Printing Problems

How to Stop Word from Adding Unwanted Section Breaks When Printing

Aamir Naveed Akram Oct 21, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to prevent unwanted section breaks from automatically appearing when printing or updating document fields.

How to Stop Word from Adding Unwanted Section Breaks When Printing

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Updating document fields or opening Print Preview, which triggers field updates.
Observed behavior: A section break is reproduced and inserted before every REF field because the referenced hidden bookmark mistakenly includes both the caption and the preceding section break.

Before you start

Before attempting to fix the bookmarks, go to the Home tab and enable the 'Show/Hide ¶' feature so you can clearly see the hidden section breaks and paragraph marks in your document.

Solution 1Recommended

Redefine the Hidden Bookmark Linked to the Caption

Fix the root cause by modifying the hidden bookmark so it encompasses only the caption text and completely excludes the preceding section break.

When you insert a cross-reference or a caption, Word creates a hidden bookmark. If a section break sits directly before the caption, Word might accidentally include it inside the bookmark's boundary. When Print Preview forces all document fields to update, it duplicates that section break everywhere the reference appears.

Select the exact caption text

Navigate to the original caption (e.g., 'Table 1'). Carefully highlight only the text of the caption, ensuring that your selection does not include the section break located just before it.

Open the Bookmark dialog

Go to the 'Insert' tab on the ribbon and click on 'Bookmark' in the Links group.

Redefine the existing bookmark

In the Bookmark dialog, check the 'Hidden bookmarks' box so you can view all system-generated bookmarks. Find and click the existing bookmark name associated with your caption, then click the 'Add' button. This overrides the old bookmark boundary with your new, precise selection.

Update the affected fields

Press 'Ctrl + A' to select your entire document, right-click anywhere on the text, and choose 'Update Field' (or press 'F9'). This will refresh the REF fields and remove the duplicated section breaks.

Redefine the Hidden Bookmark Linked to the Caption

Verify in Print Preview: After updating the fields, press 'Ctrl + P' to open Print Preview. The unwanted section breaks should no longer appear.

Professional Word Processing

Manage Document Fields and Print Flawlessly with WPS Writer

WPS Office provides seamless cross-reference management and high compatibility with Microsoft Word (.docx) formats, ensuring your document prints exactly as it appears on screen without unexpected formatting shifts.

1. Open your document: Launch WPS Writer and open the document experiencing the printing format issues.
2. Enable formatting marks: Click the 'Show/Hide ¶' icon under the Home tab to reveal hidden section breaks.
3. Highlight the caption: Select only the text of the table or figure caption, carefully avoiding the section break symbol.
4. Update the bookmark: Go to Insert > Bookmark, select the original hidden bookmark name, and click Add to redefine its boundaries.
5. Refresh and print: Select all text, press F9 to update your document fields, and safely proceed to print.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatting and fieldsIntuitive tools for managing bookmarks, captions, and cross-referencesReliable 'What You See Is What You Get' print preview capabilitiesFree, lightweight, and fast document processing

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Print Preview change the formatting of my Word document?

By default, Microsoft Word updates all document fields (like cross-references, page numbers, and tables of contents) right before printing or when entering Print Preview. If a referenced bookmark includes hidden formatting like a section break, updating the field duplicates that formatting.

How can I see where section breaks are in my document?

You can reveal section breaks by going to the Home tab and clicking the 'Show/Hide ¶' button (the paragraph symbol). This displays all non-printing characters, including spaces, tabs, and section breaks, making them easy to locate and edit.

How do I permanently delete an unwanted section break?

Turn on formatting marks to locate the 'Section Break' indicator. Click just before the break line and press the 'Delete' key on your keyboard. Note that deleting a section break will merge the formatting of the section above with the section below it.

Can I prevent Word from updating fields when printing?

Yes. You can disable this by going to File > Options > Display, and unchecking 'Update fields before printing' under the Printing options section. However, fixing the underlying bookmark boundary is highly recommended so your document data remains accurate.

Document & File Issues