How to Skip Page Numbers in Word (First Page and More)

To skip the page number on the first page in Word for Microsoft 365, double-click the header or footer on page 1, then check Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. The number disappears from the first page, and page 2 shows “2.” To make page 2 start at “1” instead, go to Page Number > Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 0. To skip numbers on other pages, such as a table of contents, use a section break.

This guide covers every way to skip page numbers in Word on Windows, Mac, and the web, including starting numbering on page 3 and removing a number from a single page in the middle of a document.

Which method do you need?

Goal	What to do
No number on the title page	Different First Page
No number on page 1, and page 2 shows “1”	Different First Page + Start at 0
Start numbering on page 3 (or later)	Section break + Link to Previous off + Start at 1
Skip a number on one page in the middle	Section breaks before and after that page
Roman numerals for front matter, then 1, 2, 3	Section break + different number format per section

How to skip the page number on the first page

1. Add page numbers if you haven’t: Insert > Page Number and choose a position.
2. Double-click the header or footer on the first page.
3. On the Header & Footer tab, check Different First Page.
4. If a number still shows on page 1, select it and press Delete. This only removes it from the first page.
5. Click Close Header and Footer or press Esc.

How to make page 2 start at 1

1. With the header or footer open, click Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
2. Under Page numbering, choose Start at and type 0.
3. Click OK.

The hidden first page is now page 0, so the second page shows “1.”

How to start page numbers on page 3 or later

1. Click at the very end of the last page you don’t want numbered, such as page 2.
2. Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks.
3. Double-click the footer (or header) on the first page of the new section.
4. On the Header & Footer tab, click Link to Previous to turn it off. The label “Same as Previous” disappears.
5. Click Page Number > Format Page Numbers, choose Start at: 1, and click OK.
6. Insert the page number here if it isn’t there yet.
7. Go back to the footer in the earlier section and delete its page number. Because the sections are unlinked, the later numbers stay.

Turn on Home > Show/Hide ¶ to see section breaks, which helps if something goes wrong.

How to skip a page number in the middle of a document

1. Insert a Next Page section break right before the page, and another right after it.
2. Open the footer on the page you want to skip, and turn off Link to Previous.
3. Open the footer on the page right after it, and turn off Link to Previous there too.
4. Delete the page number on the skipped page.
5. On the page after it, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers > Continue from previous section.

This is handy for full-page images or landscape pages. The skipped page still counts, so numbering continues as if it had a number.

Roman numerals for front matter

After adding a section break after your front matter, open the footer in the first section, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and pick i, ii, iii. In the next section, turn off Link to Previous and set the format to 1, 2, 3 starting at 1.

Word for Mac and Word for the web

• Mac: The steps are the same. Double-click the header or footer and look for Different First Page on the Header & Footer tab. Section breaks are in Layout > Breaks.
• Web: Go to Insert > Page Numbers, then choose Options > Different First Page. Section-based numbering has limited support in Word for the web, so use the desktop app for complex layouts.

Troubleshooting

• Deleting one number removes them all: The sections are still linked. Turn off Link to Previous first.
• Numbering restarts at 1 after a section break: Choose Continue from previous section in Format Page Numbers.
• Different First Page affects every section: It’s set per section. Check it only in the section you need.
• Header disappeared on page 1: Different First Page creates a separate first-page header and footer. Type or paste the header content there.

Frequently asked questions

How do I remove page numbers completely?

Go to Insert > Page Number > Remove Page Numbers. Repeat in each unlinked section.

Can I number pages as “Page 1 of 10”?

Yes. Choose Insert > Page Number > Top or Bottom of Page and pick a Page X of Y style.

How do I skip page numbers in Google Docs?

In Google Docs, choose Insert > Page numbers and pick the style that doesn’t show a number on the first page.