Formatting Issues

Fix Word Table Appears Duplicated on Next Page

Camila Milosovich Oct 7, 2026 873 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where a table appears to duplicate itself on the following page, and edits in one table are mirrored in the other.

How to Fix a Word Table Appearing Duplicated on the Next Page

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a multi-page document containing a table.
Observed behavior: A five-row table mirrors itself on the next page. Changes made to the table on one page automatically apply to the table on the other page, indicating they are linked rather than separate copies.

Before you start

Click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button on your Home tab to reveal hidden formatting marks, which will help you confirm if there are unexpected page breaks splitting your table.

Solution 1Recommended

Turn Off the Repeat Header Rows Setting

This issue usually occurs when the entire table has been mistakenly marked as header rows. Disabling this feature will stop the table from repeating on the next page.

When the 'Repeat Header Rows' feature is applied to all rows in a table instead of just the top row, the word processor attempts to repeat the entire table on every subsequent page. This creates the illusion of a duplicated, mirrored table.

Select the entire table

Click anywhere inside the table, then click the crosshair icon at the top-left corner to select all rows.

Open Table Layout

Navigate to the 'Table Layout' or 'Layout' tab that appears on the main ribbon at the top of your screen.

Disable Repeat Header Rows

Locate and click the 'Repeat Header Rows' button. If multiple rows have conflicting settings, you may need to click this button twice to fully turn it off for the entire selection.

Verify the Fix: Once disabled, the 'Repeat Header Rows' button will no longer be shaded or highlighted, and the duplicated table on the next page should instantly disappear.

Solution 2

Adjust Table Properties for Row Breaks

If disabling the header row setting didn't completely resolve the layout, adjusting the table's pagination settings will ensure rows behave correctly across pages.

Professional Word Processing

Easily Manage Table Layouts with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides an intuitive interface to seamlessly manage complex tables, including repeating headers and pagination properties, ensuring your documents look perfect every time without layout errors.

1. Open your document in WPS Writer: Launch WPS Office and open the document containing the problematic table.
2. Access Table Tools: Click anywhere inside your table to reveal the 'Table Tools' tab on the ribbon.
3. Manage Header Rows: Select the rows you want to repeat (usually just the first row), then click the 'Repeat Header Rows' button to toggle the setting.
4. Fine-tune Table Properties: Right-click the table, choose 'Table Properties', and use the Row tab to further control pagination and breaks.

Free and lightweight word processing softwarePerfect compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive Table Tools ribbon for quick formattingEasily toggle header rows and manage pagination with a single click

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does deleting a row in the duplicated table delete it in the original?

The table on the next page is not a separate copy; it is a visual repetition of the original table caused by the 'Repeat Header Rows' feature. Because they are the exact same table elements, any edit made to one will immediately reflect in the other.

How do I repeat only the first row of my table?

To repeat only the top row, highlight just the very first row of your table, navigate to the Table Layout tab, and click 'Repeat Header Rows'. Make sure no other rows below it are selected when you activate the feature.

Why is the Repeat Header Rows button greyed out?

The button will be greyed out if your selection does not include the very first row of the table. You cannot set a middle row to repeat unless all the rows above it are also set as repeating headers.

Document & File Issues