How to Remove Extra Page in Word: 5 Fixes to Delete Blank Page

Do you need assistance removing a blank or extra page in Word? If you’re struggling with unwanted page breaks, blank pages, or excessive space within your document, I’ve got you covered.

In this blog post, I’ll provide several simple fixes to remove those extra pages, starting with the easiest methods and moving on to more advanced solutions.

Fix #1 – Removing Unwanted Extra Paragraphs:

Clearing Empty Paragraphs and Regaining Page Space

The objective of this fix is to assist you in removing unwanted empty paragraphs from your document. These steps can eliminate unnecessary blank spaces and regain control over your page layout.

1. Go to the Home tab and locate the Show/Hide character button.

2. Click the Show/Hide character button to reveal special symbols on your screen. These symbols represent where the Enter key has been pressed, indicating the start of a new paragraph.

3. If you notice numerous symbols, this indicates excessive use of the Enter key to start a new page. The empty paragraphs cause extra space.

4. To remove these empty paragraphs and remove the extra space, follow these steps: 

a. Select the symbols by highlighting them with your cursor.

b. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

By deleting the empty paragraphs, you should successfully remove the extra space, removing any blank or unwanted pages in your document.

Regaining Document Flow by Eliminating Page Breaks

This fix aims to help you remove unnecessary page breaks from your Word document. By following these steps, you can get rid of disruptive page breaks that cause extra pages and create a more seamless reading experience.

1. From the Home tab, turn on the Show/Hide button. This will help you easily identify where page breaks have been inserted in your document.

2. To remove the unwanted page breaks and restore the continuity of your text, perform the following steps:

a. Locate the page break symbol while the Show/Hide characters remain visible.

b. Select the page break symbol by clicking on it.

c. Press the Delete key on your keyboard.

By deleting the page break symbol, you effectively remove the page break itself, seamlessly bringing your text together again. Removing unwanted page breaks is key to eliminating any extra pages that may have appeared in your document.

Fix #3 – Checking the Pagination Settings:

Bridging Gaps by Adjusting Pagination Settings

If you encounter a significant gap in your document without any visible paragraph markers or page break symbols, it’s time to review your pagination settings. Follow these steps to make the necessary adjustments and eliminate those unwanted gaps:

1. Identify the paragraph at the top of the next page immediately after the troublesome gap.

2. Click inside that paragraph to select it.

3. Right-click on the selected paragraph and choose “Paragraph” from the context menu. This action will open the Paragraph dialogue box.

4. Within the Paragraph dialogue box, navigate to the “Line and Page Breaks” tab.

5. Locate the option labelled “Page break before” and ensure the checkbox beside it is unchecked.

6. Click “OK” to apply the changes.

By removing the page break before the selected paragraph, you should successfully bridge the gap and bring your paragraphs back together.

With these adjustments to your pagination settings, you can effectively eliminate any unwanted gaps within your document, achieving a more coherent and visually appealing layout.

Fix #4 – Removing a Section Break (The Safe Way):

Preserving Headers and Footers while Eliminating Unwanted Section Breaks

Section breaks can inadvertently create extra pages within your document. However, it’s crucial to proceed with caution when removing them to avoid unintended consequences, such as losing headers and footers.

Section breaks serve to “section” your document, allowing different page formats in various sections. For instance, in section 1, you may have a header and page numbering, while in section 2, you might disable these elements.

Deleting a section break between Section 1 and Section 2 without taking proper precautions can lead to the header and footer settings of Section 2 overriding those of Section 1. As a result, your header and page numbering will disappear. Therefore, it’s essential to exercise caution during this process.

1. Before deleting the section break, you must access the Header, Footer, or Page Number settings for section 2. To do this, go to the Insert tab and click on the Header & Footer button to access the Header & Footer area.

2. Within the Header & Footer area, locate the “Link to previous” button. Clicking this button connects the settings from section 1 to section 2, ensuring that the same formatting settings continue into section 2, i.e. the headers and footers from section 1 will carry on into section 2.

3. When prompted, select “Yes” to confirm connecting to the Header/Footer in the previous section.

Fix #2 – Removing Unwanted Page Breaks:

Now that you have connected the settings, you can proceed to remove the section break:

1. Enable the Show/Hide characters feature, if not already enabled, to view the Section Break symbol.

2. In your document, locate the Section Break symbol representing the break you wish to remove.

3. Select the Section Break symbol by clicking on it.

4. Press the “Delete” key on your keyboard to remove the section break.

By following these steps, you can eliminate the extra page caused by the section break while ensuring your Headers and Footers remain intact.

Fix #5 – Removing a Blank Last Page:

Effortless Methods to Eliminate Unwanted Empty Pages

If you’re struggling with a lingering blank last page in your document that refuses to disappear even after selecting the paragraph marker and pressing Delete, try the following simple techniques:

1. Enable the Show/Hide characters feature from the Home tab. This will reveal hidden symbols and formatting elements.

2. Navigate to the second-to-last page of your document using the scroll bar or other navigation methods.

3. If you spot a page break symbol on the second-to-last page, select it and delete it.

4. Additionally, if you come across numerous paragraph symbols with empty paragraphs on the second-to-last page, select and delete them.

By implementing these steps, you can effectively remove any unwanted blank last pages from your Word document, ensuring a polished and professional appearance.

Conclusion:

These easy-to-follow fixes allow you to remove unwanted extra pages in Word quickly. Whether it’s eliminating empty paragraphs, page breaks, section breaks, or blank last pages, these step-by-step instructions will help you clean up your document and achieve a polished final result. Say goodbye to those pesky extra pages and enjoy a clutter-free document in no time.

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