Printing Problems

How to Fix Blank Pages in Word Mail Merge Print Preview

Guest Writer Sep 30, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where blank even-numbered pages appear in the print preview and output of a mail merge document.

How to Fix Blank Pages in Word Mail Merge Print Preview

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Performing a mail merge using templates (such as Avery labels) and preparing to print the final document.
Observed behavior: The merged document appears perfectly normal on the screen, but blank even-numbered pages are generated in the Print Preview and the final physical printout.

Before you start

Before you begin troubleshooting, ensure that your macOS and Microsoft Word are updated to the latest versions, and verify that your printer driver settings are not forcing duplex (two-sided) printing for single-page templates.

Solution 1Recommended

Inspect and Edit Individual Merged Documents

Exporting the mail merge to individual documents allows you to reveal hidden section breaks or layout issues that trigger blank pages during printing.

When performing a mail merge, Word automatically inserts section breaks between merged records. If your template has odd/even page settings or layout conflicts, these breaks can force blank pages that are only visible at print time.

Finish and merge to a new document

Go to the Mailings tab, click on 'Finish & Merge', and select 'Edit Individual Documents' (or 'Merge to New Document' depending on your Word version).

Show hidden formatting marks

Navigate to the Home tab and click the Pilcrow (¶) symbol to reveal hidden formatting marks, including paragraph and section breaks.

Locate and remove problematic breaks

Scroll through the newly generated document and look for 'Section Break (Odd Page)' or 'Section Break (Even Page)'. If found, manually adjust or delete the breaks to prevent the blank pages.

Inspect and Edit Individual Merged Documents

Alternative Diagnosis: If you are unable to fix it yourself, you can save a sanitized version of this individual merged document to OneDrive and share it with support for further diagnosis.

Solution 2

Adjust Document Layout and Template Margins

Fixing table overflow issues or unintended layout settings within the Avery label template can prevent paragraph marks from spilling onto the next page.

Perform Flawless Mail Merges with WPS Writer

Avoid complex formatting glitches and unexpected blank pages by using WPS Writer for your mail merge tasks. It offers a streamlined, user-friendly interface that handles labels and data sources effortlessly without hidden section break issues.

1. Open WPS Writer: Launch WPS Writer and open your main document or label template.
2. Import data source: Navigate to the 'References' tab, click 'Mail Merge', and select 'Open Data Source' to import your contact list.
3. Insert merge fields: Place your cursor where you need the data, and click 'Insert Merge Field' to add your labels.
4. Merge and print: Click 'Merge to New Document' to generate a clean, final file, then preview and print without blank page errors.

Seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word document formats (.doc, .docx)Intuitive Mail Merge wizard that prevents unexpected blank page generationBuilt-in PDF conversion for highly accurate print previewsLightweight and runs flawlessly on both macOS and Windows

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Avery label template create blank pages in Word?

Avery templates use tables that stretch to the page margins. Word requires a paragraph mark after every table. If the table is too large, this paragraph mark gets pushed to a second page, resulting in a blank even page during print preview.

How do I see hidden section breaks in Microsoft Word for Mac?

To see hidden section breaks, go to the Home tab and click the Pilcrow (¶) icon, or press Command+8 on your keyboard. This reveals all formatting marks, making it easy to spot section or page breaks causing blank pages.

Can printer driver settings cause blank pages in a mail merge?

Yes. If your printer driver is configured for forced two-sided (duplex) printing, or if there is a mismatch between the document paper size and the printer's default paper size, the printer may insert blank pages to compensate.

Document & File Issues