Fix Word Mail Merge Printing Blank Pages Between Records
Question details
The user needs to stop Word mail merge from automatically inserting a blank page or envelope between each merged record.
- Product
- Microsoft Word
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Executing a mail merge for documents or envelopes following a recent Microsoft Office software update.
- Observed behavior
- The mail merge process outputs a blank page or envelope between every valid data record, effectively doubling the number of printed items.
Before troubleshooting the mail merge document, print a standard multi-page document to ensure your printer's hardware isn't accidentally pulling two sheets of paper at once.
Check and Remove Unwanted Section Breaks
Hidden section breaks in your main mail merge document can force Word to insert blank pages so that new records start on a specific page side.
During a mail merge, Word uses section breaks to separate records. If your template already contains manual 'Odd Page' or 'Even Page' section breaks, it can result in unexpected blank pages appearing in the final printed batch.
Open your main mail merge document in Word. Go to the 'Home' tab and click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button in the Paragraph group to make hidden formatting marks visible.
Scroll through your document and look for 'Section Break (Next Page)' or 'Section Break (Odd Page)', especially near the end of the document template.
Place your text cursor directly in front of the unwanted section break and press the 'Delete' key to remove it.
Verify Page and Envelope Setup Dimensions
Mismatched page sizes between Word's layout settings and your printer's loaded media can cause the printer to add a blank page to compensate for overflowing margins.
Try WPS Office for Bug-Free Mail Merges
If recent Microsoft Office updates have disrupted your mail merge workflow with unfixable blank pages, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative with a robust, reliable Mail Merge feature.
- 1. Download and Install WPS: Visit the official WPS website, download WPS Office Free, and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and seamlessly open your existing .docx mail merge template and data source.
- 3. Execute Mail Merge: Navigate to the 'References' tab, click 'Mail Merge', connect your data, and print your documents without encountering extra blank pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my printer add a blank page between envelopes during a mail merge?
This usually happens if the envelope size configured in the Word Page Setup does not match the physical envelope size loaded in your printer tray, causing the printer driver to advance an extra page to compensate for the perceived size difference.
Can a Microsoft Office update cause new mail merge issues?
Yes, occasionally software updates can introduce unexpected bugs that affect formatting or printing behaviors. Rolling back to a previous Office version or temporarily using an alternative suite like WPS Office can help bypass the issue until a patch is released.
How do I stop my printer from printing blank pages globally?
You can often prevent this by checking your printer preferences. Go to 'Printers & Scanners' in your system settings, select your printer, open 'Printing Preferences', and look for a 'Skip Blank Pages' option in the advanced or layout settings.
