How to Delete a Section Break (Next Page) in Word

A Section Break (Next Page) in Word starts a new section on a new page. Section breaks let you use different headers, page numbers, orientation, or margins in different parts of a document, but an unwanted one can create blank pages or odd formatting. Because section breaks are invisible by default, the first step is making them visible. This guide shows how to find and delete section breaks, how to avoid losing formatting when you do, and alternatives when you want to keep the formatting but lose the page break.

Quick Answer

Click Home > Show/Hide ¶ (or press Ctrl + Shift + 8) to show formatting marks. Click just before the Section Break (Next Page) line, or double-click to select it, and press Delete. Click Show/Hide again to hide the marks.

Step-by-Step: Delete a Section Break

1. Open your document and go to the Home tab.
2. Click Show/Hide ¶ in the Paragraph group.
3. Scroll to the double dotted line labeled Section Break (Next Page).
4. Click at the start of the break line and press Delete. Or select the break by dragging across it, then press Delete.
5. Click Show/Hide ¶ again to turn off formatting marks.

Tip: if the break is hard to select in Print Layout, switch to View > Draft, where section breaks appear as full-width lines that are easy to click.

What Happens to Formatting When You Delete It

Section formatting (headers, footers, page numbers, orientation, margins, columns) is stored in the section break at the end of each section. When you delete a break, the text before it takes on the formatting of the section that follows.

Before deleting	After deleting
Section 1: portrait, header A	One section with the landscape layout and header B
Section 2: landscape, header B

If the layout changes unexpectedly, press Ctrl + Z to undo, then use one of the alternatives below.

Keep the Formatting but Remove the Page Break

If you want the sections but not the new page, change the break type instead of deleting it:

1. Click anywhere in the section after the break.
2. Go to Layout and click the dialog launcher in the Page Setup group.
3. On the Layout tab, change Section start to Continuous.
4. Click OK.

The section break stays, but the next section starts on the same page.

Delete All Section Breaks at Once

1. Press Ctrl + H to open Find and Replace.
2. Click in Find what and type ^b (the code for section breaks).
3. Leave Replace with empty.
4. Click Replace All.

This removes every section break, so the whole document takes the formatting of the last section. Save a copy first.

Fix a Blank Page Caused by a Section Break

• A Next Page or Odd Page break at the end of a page can create an empty page. Change it to Continuous or delete it.
• If a blank page is at the end after a table, reduce the paragraph mark's font size to 1 point.

Troubleshooting

I cannot delete the section break

Track Changes may be on (the break shows as a deletion but stays). Accept the change on the Review tab, or turn off Track Changes. The document may also be protected; check Review > Restrict Editing.

Headers changed after deleting

The previous section adopted the next section's headers. Undo, and instead set Link to Previous appropriately in the header of each section.

Related: Show or hide non-printing characters in Word.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a page break and a section break?

A page break only starts a new page. A section break can also change headers, page numbers, orientation, and margins.

How do I see section breaks without formatting marks?

Use Draft view, or right-click the status bar and turn on Section to see which section you are in.

Does this work in Word for Mac?

Yes. Show formatting marks with the ¶ button or Cmd + 8, then select and delete the break.

Summary

1. Turn on Show/Hide ¶.
2. Select the Section Break (Next Page) marker and press Delete.
3. Change the break to Continuous if you want to keep section formatting.
4. Use ^b in Find and Replace to remove all section breaks.