Document Editing Problems

How to Fix Microsoft Word Not Displaying the Second Page

Jason Miller Oct 15, 2026 871 views

Question details

Users are unable to type or view content on a second page in Microsoft Word, as the document continuously returns to the first page.

How to Fix Microsoft Word Not Displaying the Second Page

Product: Microsoft Word 2019
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Pasting content or continuing to type text that exceeds the first page.
Observed behavior: Instead of creating and displaying a second page, Word returns to the first page, preventing content continuation.

Before you start

Ensure you have saved and backed up your current document to a safe location before modifying system templates or restarting Microsoft Word.

Solution 1Recommended

Reset the Normal Template (Normal.dotm) in Word

Renaming the corrupted Normal template forces Word to generate a fresh, default template upon restart, which often resolves pagination and display glitches.

The Normal.dotm template stores default formatting, macros, and layout settings for all new Word documents. When it becomes corrupted, it can cause severe formatting and pagination anomalies, such as refusing to generate a second page.

Close Microsoft Word

Ensure that all instances of Microsoft Word are completely closed before proceeding.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.

Navigate to the Templates folder

Type %appdata%\Microsoft\Templates into the Run box and press Enter.

Rename the Normal template

Locate the file named 'Normal' or 'Normal.dotm'. Right-click the file, select Rename, and change the name to 'Normal.old'.

Restart Microsoft Word

Open Word again. The software will automatically create a new, uncorrupted Normal template, allowing pages to flow correctly.

Reset the Normal Template (Normal.dotm) in Word

Template Reset Successful: Renaming the file rather than deleting it ensures you have a backup (Normal.old) just in case you need to recover any old macros or styles.

Solution 2

Verify Document View and Layout Settings

Sometimes unusual document views or hidden white space can make it appear as though the second page is missing or blocked.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft Word skip the second page?

This usually happens due to a corrupted Normal.dotm template, incorrect pagination settings, or hidden white space between pages in the Print Layout view.

Will renaming the Normal template delete my documents?

No, renaming the Normal template will not delete your saved documents. It only resets default formatting settings, such as default fonts, margins, and layouts, back to their original state.

What should I do if pasting text causes Word to return to the first page?

Pasting text from external sources can sometimes bring in incompatible formatting or broken page breaks. Paste the text by right-clicking and selecting 'Keep Text Only', or reset your Normal template as described in the troubleshooting steps.

Document & File Issues