How to Insert a Page Break in Word

To insert a page break in Word, click where you want the new page to start and press Ctrl + Enter. Everything after the cursor moves to the top of the next page. You can also go to Insert > Page Break or Layout > Breaks > Page. A page break is better than pressing Enter repeatedly, because the layout stays correct when you edit text above it.

Method 1: Ctrl + Enter

1. Click just before the text that should start on a new page, such as a chapter title.
2. Press Ctrl + Enter.

On a Mac, use Insert > Break > Page Break.

Method 2: The ribbon

• Insert > Page Break (in the Pages group at the left of the Insert tab).
• Or Layout > Breaks > Page, which also lists column and section breaks.

Method 3: Start every heading on a new page automatically

For reports where every chapter starts on a new page, set it once in the heading style instead of inserting breaks by hand:

1. On the Home tab, right-click Heading 1 in the Styles gallery and choose Modify.
2. Click Format > Paragraph.
3. On the Line and Page Breaks tab, tick Page break before.
4. Click OK twice.

Every Heading 1 now starts a new page, and there are no manual breaks to clean up later.

Page break vs section break vs column break

Break	Shortcut or menu	Use it to
Page break	Ctrl + Enter	Start the next text on a new page
Section break (Next Page)	Layout > Breaks > Next Page	Start a new page with different margins, orientation, headers or page numbers
Column break	Ctrl + Shift + Enter	Move text to the next column in a multi-column layout
Line break	Shift + Enter	Start a new line without a new paragraph

Use a section break when a page needs different formatting, such as a landscape page in a portrait document. An appendix is a common example. See how to add an appendix in Word.

Example: a title page that stays on its own

A common use is a cover page. Type the title, author and date, then press Ctrl + Enter after the last line. The report body now always starts on page 2, no matter how much you edit the cover. If you want the cover to have no page number, insert a Next Page section break instead, then on page 2 open the footer, turn off Link to Previous, and start numbering at 1. Word also has ready-made covers under Insert > Cover Page, which add the break for you.

See and remove page breaks

Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 or click the ¶ button on the Home tab to show formatting marks. Page breaks appear as a dotted line labeled Page Break. To remove one, click just before it and press Delete. More in how to get rid of a page break in Word.

Keep text together instead

If you’re adding page breaks only to stop a heading or table from splitting across pages, use paragraph settings instead. They adapt when the text moves:

• Keep with next: keeps a heading on the same page as the paragraph after it.
• Keep lines together: stops a paragraph splitting across pages.
• Widow/Orphan control: prevents single lines stranded at the top or bottom of a page.

All three are on the Line and Page Breaks tab of the Paragraph dialog. For tables, see how to move tables in Word.

Troubleshooting

A blank page appeared after inserting a break

There’s an extra break or empty paragraphs. Show formatting marks and delete them. See how to delete a page in Word.

Ctrl + Enter does nothing

Another app or a custom shortcut may be using it. Use Insert > Page Break, or reassign the shortcut in File > Options > Customize Ribbon > Customize.

The table of contents shows wrong page numbers

Update it after adding breaks: right-click the table of contents and choose Update Field > Update page numbers only. See how to fix a table of contents in Word.

Frequently asked questions

Can I center text in the middle of a new page?

Yes, using vertical alignment. See how to put text in the middle of a page in Word.

Does Word for the web support page breaks?

Yes. Use Insert > Page Break or Ctrl + Enter.

Summary

• Ctrl + Enter inserts a page break at the cursor.
• Insert > Page Break or Layout > Breaks > Page does the same.
• Use Page break before in a heading style for automatic breaks.
• Use a section break when the new page needs different formatting.