Remove Empty Page in Word: Complete Troubleshooting Guide (2025)

The Unwanted Paragraph Bandit

Those extra ¶ marks you see when clicking the ¶ button? Each represents a paragraph break. If you have even one empty ¶ at the end of your doc, Word treats it as content and adds a page. This happens constantly when pasting text from websites.

Manual Page Break Hangover

Remember pressing Ctrl+Enter to force a new page? Sometimes these manual breaks leave ghost pages, especially when editing complex layouts. I once spent hours trying to remove an empty page in Word that turned out to be a leftover break after deleting a section.

Table or Image Sprawl

Objects like tables can't break across pages if they're too large. If a table needs 1.1 pages, Word creates a whole new page for that extra 0.1. My colleague's resume had this issue - her decorative border table forced a blank second page.

Section Break Shenanigans

Section breaks (Next Page, Continuous, Even/Odd) often cause the trickiest blank pages. Different headers/footers require section breaks, but deleting content doesn't always remove the break itself.

Basic Deletion Technique

This works for 70% of cases and is the first thing I try:

1. Place cursor at end of last visible page
2. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 (¶) to show formatting marks
3. Scroll to the empty page - look for ¶ symbols
4. Highlight all ¶ marks on blank page
5. Press Delete
6. Hide formatting marks with Ctrl+Shift+8

If this doesn't work, we escalate. Honestly, Microsoft should make this simpler.

Killing Manual Page Breaks

When learning how to remove an empty page in Word caused by breaks:

1. Go to blank page
2. Enable formatting marks (Ctrl+Shift+8)
3. Look for "Page Break" or "Section Break" lines
4. Click left margin of the break line
5. Press Delete

Warning: Section breaks control formatting. Deleting one might change margins or headers!

Fixing the Table Overflow Issue

For tables causing blank pages:

1. Right-click the table
2. Choose Table Properties
3. Go to Row tab
4. Uncheck "Allow row to break across pages"
5. Check "Repeat as header row" if missing
6. Adjust font size (reduce by 0.5pt if desperate)

This solved my client's 2-page inventory template issue last week. Took 4 attempts though - Word's table handling feels outdated.

Paragraph Spacing Adjustments

Sometimes invisible spacing creates gaps:

1. Select last paragraph before blank page
2. Right-click → Paragraph
3. Under Line and Page Breaks tab:
• Check "Keep with next"
• Uncheck "Page break before"
• Set "Spacing After" to 0pt

Margin and Layout Fixes

If your bottom margin is too large:

1. Go to Layout tab
2. Click Margins → Custom Margins
3. Reduce bottom margin (try 0.8" → 0.7")
4. Check "Different odd and even" isn't enabled

I avoid margins below 0.5" - printers often cut off content.

Nuclear Options

For truly stubborn cases after trying how to remove an empty page in Word:

• Copy-Paste Purge: Select all content (Ctrl+A) → Copy → Paste into new document (use "Keep Text Only")
• PDF Conversion: Save as PDF → reopen PDF in Word (loses some formatting)
• Shift-Select Trick: Click start of doc → Scroll to blank page → Hold Shift → Click end of blank page → Delete

My Last Resort Technique

1. Enable formatting marks
2. Switch to Draft view (View tab)
3. Scroll to blank page
4. Press F8 to enter Extend Mode
5. Press Down Arrow until entire blank page highlighted
6. Press Delete

This brute-force method saved me during a thesis deadline panic.

Why can't I delete my final blank page?

This usually means there's an invisible end-paragraph. Press Ctrl+End → Backspace repeatedly until it disappears. If using a template, check for hidden footer content.

How do I remove an empty page in Word without affecting formatting?

Always work on a copy. Use the Navigation Pane (View tab → Show group → Navigation Pane) to locate and delete breaks without selecting content.

Why does my table generate a blank page?

The table is larger than page space. Shrink font size by 0.5pt, reduce row height, or enable "Allow row to break across pages" in Table Properties.

Can section breaks cause blank pages?

Absolutely. "Next Page" section breaks always create a new page. Switch to "Continuous" breaks or adjust section start settings.

Why do I see multiple blank pages?

Usually excessive paragraph breaks. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 and delete all ¶ marks beyond your content. Could also indicate corrupt document - try opening in Safe Mode.