Formatting Issues

How to Exclude Cover and Back Pages from Page Numbers in Publisher

Elise Williams Oct 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to start page numbering on an interior page of a publication while omitting page numbers from both the front cover and the back page.

How to Exclude Cover and Back Pages from Page Numbers in Publisher

Product: Microsoft Publisher
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a multi-page publication where the cover and back pages should not be counted or display numbers in the footer.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Publisher numbers the cover as page 1 by default, requiring specific section breaks to isolate the interior pages for independent numbering, which can vary confusingly between different software versions.

Before you start

Ensure your publication is finalized in its page count and layout spread, as adding or removing pages later might shift your section breaks and disrupt the numbering logic.

Solution 1Recommended

Insert Section Breaks to Isolate Interior Pages

Use the Page Navigation pane to separate your cover, interior pages, and back page into distinct sections so you can format numbering independently.

By dividing your publication into three sections (Cover, Interior, and Back Page), you can instruct Publisher to only apply numbering to the middle section and start counting from 1.

Open Page Navigation

Ensure the Page Navigation pane is visible on the left side of your Publisher window.

Insert first section break

Select the first interior spread where you want the numbering to begin, right-click, and choose 'Insert Section' before the left page.

Insert second section break

Scroll down to the end of your document and insert another section right before the final (back) page.

Configure page numbers

Select any page within your newly created interior section, click on 'Page Numbers', select your preferred alignment, and ensure 'Show number on first page' is enabled.

Reset the starting number

Click 'Format Page Numbers' and choose the option 'Start this section with 1'.

Insert Section Breaks to Isolate Interior Pages

Publisher Version Differences: In newer versions like Publisher 365 (version 2303), the Header & Footer tools have been moved to the Insert tab instead of the Page Design tab. Menu paths may vary slightly based on your exact update version.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my cover page still showing as page 1 in Publisher?

This happens if you haven't inserted a section break before your interior pages. Publisher counts all continuous pages sequentially by default. You must separate the cover into its own section and set the second section's numbering to start at 1.

How do I hide the page number on the first page of a section?

Go to the Page Numbers menu and uncheck the 'Show number on first page' option. In newer versions of Publisher, this can be managed directly via the Header & Footer settings located on the Insert tab.

Can I format different even and odd page numbers in Publisher?

Yes, you can set up different odd and even headers or footers to position page numbers on the outside edges of your spreads. This is accessed from the Page Design or Insert tab, depending on your Publisher version.

Where is the Header & Footer option in Publisher 365?

In recent software updates like Publisher 365 version 2303, the Header & Footer configuration tools have been moved from the traditional Page Design tab to the Insert tab.

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