To remove a page break in Excel 2013, click a cell in the row just below a horizontal break (or in the column just right of a vertical break), then go to Page Layout > Breaks > Remove Page Break. To remove all the manual page breaks at once, choose Page Layout > Breaks > Reset All Page Breaks. If you just want to hide the dashed page break lines, turn off Show page breaks in File > Options > Advanced.
Excel has two kinds of page breaks: manual ones that you or someone else added, shown as solid lines in Page Break Preview, and automatic ones Excel adds based on paper size, margins, and scaling, shown as dashed lines. You can delete manual breaks, but you can only move automatic ones. The steps work the same in Excel 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365.
How to remove one page break
- Click a cell directly below the horizontal page break, or directly to the right of a vertical page break.
- Click the Page Layout tab.
- Click Breaks > Remove Page Break.
If Remove Page Break is grayed out, the break is automatic, not manual, or you didn’t select the cell right next to the break.
How to remove all manual page breaks
- Click any cell on the sheet.
- Go to Page Layout > Breaks > Reset All Page Breaks.
Excel removes every manual break and falls back to automatic breaks.
How to move or remove breaks in Page Break Preview
- Click View > Page Break Preview.
- Manual breaks are solid blue lines. Automatic breaks are dashed blue lines.
- Drag a manual break off the edge of the printed area to delete it.
- Drag an automatic break to move it. Excel turns it into a manual break and may shrink the scale so the content fits.
- Click View > Normal when you’re done.
How to hide the dashed page break lines
After you use Print Preview or Page Layout view, Excel shows dashed lines in Normal view. To hide them:
- Click File > Options > Advanced.
- Scroll to Display options for this worksheet.
- Uncheck Show page breaks and click OK.
Closing and reopening the workbook also clears them until you print again.
Fit everything with fewer breaks
To reduce automatic breaks, change scaling in Page Layout > Scale to Fit, switch to Landscape, or narrow the margins. See how to make a spreadsheet fit on one page.
Frequently asked questions
Why can’t I remove a page break?
It’s probably automatic. Change scaling, margins, or paper size, or drag it in Page Break Preview.
Why are page breaks in the wrong place?
Check for a manual break inserted by mistake, a print area that’s too small, or scaling set to a fixed percentage.
How do I insert a page break?
Select the row below or column right of where you want the break, then choose Page Layout > Breaks > Insert Page Break.
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.
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