How to Add a Page Break in Word

When writing a report in Microsoft Word, you will frequently reach a point where a specific section (like a new chapter, a bibliography, or an appendix) needs to start on a brand new, clean page. The most common mistake users make is pressing the “Enter” key ten or fifteen times to push the text down until it crosses over onto the next page. This manual method destroys document formatting. If you later add a paragraph to the previous page, all those “Enters” will push your new chapter halfway down the subsequent page. The correct, professional solution is to insert a Page Break.

Why Use a Page Break?

A Page Break is an invisible formatting command embedded in the document. It tells Word, “No matter how much text is added or removed above this point, whatever follows this mark must always begin at the very top of the next page.” It locks your document structure in place, ensuring that your chapters always start cleanly, regardless of subsequent edits, font size changes, or margin adjustments.

Method 1: The Keyboard Shortcut (The Fastest Way)

Because inserting page breaks is such a common task, the keyboard shortcut is the most efficient method and should be memorized by anyone who uses Word regularly.

1. Click your mouse cursor exactly where you want the current page to end and the new page to begin. Usually, this is directly in front of a new chapter heading.
2. Press and hold the Ctrl key (Windows) or the Command key (Mac).
3. While holding that key, press the Enter (or Return) key once.

Word will instantly snap all text following your cursor to the top of the next page.

Method 2: Using the Ribbon Menu

If you prefer using the mouse, the option is readily available on the main toolbar.

1. Place your cursor exactly where you want the break to occur.
2. Navigate to the Insert tab on the ribbon at the top of the screen.
3. On the far left side, in the ‘Pages’ group, click the Page Break button.

Alternatively, you can also find this option on the Layout tab. Click Breaks, and select Page from the drop-down menu.

Troubleshooting: How to See and Delete Page Breaks

Because page breaks are invisible, they can sometimes cause frustrating formatting issues if you insert one accidentally. You might find a massive, unexplainable blank gap in the middle of your document that you cannot delete with the backspace key.

• Making them visible: To see where your page breaks are located, you must turn on the formatting marks. Go to the Home tab and click the Show/Hide ¶ button (it looks like a paragraph symbol). Suddenly, an explicit line of text reading ----------Page Break---------- will appear in your document.
• Deleting a break: Once you can see the Page Break marker, you can easily remove it. Simply place your cursor at the very beginning of the dotted line and press the Delete key on your keyboard. The break will vanish, and the text from the next page will snap back up to fill the gap. (Remember to click the Show/Hide ¶ button again to turn off the formatting marks when you are finished).

By using formal Page Breaks instead of the “Enter” key, you guarantee that your documents remain perfectly formatted and professional, regardless of how heavily they are edited.