To stop page numbering partway through a Word document, for example before an appendix, split the document into sections and remove the numbers from the section you don’t want numbered. Put a Next Page section break where numbering should stop, open the footer of the new section, turn off Link to Previous, and delete the page number there. To remove page numbers from the whole document instead, use Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers. Both are covered below, along with the first-page case and the most common mistake.
Remove page numbers from the whole document
- Go to the Insert tab.
- Click Page Number in the Header & Footer group.
- Choose Remove Page Numbers.
If a number is still showing, it was typed in or added as part of a footer design. Double-click the footer, select the number, and press Delete, then click Close Header and Footer.
Stop page numbering at a certain page
Word numbers pages per section, so you need the unnumbered pages in their own section.
Step 1: Add a section break
- Click at the very end of the last page that should keep its number.
- Go to Layout > Breaks.
- Under Section Breaks, choose Next Page.
The following page now starts a new section. Click Home > Show/Hide ¶ (or press Ctrl + Shift + 8) to see the break as a dotted line labeled Section Break (Next Page). If there’s already a manual page break at that spot, delete it so you don’t get a blank page.
Step 2: Unlink the new section’s footer
- Double-click the footer (or header, wherever your page numbers are) on the first page of the new section.
- On the Header & Footer tab, click Link to Previous so it’s no longer highlighted. The “Same as Previous” label on the footer disappears.
This is the step most people miss. While the footer is linked, anything you delete in it is deleted from the previous section too.
Step 3: Delete the page number
- Select the page number in the new section’s footer and press Delete.
- Click Close Header and Footer.
Pages before the break keep their numbers, and pages after it have none.
Number some pages, skip some, then number again
For a layout like numbered chapters, an unnumbered insert, then more numbered chapters, use two section breaks: one before the insert and one after it. Unlink and delete the number in the middle section. Then, in the section after it, turn off Link to Previous, re-insert the page number with Insert > Page Number, and choose Format Page Numbers to either continue from the previous section or start at a specific number. See how to restart page numbering in Word.
Remove the number from the first page only
For a cover page, you don’t need a section break. Double-click the footer on page 1, tick Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab, and the number disappears from the first page only. Our guide on removing the page number from the first page has the details. To start numbering on page 3 instead, see how to start page numbers on page 3 in Word.
Troubleshooting
Deleting the number removed it from every page
Link to Previous was still on. Press Ctrl + Z to undo, click into the new section’s footer, turn off Link to Previous, and delete the number again.
Link to Previous is greyed out
You’re in the first section of the document, which has nothing before it to link to. Check that you added the section break and clicked into the footer after it.
The numbers are in the header and the footer
Headers and footers are linked separately. Turn off Link to Previous in both, then delete the numbers.
A blank page appeared after the section break
There’s an extra page break or empty paragraph next to the section break. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ and delete the extra break or blank paragraph marks.
The numbering after the unnumbered part starts at 1
Click Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers in that section and choose Continue from previous section.
Frequently asked questions
Can I stop page numbers without section breaks?
Only on the first page, using Different First Page. For any other page, you need a section break.
Will a section break change my formatting?
No, unless you change something in the new section. Margins, orientation, and columns can be set per section, which is also how you get a single landscape page in a portrait document.
Does this work in Word for Mac?
Yes. The steps are the same: Layout > Breaks > Next Page, then Link to Previous on the Header & Footer tab.
Summary
To remove all numbers, use Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers. To stop numbering at a certain page, add a Next Page section break, turn off Link to Previous in the new section’s footer, and delete its page number.
Related: How to Number Pages in Word (Add, Format and Start Later).
Related: how to use the Navigation Pane in Word.
Related: how to change the font of page numbers in Word.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.