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How to Delete an Unwanted Blank Page in Word

July 31, 2023
12.5K Views

When working in Microsoft Word, many of us encounter pesky blank pages that serve no purpose and disrupt the flow of our content, giving our documents an unprofessional appearance. 

Deleting these blank pages can be a bit tricky, as we want to ensure that the overall formatting of the article remains intact. It's important to make changes to a single page without affecting the structure of the entire document.

In this reader-friendly guide, we will explore 4 easy methods to seamlessly delete blank pages in Word, allowing you to maintain a polished and organized document.

4 Easy Methods to Delete Pages in Word

Method 1:  Deleting blank pages using the “delete” or “backspace

The first method involves using the "delete" or "backspace" key.

Step 1: Start by identifying the blank page you want to delete and note the page immediately following it. Position your cursor at the beginning of the following page.

Place cursor on the blank page

Step 2: On Windows, use the "Backspace" key, and on Mac, use the "Delete" key to remove the page. This method is straightforward and works well in most cases.

Blank page removed using backspace or delete

Pros

  • Quick and simple

Cons

  • Some stubborn blank pages are impossible to erase with the key directly.

Method 2: Deleting Blank Pages using Paragraph Marks

Another way of deleting blank pages on Word is to use Paragraph marks. This method can be effective to delete stubborn blank pages and can be very helpful to many users.

Here is how to do it:

Step 1: Start by going to the "Home" tab on the Microsoft Toolbar. Click on Paragraph Marker icon

Paragraph marks on Word

Step 2: Each paragraph will be marked (each line)

Paragraph marker

Step 3: Now simply select all the markers using a cursor or press “shift+arrow up key”. Once all the markers have been selected, simply press “backspace” or “delete” on your keyboard.

Paragraph marks on Word.

Pros

  • Requires minimal technical knowledge.

  • Works effectively in most cases.

Cons

  • May not work in complex document structures.

  • Can accidentally delete necessary content.

Method 3: Deleting Blank Pages using the Navigation Pane

Still stuck with a few blank pages? Let’s visit the Navigation Pane method to delete those pages. Here’s how you can do it:

Step 1:Start by going to the "View" tab on the ribbon menu of WPS Office and click on the Navigation Pane drop down menu to show the navigation pane on your screen.

View tab on WPS Office

Step 2: Click on “Section Navigation” to view the pages on your Document and then click on the thumbnail of the page that you want to delete, this will redirect your cursor to the top of that page.

Section Navigation on WPS Office

Step 3: Press “Shift+arrow down” keys on your keyboard to select all the text on that page.

Selected text

Step 4: Once all the content on the page has been selected, press the "Delete" or "Backspace" key on your keyboard to remove it.

Page deleted using Navigation Pane

Pros

  • The document format is unaffected.

  • More efficient

Cons

  • Complex, as more number of steps are involved

Method 4: Go to Function (For Mac)

This method is specifically for Mac operating system users. It involves using the "Go-To" feature in Microsoft Word to easily navigate to and delete specific blank pages.

Step 1: Start by going to the "Edit" menu located on the top menu of Microsoft Word.

Step 2: In the menu, click on the "Go-To" option. This action opens a dialog box.

Mac Go-To function

Step 3: In the dialog box, locate the "Enter Page Number" text field. Type the page number of the blank page you want to remove and press "Go-To". This will navigate you to the specified page.

Mac Microsoft Word Go-To dialog box

Step 4: To select the entire page, type "page" in the text field and press "Go-To" again. This will highlight the whole page for deletion.

Step 5: Close the "Go-To" dialog box by pressing the "Close" button.

Step 6: Next, you need to highlight the page you want to remove. In the "Enter Page Number" text field, type "\page" and press "Go-To". This action will highlight the entire page you want to delete.

Mac Microsoft Word Go-To dialog box

Step 7: Finally, click on the "Delete" button or press the "Delete" key on your keyboard to delete the blank page.

Pros

  • Effective on Macbook

Cons

  • Time consuming as it requires to turn a lot of pages

How to remove a blank page from Word in the middle of the document?

If you want to know how to delete blank page word a document when the problem is in the middle of the document, you will have to do the following:

1. pen the Word document that has the blank page in the middle problem.

2. Go to the blank page you want to delete.

3. You will have to enter the command Control + Shift + 8 if you have Windows or Command + 8 if you have a Mac computer. This command will show the paragraph icon to help you easily see the breaks.

4. Look for the little black box next to the paragraph icon. If you see the paragraph marker with the black box next to it, you have the previous page break option activated and should deactivate it.

5. To deactivate the previous page break, go to the home tab, then to the paragraph icon, and click on lines and page break. You will have to deselect the previous page break option if it is active.

6. You will have to highlight the paragraph marks using your mouse.

7. Finally, press the DELETE key on the keyboard to remove all the paragraph icons. To remove this setting, you must press the command Control + Shift + 8 again.

How to save your Word document as a PDF to ignore blank pages?

If the method on how to delete blank page word free that you saw previously seemed very difficult to you, you could apply the second option. This solution of how to delete blank page word on mac will also be available on Windows, and you will do the following:

1. Open the Word document where you know it has blank pages at the end.

2. You must go to the File tab and click save as.

3. In the save option, you will have to click on PDF instead of Word document.

4. Go to options at the bottom of the box and click more options.

5. Click on pages to control the inclusion range for your PDF file.

6. Enter the range of pages to save, ignoring the last page. That is, you can write a range of 1 in from and 4 in to.

7. Finally, you must click on accept so the document is saved in PDF and without the blank page at the end.

How to Delete with Ease?

WPS is a compelling alternative to traditional presentation software. With its compatibility with Microsoft Word, cost effectiveness and familiar interface WPS is a user-friendly software for creating impactful presentations. It provides numerous advantages like it is compatible with Microsoft Windows and Mac operating systems. Moreover, it is free, providing a wide range of utilities comparable to premium software. You may open Microsoft Powerpoint and use its instructions as well to learn.

Preventing Blank Pages in the Future

Removing blank pages ensures that your document looks polished and well-structured, maintaining a high level of professionalism. Also, eliminating unnecessary blank pages enhances the readability of your document, making it easier for readers to navigate through the content.

Tips for preventing blank pages

  • Check Section Breaks: Before finalizing your document, review the placement of page breaks to avoid any unintentional blank pages.

  • Check Page Breaks: To identify page breaks causing blank pages, look for a blank page after your paragraph or content. Simply click on the "Delete" button to get rid of the page break.

  • Clear Formatting: Ensure that your content flows smoothly and fills the available space without leaving excessive gaps or white space.

How to adjust margins and page breaks to avoid blank pages

  • Margins: Set appropriate margins that accommodate your content. Adjusting margins can help prevent content from spilling onto additional pages unnecessarily.

  • Page breaks: Use manual page breaks judiciously. Insert them only when needed, such as when starting a new section or chapter, to avoid creating unintended blank pages.

How to use page numbering to avoid blank pages

  • Continuous page numbering: Choose the option to maintain continuous page numbering throughout your document. This ensures that page numbers are assigned consecutively, without leaving any gaps for blank pages.

  • Different first page: If your document includes a title page or a cover page, utilize the "Different First Page" option to separate it from the main content while maintaining accurate page numbering..

FAQs

How to delete blank pages on Google Docs?

To remove blank pages from Google Docs, follow these steps:

  • Open your Google Docs file.

  • Place your pointer to the bottom of the page before the blank page.

  • Press “backspace” or “delete” on your keyboard until the material from the blank page is removed.

  • Continue to press the key until the pointer moves to the next page.


Mastering the Art of Deleting Blank Pages in Word

Efficiently deleting blank pages in Word is crucial for maintaining a professional document. This article explores three effective methods for deleting blank pages in Word, crucial for maintaining professional documents and enhancing Word tips and tricks.

One such software is WPS Office, a user-friendly software that removes unwanted pages for a polished presentation, enhancing document quality. To learn more about WPS Office and its tools, simply visit their website and put your career on high gear to success!


15 years of office industry experience, tech lover and copywriter. Follow me for product reviews, comparisons, and recommendations for new apps and software.