add a page

Press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac) to insert a page break and start a new page when ready. Word moves everything after your cursor to the fresh page. This is the fastest method and works the same way in every version of Word from the last decade.

If you prefer using the menu, go to the Insert tab at the top, click Page Break, and Word does the same thing. Both methods create what's called a "hard" page break — Word forces a new page at that exact spot, regardless of how much content is on the current page.

You'll see a dotted line appear on your screen showing where the page break sits. This line won't print; it's just there so you can see the break when you're editing. If you want to remove a page break later, click on that dotted line and press Delete.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac) to add a new page with a hard page break, the fastest method in any Word version.
  • A hard page break forces a new page at your cursor location, moving all text below it to the next page regardless of how full the current page is.
  • Page breaks appear as dotted lines on your screen during editing but do not print on your document.
  • Deleting a page break is as straightforward as clicking the dotted line and pressing Delete, which pulls the content back to the previous page.

When to use a hard page break instead of just pressing Enter

A hard page break is the right choice when you want a new page to start at a specific location, like the beginning of a new chapter, a new section, or before a table of contents. If you just press Enter repeatedly to push content down, you create a lot of blank space that shifts around if you edit the text above it. A hard page break stays in place and keeps your structure clean.

For example, if you're writing a report with an introduction, then a findings section, then recommendations, you'd put a hard page break before "Findings" and another before "Recommendations." That way, each section always starts on its own page, even if you add or remove sentences in the introduction.

Removing unwanted page breaks

If Word created a page break you didn't intend — sometimes it happens when you paste content or work with tables — you can delete it. The easiest way is to turn on the display of formatting marks so you can see where the break is. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 (Windows) or Command+Shift+8 (Mac), and you'll see paragraph marks and page break symbols throughout your document.

Find the page break symbol (it looks like a small box with "Page Break" written inside), click right before it, and press Delete. The page break disappears and the content below moves back up. If you can't see the break visually, you can also use Find and Replace: press Ctrl+H (Windows) or Command+H (Mac), search for "^m" (that's a caret and the letter m), and replace it with nothing to remove all page breaks at once.

The difference between page breaks and section breaks

A page break straightforward starts a new page. A section break does that and also lets you change formatting — like margins, headers, footers, or column layout — starting from that new page. If you only need a new page with the same formatting as the rest of your document, use a page break. If you need a new page that looks different (for example, a landscape page in the middle of a portrait document), use a section break instead.

To insert a section break, go to Insert, click the small arrow next to Page Break, and choose the type of section break you want. Most people use "Continuous" (same page, new section) or "Next Page" (new page, new section). Section breaks are more complex and usually unnecessary unless you're working on a longer document with different formatting in different parts.

Controlling where pages break automatically

Word also breaks pages automatically when you reach the bottom of the page. You can control this behavior through paragraph settings. If you have a heading that you never want to separate from the paragraph below it, select the heading, go to Home, click the small arrow in the bottom right of the Paragraph section, and check Keep with next. Now that heading will always stay on the same page as the paragraph that follows it.

Similarly, if you want to keep all the lines of a paragraph together on one page (so it never splits across two pages), select the paragraph and check Keep lines together. These settings are useful for keeping your document looking intentional and professional, especially in longer documents where automatic breaks might otherwise split important content awkwardly.

Page breaks in different Word versions

The keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Enter works in Word 2010 and later on Windows, and Command+Enter works in Word for Mac 2011 and later. If you're using an older version or a different process like Google Docs or LibreOffice, the shortcut may differ — Google Docs uses Ctrl+Enter as well, but LibreOffice uses Ctrl+Return. The menu method (Insert > Page Break) works consistently across all versions, so if you're ever unsure, that's the safest route.

If you're working in Word Online (the browser version), you can still insert page breaks through the Insert menu, though the keyboard shortcut may not work depending on your browser. The process is the same: go to Insert, find Page Break, and click it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word keep adding extra blank pages?

Usually this happens because of page breaks you didn't create intentionally, often from pasted content or tables. Turn on formatting marks (Ctrl+Shift+8 on Windows, Command+Shift+8 on Mac) to see where the breaks are, then delete them. Sometimes it's also caused by a paragraph mark at the end of a page that's large enough to push to the next page — try reducing the font size or line spacing of that paragraph.

Can I add a page without using a page break?

Technically yes, but you shouldn't. Pressing Enter repeatedly to create blank space looks clean until you edit the text above it, then everything shifts. A hard page break stays in place. Use the page break method — it's designed for this purpose and keeps your document structure stable as you work.

What's the difference between a page break and pressing Enter a lot?

A page break is a single formatting mark that forces a new page. Pressing Enter creates individual paragraph marks that take up space. If you edit text above the Enters, all those blank lines shift down or up. A page break doesn't move — it stays exactly where you put it, keeping your document structure intact.

How do I add a page in the middle of a document without losing content?

Click where you want the new page to start, then press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac). Everything after your cursor moves to the new page automatically. The content doesn't disappear — it just moves down. You can always undo with Ctrl+Z if you change your mind.