The quickest way to add a page in Word

To add a new blank page in Microsoft Word, press Ctrl+Enter on Windows or Command+Enter on Mac. This keyboard shortcut inserts a page break wherever your cursor is positioned, pushing everything below it to a fresh page. The new page appears when ready and is ready for typing.

If you prefer using the menu instead, go to the Insert tab at the top of your document, then click Page Break. Both methods do the same thing — they create a hard page break that forces Word to start a new page at that exact spot.

The difference between a page break and just pressing Enter repeatedly matters. When you use a page break, Word knows you want a new page to start there, even if you add or delete text later. If you just press Enter many times, those blank lines stay in your document and can shift around as you edit, making your formatting messy.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac) to insert a page break and start a new page when ready.
  • Page breaks are better than pressing Enter multiple times because they stay in place when you edit your document.
  • You can also use the Insert menu and click Page Break if you prefer not to use keyboard shortcuts.
  • Word shows a page break as a dotted line with the words "Page Break" when you turn on formatting marks, so you can see exactly where pages split.

Where your cursor position matters

The location of your cursor when you insert a page break determines where the new page starts. If your cursor is in the middle of a paragraph, the page break splits that paragraph — the text before the break stays on the current page, and the text after it moves to the new page.

To avoid splitting a paragraph, click at the very beginning of the line or paragraph where you want the new page to start, then insert the page break. This keeps the paragraph intact on the new page instead of breaking it in half.

Seeing page breaks in your document

By default, Word hides page breaks from view, so you might not know exactly where they are. To see them, turn on formatting marks by pressing Ctrl+Shift+8 on Windows or Command+Shift+8 on Mac. You can also click the symbol in the Home tab.

When formatting marks are on, page breaks appear as a dotted line across the page with the words "Page Break" in the middle. This makes it straightforward to spot where pages split and to delete or move breaks if you change your mind. Turn off formatting marks the same way to hide them again.

Deleting a page break you no longer need

If you added a page break by mistake or no longer want it, you need to see it first. Turn on formatting marks so the page break is visible, then click anywhere on the dotted line and press Delete or Backspace. The page break disappears, and the text that was on the next page moves up to fill the space.

If you cannot see the page break, it might be a natural break caused by how much text fills the page, not a manual break you inserted. Natural page breaks happen automatically and cannot be deleted — they disappear on their own when you add or remove text.

The difference between page breaks and section breaks

Word also has section breaks, which are different from page breaks. A page break straightforward starts a new page. A section break starts a new page and also lets you change formatting for that section — like switching from one column to two columns, or changing the header and footer.

For most documents, you just need a regular page break. Use a section break only if you want different formatting on different parts of your document. To insert a section break, go to Insert, click the arrow next to Page Break, and choose the type of section break you need.

Adding pages at the end of your document

If you want to add a blank page at the very end of your document, click after the last word, then press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac). A new blank page appears, and your cursor is ready for you to start typing.

This is useful when you are finishing a document and want to add a new section, like an appendix or a title page for the next chapter. The new page is part of the same document, so page numbering continues automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens to my text when I insert a page break in the middle of a paragraph?

The paragraph splits at the page break. Text before the break stays on the current page, and text after it moves to the new page. To keep a paragraph together, position your cursor at the start of the paragraph before inserting the break.

Can I delete a page break by just pressing Backspace?

Only if you can see it. Turn on formatting marks first so the page break is visible, then click on it and press Delete or Backspace. If you cannot see the break, it is likely a natural break caused by the amount of text, not a manual break you inserted.

Why does my document have extra blank pages I did not create?

You probably have page breaks in your document that you forgot about, or your text is pushing content to new pages naturally. Turn on formatting marks to see if there are manual page breaks. If you find them and do not want them, click on the break and delete it.

Is there a difference between Ctrl+Enter and using the Insert menu?

No. Both methods insert the exact same page break. The keyboard shortcut is just faster. Use whichever method feels more natural to you.