When an empty page won’t delete in Word, turn on formatting marks, remove breaks or extra paragraphs, and check tables or headers.
Why That Blank Page Sticks Around
Word isn’t being stubborn for fun. A hidden character or layout setting is usually standing in the way. The common culprits are manual page breaks, section breaks, empty paragraphs, a table that pushes a final marker onto a new page, or a header and footer that forces a new section. Turn on the nonprinting symbols and the reason jumps out.
Blank Page Troubleshooting Map
Use this quick map to match symptoms with fixes. Start at the top and work down until the page disappears.
| What You See | Cause | Quick Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Page Break” line at top of the extra page | Manual page break | Place cursor before the line and press Delete |
| “Section Break (Next Page)” or similar | Section break | Delete the break or change it to “Continuous” |
| Several ¶ marks at the start of the extra page | Empty paragraphs | Select the marks and press Delete or set spacing to 0 |
| Table ends on the page before the extra page | Final ¶ after a table | Set that mark to 1 pt, 0 spacing, or mark it Hidden |
| Odd page appears after an odd page section | Odd or even page section layout | Switch the section to “Continuous” |
| Header or footer spills onto a new page | Large header/footer or different first page | Reduce size or unlink the header/footer |
Turn On The Clues: Show Formatting Marks
First, make the hidden stuff visible. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 (Windows) or Command+8 (Mac). You’ll see paragraph marks, tabs, page breaks, and section breaks. That view makes it clear what’s forcing the extra page. You can also use the Home > ¶ button or set marks to always show in Word’s display settings.
Need a refresher on the button or settings? See Microsoft’s guide to show formatting marks.
Can’t Delete A Blank Page In Word? Fixes That Work
Remove A Manual Page Break
If you see a “Page Break” line at the start of the extra page, place the cursor just before it and press Delete. That removes the break and pulls content up. Microsoft’s help pages list the steps on Windows and Mac. Clear, quick steps there.
Delete Or Tame A Section Break
Section breaks can spawn a fresh page even when no text sits there. Scroll to the extra page and you might see “Section Break (Next Page)” or “Odd Page”. To remove it, place the cursor just before the label and press Delete. If you still need separate sections but not a new page, select the break, open Layout > Breaks, and change it to Continuous. Heads up: removing a section break merges section formatting, so check headers, footers, and margins after the change.
Clear Extra Paragraph Marks
Those lonely ¶ symbols at the start of the blank page are just empty paragraphs. Drag to select them and press Delete. If they keep returning, select the last paragraph before the break, open Home > Paragraph > Spacing, and set After to 0 pt. Also uncheck Page break before in the Line and Page Breaks tab.
Shrink The Final Paragraph After A Table
Word places a required paragraph after each table. If that final mark won’t fit on the same page as the table, it rolls to a new one and you get an extra page. Click after the table so the final ¶ shows. Select it and set the font to 1 pt, set spacing before and after to 0, and check Hidden if you don’t need it visible. You can also reduce bottom padding or set the table to allow rows to break across pages.
Unblock Headers And Footers
Oversized headers or footers can push body text onto a new page. Double-click the header or footer, trim empty paragraphs, and reduce any large images. If the extra page appears only on the first page, check the Different First Page option and adjust that part only.
Use The Navigation Pane To Target The Page
Go to View > Navigation Pane. Click the Pages tab. Select the extra page thumbnail, press Delete, or scroll to the visible break and remove it there. Microsoft’s guide to delete a page in Word shows this method as well.
Fixes By Root Cause
Manual Page Break Won’t Budge
If pressing Delete doesn’t remove it, switch to Draft view under View. Break labels are larger and easier to select there. You can also open Find & Replace, type ^m in Find what, and remove breaks one by one.
Odd Or Even Page Sections
Documents with mirrored margins often use “Odd Page” or “Even Page” section types. Those create a filler page when the next section needs to start on a specific side. Place the cursor in the section above the extra page. Go to Layout > Breaks and change the type to Continuous. If page numbers or headers shift, open the header, click Link to Previous, and relink.
Next Page Section Breaks Between Chapters
If you still need “Next Page” behavior between chapters, keep the breaks but make sure each one sits at the end of the prior page, not floating alone. Delete stray empty paragraphs after the chapter text so the break travels up.
Paragraph Keeps Forcing A Break
One paragraph can force a new page if it has Page break before checked. Select the paragraph at the top of the extra page. Open the dialog launcher in the Paragraph group. On Line and Page Breaks, clear Page break before. Review Keep with next and Keep lines together if they bunch too many lines at a page boundary.
Large Images Or Text Boxes
Floating shapes can extend below the page margin and kick content forward. Select the object. Choose Layout Options and set the position within margins. Resize tall shapes or change wrapping to fit the page flow.
Tracked Changes And Comments
Markup balloons can increase layout height. Turn on Simple Markup or set balloons to show inline. Then check whether the extra page vanishes when you accept changes.
Work Faster With The Right Views
Some views make cleanup painless. These views speed up cleanup tasks. Draft view is great for hunting breaks. Print Layout shows real page flow. The Navigation pane helps you jump right to the stray page.
| Task | Best View | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Spot page or section breaks | Draft | Labels are large and easy to select |
| Confirm the page is empty | Print Layout | Shows true pagination |
| Jump to the blank page | Navigation Pane | Thumbnails speed up selection |
Windows And Mac Steps Side By Side
Show Hidden Marks
Windows: Press Ctrl+Shift+8 or click Home > ¶. Mac: Press Command+8 or choose Home > ¶.
Delete A Manual Page Break
Windows: Place the cursor before “Page Break” and press Delete. Mac: Do the same, or use Backspace on a Mac keyboard.
Remove A Section Break
Draft View Toggle
Press Alt+W, F to switch to Draft on Windows. On Mac, choose View > Draft.
Windows: Place the cursor before the break label and press Delete. Mac: Same steps apply. Check headers and footers after the change.
Trim Empty Paragraphs
Windows: Select stray ¶ marks and press Delete. Mac: Select and press Delete. Set spacing After to 0 if needed.
Prevent The Next One
Insert Breaks The Right Way
Use Layout > Breaks with intention. Pick Continuous when you’re only changing columns or margins within a page. Pick Next Page only when the new section must begin on a new page. Avoid tapping Enter to push content down; that habit creates long runs of empty paragraphs.
Use Styles For Spacing
Set spacing in styles instead of extra blank lines. That keeps the final page tight and consistent. Update the Normal style to 0 pt after and add space where needed through styles for headings and lists.
Check Table And Image Layouts
Give tables and images a little breathing room above the bottom margin. If a table lands near the end of a page, make the final paragraph after it tiny and zero-spaced, or choose a smaller bottom margin if the design allows.
Quick Checklist When An Empty Page Won’t Delete
Stuck again? Run this list from top to bottom.
- Turn on formatting marks with Ctrl+Shift+8 or Command+8.
- Look for a “Page Break” line and delete it.
- Look for a section break and delete it or switch it to Continuous.
- Delete empty paragraphs at the top of the extra page.
- Shrink or hide the final paragraph after a table.
- Trim oversized headers or footers.
- Review paragraph settings like Page break before.
- Check Draft view for easier selection.
- Use the Navigation pane to confirm the page is gone.
Save Your Changes
Once the blank page is gone, save a fresh copy. If you made section edits, scan the headers, footers, and page numbers. If you need an official walkthrough, Microsoft’s article on deleting a page in Word gives step-by-step guidance.
Clean Up Breaks With Find
Open Find & Replace. In Find what, type ^m to locate manual page breaks. Use Find Next to jump and delete. To review section breaks, use ^b. Work slowly so you don’t remove breaks you still need. Save a copy before bulk edits. Draft view makes selections much easier.