How to Delete an Extra Page in Word

Struggling with an extra, unwanted page in your Word document? You're not alone. Whether you're using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, deleting an extra page can sometimes be tricky. Follow these steps to clean up your document and make it look professional.

Steps to Delete an Extra Page in Word

Step 1: Show Paragraph Marks

First, display paragraph marks to see what's causing the extra page.

How to: Click on the Home tab and then click the Show/Hide ¶ button in the Paragraph group.

Step 2: Identify the Cause

Examine the paragraph marks and other formatting symbols.

How to: Scroll to the unwanted page and look for extra paragraph marks (¶), section breaks, or page breaks.

Step 3: Delete Extra Paragraph Marks

Remove unnecessary paragraph marks.

How to: Place your cursor before the paragraph mark you want to delete and press the Delete key. Repeat until the extra page disappears.

Step 4: Remove Page Breaks

If a manual page break is causing the issue, delete it.

How to: Click directly before the page break and press the Delete key.

Step 5: Delete Section Breaks

For section breaks, use a similar approach.

How to: Place your cursor right before the section break and press Delete .

Step 6: Adjust Margins

If the extra page is still there, check your margins.

How to: Go to the Layout tab, click Margins , and select Custom Margins . Adjust the bottom margin to ensure it doesn’t push content to a new page.

Step 7: Use the Navigation Pane

The Navigation Pane can help identify and remove extra content.

How to: Click on the View tab and check the Navigation Pane box. Browse through the document outline to find and delete the unwanted page.

Step 8: Verify and Save

Finally, ensure the extra page is gone and save your document.

How to: Scroll through your document to verify and then click File > Save .

FAQ

Q: Can these steps be applied to Google Docs? A: Yes, similar principles apply. Use the Show Paragraph Marks feature and delete unnecessary breaks.

Q: Why do extra pages appear? A: Extra pages can result from manual page breaks, section breaks, or excessive paragraph marks.

Q: Can I undo if I delete the wrong thing? A: Yes, use the Undo button (or press Ctrl+Z ) to revert any unintended changes.

Q: What if the extra page still won't go away? A: Check for hidden content, adjust margins, or review section breaks. If all else fails, copy your content to a new document and save it.