How to Delete a Page in Word: Fix Stubborn Blank Pages (2025 Guide)

Let's be honest – we've all been there. You're finishing up a Word document when suddenly you notice an extra blank page staring back at you. No matter how many times you hit backspace, it won't disappear. If this sounds familiar, you're definitely not alone. I remember working on a client report last month where this exact thing happened, and I'll admit I wasted a good 15 minutes panicking before finding the real solution. Today, I'll walk you through every possible way to delete pages in Word, including those stubborn ones that seem impossible to remove.

Why Blank Pages Appear (And Won't Leave You Alone)

Before we dive into solutions, let's understand why Microsoft Word creates these ghost pages. Blank pages usually appear because of hidden formatting elements. Think of them like invisible scaffolding holding up your document structure. When I first learned this, it completely changed how I approached document editing.

The most common culprits are:

• Paragraph marks (¶) piled up at the end
• Manual page breaks you inserted accidentally
• Section breaks dividing your document
• Tables stretching beyond page boundaries

Here's a quick reality check: just pressing delete won't fix these. You've got to hunt down the actual cause.

Your Toolkit for Deleting Pages in Word

Let's get practical. Depending on whether your unwanted page is blank or contains content, you'll need different approaches. I'll cover both scenarios step-by-step.

The Simple Case: Deleting Pages With Content

Got text, images, or tables on that page you want gone? This is the easiest scenario.

Here's what works every time for me:

1. Click anywhere on the page you want to delete
2. Press Ctrl + G to open the "Go To" menu
3. Type \page in the "Enter page number" box
4. Click "Go To" (this selects the entire page)
5. Press Delete

Done! The page vanishes instantly. I use this trick more than any other when editing long reports.

When Simple Deletion Fails: Removing Blank Pages

Now for the real headaches – those empty pages that laugh at your delete key. These require detective work. Here's my troubleshooting routine:

Method 1: Show Hidden Formatting Marks

This solves 80% of blank page problems:

1. Go to the Home tab
2. Click the paragraph symbol (¶) in the Paragraph group
3. Now you'll see dots for spaces, arrows for tabs, and ¶ marks for paragraphs
4. Look at your blank page – if you see ¶ symbols, select and delete them

Just yesterday, I helped a colleague who'd been battling a blank page for days. Turns out she had five extra paragraph marks hiding at the end of her document.

Method 2: Shrink Margins on Final Paragraph

Sometimes one lonely paragraph mark hangs out just below the margin, forcing a new page. Fix it by:

1. Selecting the final ¶ symbol
2. Right-click > Paragraph
3. Under Line and Page Breaks, check "Page break before" is unchecked
4. Set Line Spacing to "Exactly" and enter 1pt

Method 3: Delete Manual Page Breaks

Accidental page breaks are common. To find them:

1. With formatting marks visible (that ¶ button)
2. Look for lines labeled "Page Break" or "Section Break"
3. Place cursor immediately before it and press Delete

Troubleshooting Tables and Section Breaks

Some pages refuse deletion for sneaky reasons:

The Table Problem

If a table reaches the bottom margin, Word adds a blank page automatically. Annoying, right? Here's the fix:

1. Select the paragraph mark after the table
2. Open Paragraph settings (right-click > Paragraph)
3. Set font size to 1pt
4. Set line spacing to "Exactly" at 1pt

Section Break Headaches

Section breaks create isolated formatting zones. To delete a section-related blank page:

1. Place cursor before the section break
2. Press Delete (if that fails, try placing cursor after it and press Backspace)
3. If the blank page remains, change the section break type:
   a. Double-click the section break line
   b. Choose "Continuous" instead of "Next Page"

I once spent an hour on this before realizing the section break type mattered.

Method Comparison Table

Different page problems need different solutions. This table saves you time:

Top 5 Tools to Prevent Page Deletion Headaches

Since I write daily in Word, these features became my safety net:

• Navigation Pane (Alt+V+N): See all pages as thumbnails – delete by right-clicking
• Draft View: Removes page boundaries so you spot hidden breaks easily (View > Draft)
• AutoBackup: Enable "Save AutoRecover info" every 5 minutes (File > Options > Save)
• PDF Preview: Always check print layout (File > Export > PDF) before finalizing
• Custom QAT: Add "Show Formatting" to Quick Access Toolbar – one-click visibility

FAQs: Your Page Deletion Questions Answered

Why Won't My Blank Page Delete?

Nine times out of ten, it's either invisible paragraph marks or a section break. Turn on formatting marks (¶) – if you see anything, delete it. If nothing shows, try reducing bottom margins slightly.

Can I Delete Multiple Pages at Once?

Absolutely! Here's how I do it:
1. Select first page with mouse
2. Hold Shift and click last page
3. Press Delete
Or use Ctrl+G > enter page range like "2-4" > delete.

How to Delete the Last Page in Word?

Last pages are usually blank. Go to end (Ctrl+End), turn on ¶ marks, and delete everything visible. If that fails, it's likely a section break – change its type to "Continuous".

Does Word Online Handle Page Deletion Differently?

Yes, and it's frustrating. Word Online lacks advanced deletion tools. For tricky pages, open in desktop Word. Basic deletion works though – select content and delete.

Can I Prevent Blank Pages Entirely?

Mostly! Avoid pressing Enter excessively and insert page breaks intentionally (Ctrl+Enter). Regularly check formatting marks. I make this habit every 10 minutes – saves cleanup later.

Advanced Scenarios (When Nothing Works)

Occasionally, you'll face a zombie page that survives all standard fixes. Here's what finally worked for me last quarter:

The Nuclear Option: Copy-Paste Detox

When all else fails:
1. Select all content except the last paragraph mark
2. Copy (Ctrl+C)
3. Paste into a new Word document (Ctrl+V)
4. Save under new name

This ditches corrupted formatting. Lost my custom styles once doing this though – backup first!

Page Break Before Formatting

Check if paragraphs have "Page break before" enabled accidentally:
1. Right-click paragraph before blank page
2. Choose Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks
3. Uncheck "Page break before"

Platform-Specific Guides

Deleting pages works differently across devices:

Word for Mac Users

Essential shortcuts:
- Show formatting: ⌘+8
- Delete page: ⌥+⌘+G > enter \page > delete
- Navigation pane: View > Navigation Pane

Mobile Word (iOS/Android)

Limited but functional:
1. Tap to place cursor on page
2. Drag selection handles to cover content
3. Tap delete icon
For blank pages? Tough luck – try desktop version.

My Personal Horror Story (And Lessons Learned)

Last year, I was finalizing a 50-page contract when I discovered three blank pages. Deleted them using paragraph marks. Sent to client. Next day: "Why are all our clauses missing?" Turns out I'd deleted section breaks that controlled numbering. Took two hours to fix.

Lesson 1: Always check document after page deletion
Lesson 2: Never delete section breaks blindly
Lesson 3: Create backups before major edits

Prevention Checklist: Stop Blank Pages Before They Start

Based on my experience, do these while writing:

• Press Enter only when necessary (not for spacing)
• Use paragraph spacing instead of empty paragraphs
• Insert page breaks deliberately with Ctrl+Enter
• Regularly toggle paragraph marks (¶) during editing
• Check "Draft View" weekly to spot hidden formatting

Final Thoughts: Mastering Page Control

Learning how to delete page in Word efficiently changed my workflow. What used to take 20 minutes of frustration now takes 10 seconds. Remember:

• Show formatting marks constantly
• Use Ctrl+G for precision deletion
• Respect section breaks
• Adjust paragraph settings for stubborn ends

Honestly? Microsoft could make this easier. But until they do, these techniques will save your sanity. Got a page problem I didn't cover? I've probably seen it – feel free to search our site for more solutions!