Formatting Issues

How to Delete a Manual Page Break or Section Break in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to remove an unwanted extra page in Word, which may be caused by a manual page break, a section break, or hidden empty paragraph marks.

Use section break and unlink header for different page backgrounds in Word

Product: Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Trying to remove an extra, unwanted blank page or reset the document layout by deleting hidden breaks.
Observed behavior: Extra blank pages or irregular spacing appear in the document due to hidden formatting marks like page breaks, section breaks, or excessive paragraph returns.

Before you start

Before deleting section breaks, be aware that removing them merges the layout formatting of the section above with the section below, which might alter your columns, margins, or headers.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Show/Hide Feature to Delete Breaks and Empty Paragraphs

Revealing hidden formatting marks is the most reliable way to find and safely delete page breaks, section breaks, and empty lines.

Extra pages in Word are usually caused by invisible formatting elements. Enabling paragraph marks allows you to see exactly where a break or empty line is located so you can delete it.

Enable formatting marks

Go to the Home tab on the ribbon and click the Show/Hide ¶ button in the Paragraph section to display hidden formatting marks.

Locate the break

Scroll through your document to find the 'Page Break' or 'Section Break' text, which will appear with a dotted line.

Delete the break

Click just before the break marker and press the Delete key on your keyboard to remove it.

Remove empty paragraphs

If you see multiple paragraph marks (¶) causing a blank page instead of a page break, highlight them and press Delete.

Formatting Changes: Deleting a section break merges the formatting of the text before the break with the text after the break. You may need to readjust your margins or columns afterward.

Document Formatting

Easily Manage Page and Section Breaks with WPS Writer

WPS Writer provides an intuitive interface to display formatting marks and seamlessly remove unwanted breaks or blank pages. It is highly compatible with Microsoft Word documents and handles complex layouts effortlessly.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document containing the unwanted blank pages or breaks.
2. Show editing marks: Navigate to the Home tab and click the Show/Hide Editing Marks icon (the paragraph symbol).
3. Delete the break: Highlight the unwanted Page Break, Section Break, or empty paragraph symbols and press the Delete key.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats and page layouts.One-click toggle to show or hide paragraph marks and formatting symbols.Free, lightweight, and user-friendly alternative to Microsoft Office.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my document formatting change after deleting a section break?

When you delete a section break, the text before the break adopts the page formatting of the section that follows it. To prevent this, you may need to adjust the page setup settings before removing the break.

How do I delete a blank page at the end of my document?

Blank pages at the end are often caused by empty paragraph marks. Turn on the Show/Hide ¶ feature, locate the empty paragraph symbols at the end of the document, and press Delete or Backspace to remove them.

What is the difference between a page break and a section break?

A page break simply pushes the text that follows it to the next page, while a section break allows you to apply different page layouts (like margins, headers, or orientation) to different parts of the same document.

Document & File Issues