Formatting Issues

How to Move the Cursor Between Two Columns in Microsoft Word

Jason Miller Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to type in the second column of a Word document without having to completely fill the first column with text.

How to Move the Cursor Between Two Columns in Microsoft Word

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document layout where text needs to start at the top of a second column independently of the first.
Observed behavior: The cursor cannot be clicked or moved directly into the second column if the first column is not completely filled with content.

Before you start

Ensure your document is currently in Print Layout view so you can clearly see column boundaries and formatting breaks as you edit.

Solution 1Recommended

Insert a Column Break

Use a column break to forcefully jump the cursor to the top of the next column, leaving the rest of the first column blank.

By default, Word uses 'newspaper-style' columns, meaning text flows sequentially from the bottom of the first column to the top of the second. To bypass this flow and manually start typing in the second column, you must insert a column break.

Position the cursor

Click exactly where you want the text in the first column to end.

Navigate to the Layout tab

On the ribbon at the top of the Word window, click on the Layout tab (or Page Layout in older versions).

Insert the column break

Click on Breaks in the Page Setup group, then select Column from the drop-down menu. Your cursor will immediately move to the top of the second column.

Keyboard Shortcut: You can quickly insert a column break by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter on your keyboard.

Solution 2

Use a Two-Column Table for Independent Placement

If you need to switch back and forth between the left and right sides frequently, a hidden two-column table is much easier to manage than standard columns.

Efficient Document Formatting

Format Columns Easily with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides a highly compatible, intuitive word processor that makes handling complex layouts, like multi-column documents and invisible tables, quick and seamless.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing text document.
2. Set up columns: Navigate to the Page Layout tab, click Columns, and select Two.
3. Add a column break: Click Breaks under the Page Layout tab and choose Column Break to instantly jump your cursor to the next column.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx, .doc) formats and layouts.Easily insert column breaks and page breaks with familiar shortcuts.Free and lightweight office suite with an intuitive ribbon interface.Built-in robust table management for complex side-by-side document layouts.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my text automatically flow to the next page instead of the next column?

This happens if your page is not formatted into multiple columns yet. Go to the Layout tab, click Columns, and select 'Two' before inserting a column break to move your cursor.

Can I switch back and forth between columns repeatedly?

Standard columns are meant to flow sequentially. If you need to repeatedly jump back and forth between the left and right sides (such as for a bilingual document), it is highly recommended to insert a two-column table and hide the borders instead of using standard columns.

How do I remove a column break I accidentally inserted?

Go to the Home tab and click the 'Show/Hide ¶' button to reveal hidden formatting marks. Locate the 'Column Break' mark on your page, click just before it, and press the Delete key.

Document & File Issues