The fastest way to add a page

To insert a blank page in the middle of your document, place your cursor where you want the new page to start, then press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac). Word will when ready push everything after your cursor onto a fresh page. This is the method most people use because it works the same way every time, regardless of what content is already on the page.

If you are working on a document with multiple sections — like a report with different headers or footers for each chapter — this keyboard shortcut respects those section breaks and inserts a page within the current section.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Ctrl+Enter (Windows) or Command+Enter (Mac) to insert a page break at your cursor position.
  • Page breaks push all content after your cursor to a new page, while manual spacing (pressing Enter repeatedly) can shift when you edit earlier text.
  • The Insert menu offers a Page Break button if you prefer clicking over keyboard shortcuts, found under Insert > Page Break.
  • Section breaks are different from page breaks and are used when you need different formatting (headers, margins, orientation) on different pages.

Using the Insert menu instead of the keyboard

If you do not remember the keyboard shortcut or prefer using the menu, you can insert a page break through Word's ribbon. Click the Insert tab at the top of the screen, then locate the Pages group. Click Page Break. Word will insert a page break at your cursor position.

This method takes slightly longer than the keyboard shortcut, but the result is identical. Some people find it easier to remember, especially if they use Word only occasionally.

Why page breaks matter more than pressing Enter

A common mistake is pressing Enter (or Return) multiple times to push content to a new page. This works temporarily, but the moment you edit or delete text earlier in the document, those blank lines shift, and your content is no longer where you intended it to be. A page break, by contrast, stays in place no matter what you change above it.

Page breaks are also invisible by default. If you want to see where your page breaks are located — useful when editing a long document — go to the Home tab and click the (pilcrow) button to show all formatting marks. Page breaks will appear as a dotted line with the words "Page Break" written across it.

Inserting pages at the beginning or end of your document

If you need a blank page at the very start of your document (common for title pages), click at the very beginning of your first line of text, then press Ctrl+Enter. This pushes all your content forward and leaves a blank page behind.

To add a page at the end of your document, click after the last character of your last line, then press Ctrl+Enter. Word will create a new blank page. You can then type on it or leave it blank if you need empty space for signatures or notes.

Section breaks versus page breaks

Word offers both page breaks and section breaks, and they serve different purposes. A page break straightforward moves to a new page. A section break moves to a new page and also allows you to change formatting — such as switching from portrait to landscape orientation, changing margins, or using different headers and footers — starting from that point forward.

If you only need a new page with the same formatting as the rest of your document, use a page break. If you need to change how the page looks (different margins, different header, different column layout), use a section break instead. You can insert a section break through Insert > Breaks > Section Breaks, where you will see options like "Next Page," "Continuous," "Even Page," and "Odd Page."

Deleting a page break you no longer need

If you inserted a page break and later want to remove it, first make sure formatting marks are visible by clicking the button on the Home tab. Find the dotted line labeled "Page Break," click at the beginning of that line, and press Delete. The page break will disappear, and the content that was on the next page will move back up.

If you cannot see the page break even with formatting marks turned on, it may be a section break instead. Section breaks look similar but are labeled "Section Break" and require you to right-click and choose "Delete Break" from the context menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a page break and just pressing Enter a lot?

Pressing Enter creates blank lines that shift when you edit text above them. A page break stays in place no matter what you change. Page breaks are also invisible unless you turn on formatting marks, keeping your document cleaner to read.

Can I insert a page break in the middle of a paragraph?

Yes. Place your cursor anywhere in the paragraph and press Ctrl+Enter. Word will move everything from that point forward to a new page, even if it splits a sentence in half. You can then edit the text to fix the split if needed.

Why does my page break not work?

Page breaks usually work, but if content is not moving to a new page, check whether a section break is already in place nearby, or whether a table or text box is preventing the break from taking effect. Deleting the formatting mark and reinserting it often solves the problem.

Can I have different page numbers on different pages?

Yes, but you need section breaks, not page breaks. Insert a section break, then go to Insert > Page Numbers and configure the numbering for that section. This is useful for documents where the introduction uses Roman numerals and the main content uses regular numbers.