Formatting Issues

How to Remove a Blank Page Between Landscape and Portrait Sections in Word

Chanuka Geekiyanage Oct 10, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to remove an unwanted blank page that automatically appears when transitioning between landscape and portrait pages in a document.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Formatting a document that contains mixed page orientations and preparing it for continuous viewing or printing.
Observed behavior: A blank page is automatically inserted between the landscape and portrait sections because the new section is set to start on an odd page.

Before you start

Turn on hidden formatting symbols by clicking the Show/Hide Paragraph mark (¶) on the Home tab so you can easily locate and identify the section breaks in your document.

Solution 1Recommended

Change the Section Start to a New Page

Adjust the Page Setup layout settings to prevent the section from forcing an odd page start, which removes the structural blank page.

When a document uses double-sided printing rules, inserting a new section might default to starting on an "Odd page". If a landscape section ends on an odd page, the word processor forces a blank even page to ensure the subsequent portrait section begins on the right-hand side (the next odd page).

Place the Cursor

Click anywhere inside the text of the portrait page that immediately follows the unwanted blank page.

Open Page Setup

Navigate to the "Layout" (or "Page Layout") tab on the ribbon and click the small dialog box launcher arrow in the bottom-right corner of the Page Setup group.

Adjust Section Start

In the Page Setup dialog box, click on the "Layout" tab. Locate the "Section start" dropdown menu.

Apply and Verify

Change the selection from "Odd page" to "New page" and click "OK". Open your Print Preview to confirm that the blank page has been removed.

Issue Resolved: Changing this setting prevents the software from adding a filler page, keeping your landscape and portrait sections strictly consecutive.

Manage Document Layouts Easily

Fix Complex Page Layouts Seamlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Writer offers an intuitive interface to manage mixed page orientations and section breaks. It allows you to quickly adjust pagination rules and is fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents.

1. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx file containing the mixed page orientations.
2. Access Page Layout: Navigate to the "Page Layout" tab on the main ribbon.
3. Open Page Setup: Click the "Page Setup" dialog box icon to view detailed layout settings.
4. Adjust Section Layout: Under the "Layout" tab, locate "Section start", change it to "New page", and click "OK".

Free and lightweight word processing applicationSeamlessly open, edit, and save Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsIntuitive Page Setup to manage complex section breaks and orientationsFamiliar ribbon interface for a zero-learning-curve transition

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Word insert a blank page between a landscape and portrait section?

If the new section is set to start on an "Odd page" (which is standard for starting new book chapters on the right side), the software inserts a filler blank even page so that the landscape and portrait pages do not print on the front and back of the same sheet.

Will this blank page appear in the final printed document?

Yes, this structural blank page is added by the software for double-sided printing purposes, and it will appear in both the print preview and the final printed output unless the setting is modified.

How can I see exactly where the section breaks are located?

Go to the Home tab and click the Show/Hide ¶ icon. This reveals hidden formatting marks on your document, including the exact location of "Section Break (Odd Page)" or "Section Break (Next Page)".

What if changing the section start doesn't remove the blank page?

If adjusting the section start does not solve the issue, check for manual page breaks (Ctrl+Enter) or empty paragraph marks at the very end of the landscape section that might be pushing content onto a new page.

Document & File Issues