Word Empty Page Won’t Delete | Fix It Now

If an empty page lingers in Microsoft Word, the cause is nearly always a hidden break, a leftover paragraph, or a layout quirk at the end of a table. The fastest path to a clean document is to surface what Word hides, diagnose the trigger, and apply a precise fix. This guide walks you through quick wins first, then deeper remedies that handle stubborn cases on Windows and Mac.

Quick Causes And Fixes

Symptom	Likely Cause	Fast Fix
Blank last page	Section break: Next/Odd/Even	Delete or change break to Continuous
Blank page after a table	Required end-paragraph after table	Shrink that paragraph to 1 pt or hide it
Random blank page mid-doc	Manual page break	Delete the page break symbol
Extra white space, not a page	Spacing or “Keep with next”	Reduce spacing or tweak paragraph options
Won’t select the page	Hidden objects or header/footer content	Open header/footer and clear extras

Word Empty Page Not Deleting: Root Causes

Word treats pages as the result of content and formatting, not as standalone objects. That’s why a page can linger even when it looks empty. Three culprits show up the most: a section break forcing a new page, a manual page break, or the mandatory paragraph that lives after a table. Each needs a different move.

Turn On The Clues (Show Formatting)

Start by revealing non-printing marks with the ¶ button on the Home tab. You’ll see paragraph marks, page breaks, and section breaks. With the clues visible, the source of the extra page usually becomes obvious. If you prefer a menu route, Word lets you always show specific marks in the View or Options panel. Microsoft documents this toggle in its guide on showing formatting marks, which you can open from this phrase: show formatting marks.

Delete A Manual Page Break

Scan for a line labeled “Page Break.” Click just before it and press Delete. If you clicked just after it, press Backspace. If the break keeps reappearing, select the surrounding paragraphs and check Paragraph settings. Turn off “Keep with next” or “Page break before,” which can force a new page when space is tight.

Fix A Section Break That Forces A New Page

Section breaks control headers, footers, columns, and page orientation, so they can’t always be removed. But you can often swap the type. If the last page is blank and you see “Section Break (Next Page),” place the cursor in the section after that break and change Section start to Continuous. That keeps formatting but eliminates the forced page. Microsoft’s help page on deleting a blank page notes that Next, Odd, and Even Page breaks can create extra pages and suggests Draft view to find them quickly; see delete a blank page.

Steps To Change A Section Break To Continuous

1. Click inside the section after the blank page trigger.
2. Open Layout → Page Setup launcher (small arrow).
3. On the Layout tab, set Section start to “Continuous.”
4. Confirm and recheck the end of the document.

This preserves your header/footer or orientation while stopping the extra page.

Handle A Table At The End Of The Document

Word requires a paragraph after every table. If a table ends the document and that mandatory paragraph won’t fit on the same page, Word pushes it to a new page. Shrink or hide that final paragraph to remove the page.

Two Safe Ways To Shrink The Final Paragraph

• Select the paragraph mark immediately after the table. Set font size to 1 pt. Set line spacing to “Exactly 1 pt.” Set spacing before/after to 0.
• Format the same paragraph as Hidden. It won’t print and won’t force a page.

These adjustments are common practice when a post-table paragraph triggers a blank page. Power users confirm the fix across many versions.

Use The Navigation Pane To Target A Blank Page

Open View → Navigation Pane → Pages. Click the thumbnail of the blank page. Press Delete. This method works best when the page contains selectable content or a visible break. If nothing selects, the cause is layout or a protected element in a header, footer, or text box.

Check Header, Footer, And Hidden Objects

Double-click the header or footer near the stray page. Remove any leftover page numbers, empty text boxes, or section-specific content. Close Header & Footer. If Word still reserves a page, look for floating objects anchored to the end of the document. With non-printing marks on, you’ll notice anchor symbols; delete or move the object to the prior page.

Troubleshoot Paragraph Settings That Force Pages

Paragraph rules can push content to a new page. Select affected text and open Paragraph → Line and Page Breaks. Uncheck “Page break before.” If headings carry “Keep with next,” Word keeps the heading with the next paragraph, which can cascade into a new page. Uncheck “Keep with next” or apply it more selectively.

Draft View Helps You See Breaks

Switch to View → Draft. Section breaks and page breaks appear as labeled lines, which makes them easy to target. Delete manual breaks here, then switch back to Print Layout to confirm the result. Microsoft mentions Draft view as a quick way to locate section breaks on its blank-page help article linked earlier.

Repair Odd/Even Section Break Behavior

Odd Page and Even Page section breaks always push content to the next odd or even page. If your document ends with one of these, Word may add a trailing blank page. Change the break type to Continuous or Next Page if you don’t need odd/even pairing. That single change clears many lingering pages in book-style layouts.

Resolve Orientation Or Column Changes Without A New Page

If the final section exists only to hold landscape orientation or custom columns, convert it to Continuous and keep the settings. Place the cursor in that section, open Page Setup, and apply the setting “This section.” Word retains the layout change while releasing the forced page boundary.

Fix Margins, Paper Size, And Printer Quirks

Margins set too large or a paper size mismatch can push a tiny paragraph to a fresh page. Open Layout → Margins and make sure the bottom margin leaves room for the final paragraph. Check File → Print to confirm the selected paper matches the document’s page size. If the printer adds a separator page, turn that feature off in printer properties.

Clear Content Controls And Protected Regions

Documents built from templates sometimes include content controls or protected sections near the end. If you can’t select anything on the blank page, review the Restrict Editing panel. Remove protection if allowed, then delete hidden controls or reduce their size so they fit on the prior page.

Table And Spacing Pitfalls To Watch

Large tables may be set with “Keep with next” on every row, which forces the whole block to move when a single row won’t fit. In Table Properties → Row, allow rows to break across pages. Reduce spacing before/after paragraphs inside cells. Small adjustments keep the required end-paragraph on the same page, which removes the ghost page.

Step-By-Step: From Symptom To Fix

1. Turn on ¶ so you can see the cause.
2. Look for “Page Break” lines and delete them.
3. Find “Section Break (Next/Odd/Even Page).” Change the next section’s start to Continuous, or delete the break when safe.
4. If a table ends the file, shrink or hide the following paragraph.
5. Open header/footer, remove stray objects or page numbers tied to an extra section.
6. Check Paragraph line and page breaks. Turn off rules that push new pages.
7. Verify margins and paper size so a tiny paragraph doesn’t spill to a new page.

Advanced Checks Matrix

Situation	Where To Look	Action
Landscape page followed by blank	Section break type	Change to Continuous and keep landscape
Blank thumbnail in Navigation	Pages view	Select thumbnail and press Delete
Page number sitting alone	Header/footer	Link to previous or remove that section
Hidden shape at end	Anchors in Print Layout	Move or delete the shape
Template enforces spacing	Styles pane → Modify	Set After spacing to 0 at end

Mac And Windows Notes

Steps are nearly identical on both platforms. The Show/Hide button lives on Home on Windows and on the same ribbon on Mac. The Page Setup dialog is under Layout on both. If a company template adds protection, you may need permission to remove a locked section at the end of the file.

When You Must Keep The Section Break

Sometimes a section break holds critical header/footer differences. In that case, keep the break but stop it from creating a page. Convert the next section’s start to Continuous. If a tiny paragraph lingers on the last page, format it to 1 pt with exact line spacing of 1 pt and spacing before/after set to 0. That keeps structure intact while removing the visual page.

Use Microsoft’s Guidance For Edge Cases

Microsoft’s help article confirms that Next, Odd, and Even Page breaks can lead to trailing pages and suggests using Draft view to spot them quickly. Keep that page handy while you work: delete a blank page. For visibility of paragraphs, tabs, and breaks, open the official page here: show formatting marks. Together, those two references match the fixes in this guide.

Pro Tips To Prevent The Issue Next Time

• When you add a landscape page, plan both entry and exit breaks, then set the exit break to Continuous.
• End tables with a thin final paragraph style that uses 1 pt size and exact 1 pt spacing.
• Keep “Keep with next” for headings only. Avoid applying it to every paragraph in a table.
• Review margin and paper size early when using custom printers or letterhead.
• Leave ¶ on while finalizing a long document. It speeds up cleanup and reveals hidden anchors.

Fast Checklist Before You Print Or Export

1. Scroll to the end: no extra section break types?
2. Table at the end: final paragraph shrunk or hidden?
3. Header/footer linked correctly on the last section?
4. Margins and paper size consistent with the printer?
5. Navigation thumbnails show no blank stragglers?

Bottom Line Fix

Reveal formatting, remove manual breaks, convert forced section breaks to Continuous, and tame the post-table paragraph. Those four moves clear nearly every stubborn blank page and keep your document tidy without sacrificing layout.