Acrobat
How to delete a blank page in Word: Simple steps to clean up your document.
Easily remove blank or unwanted pages in Word with step-by-step solutions for Windows and Mac, ensuring a clean and well-formatted document.
Published by Adobe Acrobat India on 9 July 2025
Blank pages in Microsoft Word can be frustrating, whether caused by formatting issues, section breaks, or extra paragraph marks. If you’re looking for how to delete a page in Word, especially on Mac, you’re not alone. Many users struggle to remove unwanted pages, but the good news is that it’s an easy fix.
With Adobe Acrobat, you can seamlessly convert, edit, and optimize documents - including removing unnecessary pages in Word before converting to PDF. This guide will walk you through step-by-step methods to delete blank pages in Microsoft Word on both Windows and Mac, ensuring a clean and professional document.
Key takeaways.
- Delete blank pages easily: Use backspace/delete, the navigation pane, or remove manual page breaks to delete unwanted pages in Word.
- Fix formatting issues: Hidden paragraph marks, section breaks, and table layouts often cause blank pages - enable show/hide marks to locate them.
- Different methods for Windows & Mac: Windows users can use Ctrl + G to delete pages, while Mac users can remove pages using the sidebar thumbnails.
- Prevent blank pages before PDF conversion: Use print preview, adjust margins, and remove extra spaces before saving a document as a PDF.
- Adobe Acrobat for final document cleanup: Easily delete, reorder, or merge pages in a PDF to ensure a polished final version
How to delete a page in Word on Windows.
If you’re using Microsoft Word on Windows, follow these methods to remove an unwanted blank page:
Method 1: Use the backspace or delete key.
Sometimes, a blank page is simply caused by extra spaces or paragraph marks.
Here’s how to remove it:
- Place your cursor at the end of your document where the blank page appears.
- Press backspace (←) or delete on your keyboard until the page disappears.
Tip: Enable show/hide paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8) to see hidden formatting symbols that may be creating the blank page.
Method 2: Remove a blank page using navigation pane.
The navigation pane allows you to quickly locate and delete blank pages in a document.
- Click on view > navigation pane (or press Ctrl + F).
- Select the blank page thumbnail in the left panel.
- Press the delete key to remove the page.
Tip: Enable paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows, Command + 8 on Mac) - this allows you to see hidden formatting elements that may be causing the extra page.
Method 3: Delete a page caused by manual page breaks.
Page breaks sometimes force Word to add a new page. To remove them:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + 8 to show paragraph marks.
- Locate the page break (dotted line labeled "Page Break").
- Click on it and press delete.
- For multiple unwanted blank pages, repeat these steps throughout your document.
Tip: If you plan to convert the document into a PDF, use Adobe Acrobat to delete any unnecessary blank pages directly within the PDF.
How to delete a page in Word on Mac.
Mac users often face similar blank page issues. Here’s how to remove them efficiently:
Method 1: Use the delete key on Mac.
- Click at the end of the document where the blank page appears.
- Press and hold delete until the blank page is removed.
Tip: Enable show paragraph marks (Command + 8) to see extra spaces or formatting issues.
Method 2: Delete a page in Word Mac using navigation pane.
- Click view > sidebar > thumbnails in Word.
- Scroll to find the blank page thumbnail and select it.
- Press delete to remove the page.
Method 3: Remove unwanted section breaks on Mac.
- Click show paragraph marks (Command + 8).
- Look for "section break (next page)" or "page break" text.
- Click on it and press delete.
Why this works: Section breaks often create blank pages that seem impossible to delete. Removing them helps keep your document clean.
Tip: If you plan to convert the document into a PDF, use Adobe Acrobat to delete any unnecessary blank pages directly within the PDF.
Why does Microsoft Word add blank pages?
Before deleting an extra page, it’s helpful to understand why it appears - blank pages in Word can result from:
- Extra paragraph marks or spaces at the end of a document.
- Manual page breaks added unintentionally.
- Section breaks that create an additional page.
- Tables that extend beyond a page, forcing Word to insert an extra space.
Tip: By identifying the cause, you can choose the best method to remove the blank page effectively.
How to prevent blank pages in Word before converting to PDF.
When preparing a document for PDF conversion, unwanted blank pages can cause formatting issues - use these tips to prevent them:
- Check for extra spaces or paragraph marks before saving your file.
- Use print preview (Ctrl + P / Command + P) to detect blank pages.
- Adjust margins to ensure content fits correctly.
Tip: With Adobe Acrobat, you can delete, rearrange, or combine pages in a PDF - ensuring a clean final document.
How do you remove the second page in Word?
If you want to delete only the second page of your document (whether it’s blank or contains text), follow these steps:
- Use "Go To" to select and delete the page:
- Press Ctrl + G (Windows) or Command + G (Mac) to open the find and replace tool.
- Type \page in the "enter page number" field and press enter.
- Click close, then press delete to remove the entire page.
- Delete content manually: If the second page contains text, highlight everything on that page and press delete.
- Remove page breaks or section breaks: if the second page is appearing due to a formatting issue, go to view > show paragraph marks and delete any page breaks or section breaks causing the extra page.
Tip: If your Word file is being converted into a PDF and you want to remove a page afterward, Adobe Acrobat’s PDF editor lets you delete pages quickly and keep your document streamlined.
How do you delete a whole page in Word?
If you need to delete an entire page in Word - whether it’s a blank page or a page with content - the process depends on the page type.
To delete a page with content:
- Place your cursor anywhere on the page.
- Press Ctrl + G (Windows) or Command + G (Mac) to open the find and replace tool.
- Type \page and press enter to select the entire page.
- Click close, then press delete to remove the page.
To delete a blank page:
- Use backspace/delete to remove any unnecessary spaces.
- Enable show paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8 on Windows, Command + 8 on Mac) to check for hidden formatting issues.
- If the blank page is at the end of the document, delete any lingering paragraph marks.
Tip: If you’re working with a PDF version of your document, you can use Adobe Acrobat’s page management tools to delete pages, rearrange content, or combine multiple PDFs seamlessly.
Be productive anywhere.
Want to discover even more PDF features? Try Acrobat's online tools for free in your browser.
Frequently asked questions.
Why does Word sometimes create a blank page at the end of a document?
If you notice a blank page appearing at the end of your Word document, it is usually caused by hidden formatting elements or layout settings.
- Unwanted paragraph marks: Word often inserts extra paragraph marks (¶) at the end of a document.
- Manual or automatic page breaks: If you previously inserted a page break, Word may continue to recognize an extra page.
- Section breaks: A "section break (next page)" forces Word to create a new page.
- Tables pushing content to the next page: If a table extends beyond the page’s margin, Word may automatically insert a new page.
Tip: Before converting your document to PDF, use Adobe Acrobat to preview and delete any unnecessary blank pages for a clean final file.
Can I remove a page in Word without affecting the formatting?
Yes, it is possible to delete a page while preserving the formatting of your document.
- Use "Go To" (Ctrl + G / Command + G) to select the entire page without disturbing surrounding text.
- Delete only unnecessary paragraph marks - don’t remove essential section breaks.
- Adjust margins instead of deleting content - sometimes reducing spacing or font size can fix layout issues.
Tip: If you want to ensure formatting remains intact when sharing documents, convert your Word file to PDF using Adobe Acrobat for consistency across devices.
How do I delete a landscape page in a Word document?
If your document has a mix of portrait and landscape pages, deleting a landscape page may require extra steps.
- Identify the section break - landscape pages are usually separated by a section break.
- Enable paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8) to find hidden formatting.
- Delete the section break carefully - if needed, adjust formatting to prevent shifting content.
Tip: Convert your document to PDF with Adobe Acrobat to ensure page orientation remains consistent when sharing.
How do I delete a page number without removing the entire page?
If you only need to remove a page number but keep the page itself, follow these steps:
- Go to insert > header & footer > page number.
- Select remove page numbers - this removes them from all pages.
- If only removing from one page, double-click the header/footer and select different first page or different odd & even pages.
Tip: If working with a PDF version, use Adobe Acrobat’s edit feature to remove or modify page numbers without affecting the document layout.
How do I delete multiple pages in Word at once?
To delete multiple pages efficiently, use find & replace or manual selection:
- Use "Go To" (Ctrl + G / Command + G) to navigate and delete pages individually.
- Select text across multiple pages - click, hold shift, and highlight content before pressing delete.
- Remove multiple blank pages by deleting section breaks that may be pushing content forward.
Tip: If deleting pages in a PDF version of your document, use Adobe Acrobat’s page management tools for quick and precise edits.
How do I delete a page in Word that contains an image or table?
If a page won’t delete because it contains an image or table, try the following:
- Select the entire page by clicking and dragging your cursor over the content.
- Check for floating elements - images or tables may be anchored to another page.
- Reduce table size or reposition the image if it's forcing a new page to be created.
- Delete any section breaks or extra paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8) that might be affecting the layout.
Tip: If you need to remove pages in a PDF document, Adobe Acrobat allows you to delete or reorganize content without affecting formatting.
How do I delete an empty last page in Word before printing?
If an unwanted blank page appears when printing your Word document, try these fixes:
- Check print preview (Ctrl + P) - if a blank page appears, it's likely due to hidden formatting.
- Reduce bottom margin in page layout settings to prevent an extra page from being added.
- Adjust printer settings - some printers automatically add a blank page at the end of print jobs.
Tip: If printing from PDF, you can use Adobe Acrobat’s page deletion tool to remove unnecessary pages before printing.
Can I recover a deleted page in Word?
Yes, you can restore a deleted page if you’ve removed it accidentally.
- Use undo (Ctrl + Z / Command + Z) immediately after deletion.
- Check the document’s version history if using Word with OneDrive or Google Drive integration.
- Restore from a previously saved version if your document is saved locally.
Tip: If your document is saved as a PDF, use Adobe Acrobat’s undo feature or version history to revert changes.
How do I delete a page in Word without changing the footer or header?
If deleting a page affects your header or footer, here’s how to prevent that:
- Check section breaks - headers/footers are linked to sections; deleting breaks may remove formatting.
- Use “different first page” in header & footer settings if the page is standalone.
- Manually delete page content while keeping header/footer settings intact.
Tip: Adobe Acrobat allows you to edit and remove specific pages without affecting headers, footers, or formatting in PDFs.
How can I remove extra spaces that create blank pages in Word?
Large spaces or unwanted paragraph marks can push content onto a new page. To remove them:
- Enable paragraph marks (Ctrl + Shift + 8 / Command + 8) to see hidden spaces.
- Reduce line spacing by adjusting paragraph settings (right-click > paragraph > line spacing).
- Delete unnecessary breaks or manually adjust margins to fit text correctly.
Tip: Before finalising your document as a PDF, use Adobe Acrobat’s edit tool to clean up unnecessary spaces and blank pages.
More resources
