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How to delete a blank page in Word.
Learn how to delete a blank page in Word with some keyboard shortcuts.
Whether it’s in a long research paper or a vacation itinerary, sometimes that extra blank page at the end of your copy just won’t disappear.
Even though the task sounds self-explanatory, deleting a blank page in Word can be difficult depending on your device, formatting settings, or how the document was created. Hidden paragraph marks, section breaks, or layout issues can all contribute to the problem.
Thankfully, you can try a few foolproof methods for both Mac and Windows to end your extra page struggle — whether you’re cleaning up a document for print, sharing it as a PDF, or combining multiple Word files.
How to delete a page in a Word file.
Deleting a page in Word is usually straightforward, but it depends on whether the page contains text, images, or formatting elements.
If you’re trying to remove a page with content, the key is selecting everything on that page and deleting it fully.
Here’s how to do it:
- Place your cursor at the beginning of the page you want to delete.
- Click and drag your mouse to highlight all of the content on that page.
- Press Delete (or Backspace on Mac) on your keyboard.
How to delete a blank page in Word.
Learning how to delete pages in Word means getting familiar with the Delete key. For this method, simply scroll to the extra page, click anywhere, and then click Delete.
If that doesn’t seem to do the trick, delete that phantom page in the Navigation Pane, which gives you a visual overview of your document.
- In the Word Menu ribbon, click the View tab.
- In the sidebar, click the Pages option.
- View the page thumbnails in your document.
- Click the blank page thumbnail and click Delete.
Blank pages can sometimes appear after adding external content — especially when you insert a PDF into Word. Formatting shifts or extra spacing may push content onto a new, unintended page, so it’s helpful to double-check layout settings after making any insertions.
How to delete a page in Word on Windows.
Windows has a keyboard shortcut to help find your paragraph marks and delete that spare blank page. Follow the steps below to see how to remove a page in Word.
- Tap anywhere within your Word document.
- Press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+8 to locate the paragraph marks (¶) in your document.
- Scroll to the page that needs to be deleted, or press Ctrl+G, and enter the specific page number. This keyboard action brings you to that page.
- Find the extra paragraph marks (¶) or page break.
- Select the paragraph marks (¶) or page break and press Delete until the blank page is erased.
How to delete a page in Word on a Mac.
Deleting a blank page on a Mac is easy, but it requires pressing a different keyboard shortcut than Windows.
- Click anywhere in your Word document.
- Press the keyboard shortcut Command+8.
- View the paragraph marks (¶) within the Word document.
- Scroll down to the blank page that needs to be removed, or press Option+Command+G and enter the specific page number.
- Select the paragraph marks (¶) or page break and keep clicking the Delete key until the blank page is erased.
How to troubleshoot deleting a page in Word.
A frequent challenge in Word is removing an unwanted blank page at the end of a document. This often happens because Word includes a non-deletable end-paragraph that occasionally spills onto a new page. To eliminate the blank page, you need to ensure that this final paragraph fits on the preceding page. One simple trick is to reduce the font size of the paragraph so it doesn’t force a page break.
Follow these steps:
- Press Command + 8 (or Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows) to display paragraph marks.
- Locate the paragraph mark (¶) at the end of the document and select it.
- In the Font size box, type 01 and press Enter. This shrinks the paragraph enough to fit on the previous page, which should remove the blank one.
- Press Command + 8 again to hide paragraph marks.
If the paragraph still doesn’t fit, you can also reduce the bottom margin slightly:
- Go to the Layout tab > Margins > Custom Margins.
- Set the bottom margin to a smaller value, like 0.3 inches, and click OK.
This adjustment helps squeeze the final paragraph onto the previous page and eliminate the extra one entirely.
If you’re managing multiple Word files or exporting them to PDF, layout issues like blank pages can become more noticeable. In those cases, it helps to know how to combine Word documents before finalizing your file. And if you’re working with a PDF version and need to fix extra pages post-export, you can easily delete PDF pages online using free tools.
If you’re still having trouble deleting a page, try the following tips:
- Check for section breaks. These can create new pages. Go to Home > ¶, locate the break, and delete it.
- Tables or images spilling over. If a table or image extends slightly beyond the bottom margin, it may force Word to add a blank page. Resize or reposition the object.
- Header and footer content. Sometimes, a header or footer element causes spacing issues. Double-click the area and delete any unnecessary content.
- Document protection. Ensure the document isn’t locked or restricted from editing. Check this under File > Info > Protect Document.
- Compatibility mode issues. Older .doc formats can behave differently. Try saving the file as a .docx and reattempt the deletion.
Frequently asked questions.
Why is there an end paragraph at the end of a Word document?
How do you troubleshoot a page break in Microsoft Word?
Sometimes, page breaks can cause extra blank pages at the end of your copy. A trick to reveal them is to click the Show/Hide button in the Paragraph box in the Word Menu ribbon. This action will reveal the section breaks, allowing you to delete them.
Also, if you experience formatting issues with page breaks, check for compatibility issues. If you’re editing a document created in an older version of Word, then it may not be compatible with your current version of Word. You can convert the old document to the new format by clicking File > Convert. You may experience some layout changes, but now you can save the document in the updated version of Word.
Or, you can still edit the document in compatibility mode, which occurs automatically when the file is opened. However, you cannot access the newest features of Word. You can save the document in the old format in the Save As option and click your desired file type.
How do I delete an extra blank page in Pages?
Pages is Apple’s version of Microsoft Word. The word processor application is automatically downloaded to your Mac computer, so some users find it more accessible than downloading Microsoft Word. If you’re having difficulty deleting an extra blank page in Apple Pages, then follow the steps below to remove it.
- Navigate to the View or Page Thumbnails button in the Menu Toolbar. The Page Thumbnails may be shown as a small icon of a page.
- Click the icon and view the page thumbnails on the left side of your screen.
- Similar to Word, you’ll locate the blank page you’d like to delete in the thumbnails.
- Click the thumbnail of the blank page, then click Delete.
How do I delete an extra blank page in Docs?
Google Docs is a free online word processor similar to Microsoft Word. You can delete an extra blank page in Docs by either deleting the page content or adjusting the margins.
- In the Google Docs Menu toolbar, click View.
- Uncheck Show print layout.
- Open File > Page Setup.
- Adjust the bottom margin from 1 to .5.
How to delete a blank page in Word on your mobile device?
If you’re working from Word on your mobile device, then the keyboard shortcut may not be the same. Try one of two methods to delete a blank page in the Microsoft Word app on your phone:
Delete copy. If the page you want to delete includes content, click Delete or use the Cut feature (the scissors icon).
Remove paragraph breaks. Remove the hidden end paragraph or section breaks by revealing them.
- In the Home tab, click the Show/Hide button. The button may be presented by a paragraph mark (¶).
- Highlight the section break and click Delete.
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