To create sections in Microsoft Word, click where you want the new section to start, go to the Layout tab, click Breaks, and choose a section break under Section Breaks. Pick Next Page to start the new section on a new page, or Continuous to start it on the same page. Each section can then have its own page orientation, margins, columns, headers and footers, and page numbering.
Below is when to use each type of break, how to give sections different headers or numbering, and how to see and remove section breaks.
How to add a section break
- Click at the exact spot where the new section should begin, usually at the start of a heading or chapter.
- Click the Layout tab (called Page Layout in Word 2013 and 2016).
- Click Breaks.
- Under Section Breaks, choose Next Page, Continuous, Even Page, or Odd Page.
Which section break should you use?
| Break | Starts the new section | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Next Page | On the next page | Chapters, a landscape page in a portrait document, different headers |
| Continuous | On the same page | Switching between one and two columns on the same page |
| Even Page | On the next even-numbered page | Printed books where sections start on a left page |
| Odd Page | On the next odd-numbered page | Printed books where chapters start on a right page |
A page break (Ctrl + Enter) just moves text to a new page. It doesn’t create a new section, so it can’t change orientation or headers.
What you can change per section
- Orientation: Click in the section, then Layout > Orientation > Landscape. Only that section changes.
- Margins and columns: Use Layout > Margins or Columns while your cursor is in the section.
- Headers and footers: Double-click the header in the new section. On the Header & Footer tab, click Link to Previous to turn it off, then change the header. Otherwise, it copies the previous section.
- Page numbering: Click Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and choose Start at to restart numbering, or pick a different number format, like i, ii, iii for an introduction.
How to see section breaks
- On the Home tab, click the ¶ (Show/Hide) button, or press Ctrl + Shift + 8.
- Section breaks appear as dotted lines labeled Section Break (Next Page) or similar.
To see which section you’re in, right-click the status bar at the bottom of Word and check Section.
How to remove a section break
- Turn on ¶ so the break is visible.
- Click just before the section break line, or double-click the break to select it.
- Press Delete.
When you delete a break, the text before it takes on the formatting of the section after it. If the layout changes unexpectedly, press Ctrl + Z to undo.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my header change when I added a section break?
It probably didn’t change, but if you edited a header while Link to Previous was on, the change applied to every linked section. Turn off Link to Previous in the section you want to be different.
How do I make just one page landscape?
Add a Next Page section break before and after that page, click in it, and choose Layout > Orientation > Landscape.
Does Word for the web support section breaks?
Word for the web shows existing section breaks and can add some breaks, but it has fewer options. Use the desktop app for full control over sections.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.