Office Settings & Configuration

How to Fix Word 2021 Page Number Styles Missing From Footer Gallery

Maira Mehtab Sep 21, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to restore the missing page number styles and header/footer options in Word's built-in galleries.

Product: Word 2021
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to insert a page number or header/footer using the default gallery options from the Word ribbon.
Observed behavior: The Bottom of Page, Header, and Footer galleries are completely empty, displaying no styles and only offering an option to get more page numbers from Office.com.

Before you start

Ensure that Microsoft Word 2021 and all other Office applications are completely closed before modifying backend template files to avoid permission errors.

Solution 1Recommended

Rename the Corrupted Building Blocks Files

By renaming the corrupted template files, you force Microsoft Word to regenerate fresh Document Building Blocks upon its next startup, which restores the default gallery styles.

The built-in galleries for headers, footers, and page numbers are stored in standard template files called Building Blocks. If these files become corrupted due to a sudden crash, add-in conflict, or update error, the galleries will appear completely empty.

Open the Run dialog

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

Navigate to the Building Blocks folder

Type '%appdata%\Microsoft\Document Building Blocks' (without the quotes) into the text field and press Enter. This will open the File Explorer directly to the required directory.

Locate the template files

Open the subfolder that matches your language identifier (for example, '1033' for US English) and then open the version folder (like '16'). Look for the files named 'Building Blocks.dotx' and 'Built-In Building Blocks.dotx'.

Rename the files

Right-click on 'Building Blocks.dotx', select Rename, and change it to 'Building Blocks.old'. Do the same for 'Built-In Building Blocks.dotx', renaming it to 'Built-In Building Blocks.old'.

Restart Microsoft Word

Open Word 2021. The program will automatically detect that the template files are missing and generate brand new, uncorrupted versions, instantly restoring all your gallery styles.

Why rename instead of delete?: Renaming the files acts as a safe backup. If you have custom quick parts or text boxes saved to your original Building Blocks, you can later retrieve them from the '.old' files if necessary.

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Switch to WPS Office for a Bug-Free Experience

Tired of troubleshooting corrupted template files and missing gallery styles in Microsoft Word? Try WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative with perfectly integrated headers, footers, and page number styles out of the box.

1. Download the software: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your Windows 11 PC.
2. Install quickly: Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions for a quick, hassle-free setup.
3. Open your documents safely: Launch WPS Writer and open your .docx files seamlessly to enjoy fully functioning formatting tools and galleries.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word documents (.docx, .doc) without formatting loss.Built-in, stable gallery for page numbers, headers, and footers that rarely corrupts.Lightweight installation taking up a fraction of your system resources.Familiar user interface ensuring immediate productivity without a steep learning curve.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my header and footer styles suddenly disappear in Word 2021?

This usually happens when the 'Built-In Building Blocks.dotx' file becomes corrupted. Document Building Block files can get corrupted due to unexpected crashes, forced computer shutdowns, problematic updates, or conflicts with certain third-party Word add-ins.

Will I lose my custom templates if I apply this fix?

If you saved custom building blocks (like Quick Parts or custom cover pages) to the default Building Blocks.dotx file, they will be reset in the new file. However, because you renamed the old file instead of deleting it, your custom blocks are safely backed up in the '.old' file and can be manually recovered by an advanced user.

How can I quickly insert custom page numbers if the gallery is empty?

While troubleshooting the gallery issue, you can instantly insert a page number wherever your cursor is by using the keyboard shortcut Alt + Shift + P, or by manually inserting a { PAGE } field code in the footer area.

Does this fix apply to Word versions other than 2021?

Yes, renaming the Building Blocks files works identically for Microsoft Word 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. Only the specific internal version folder number (such as '16' or '15') inside the AppData directory might vary slightly.

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