How to Delete a Page in Word: The Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide

Microsoft Word is the most popular document processing tool in the world, yet it has a way of frustrating even the most tech-savvy users. One of the most common complaints? How to delete a page in Word that just won't go away.

Whether it’s a random blank page at the end of your resume, a page break that refuses to budge, or a section of text you simply no longer need, deleting a page should be easy. But often, it isn't.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk you through every possible method to remove unwanted pages in Microsoft Word. From simple keyboard shortcuts to advanced troubleshooting for "undeletable" pages, we have you covered.

Why Is Deleting a Page So Hard?

Before we dive into the solutions, it helps to understand why this happens. Unlike a PowerPoint slide, a "page" in Word isn't a static container. Word is a flow-based program. The content flows like water from one page to the next based on your margins, font size, and spacing.

When you see a "blank" page, it is rarely truly blank. It usually contains hidden formatting marks—like empty paragraphs, page breaks, or section breaks—that are pushing the document onto a new sheet. To fix the problem, we just need to find these invisible obstacles and remove them.

Preparation: The Secret Weapon (The Pilcrow)

If you are struggling to delete a page, 90% of the time it is because you can't see what you are deleting. To fix this, you need to turn on formatting marks.

1. Go to the Home tab in the top ribbon.

2. Look for the Paragraph section.

3. Click the symbol that looks like a backward "P". This is called the Pilcrow (¶).

4. Keyboard Shortcut: * Windows: Ctrl + Shift + 8

   • Mac: Command + 8

Once this is on, you will see dots for spaces, arrows for tabs, and the ¶ symbol for paragraphs. This "X-ray vision" is essential for the methods below.

Method 1: The Basic Delete (For Pages with Content)

If you have a page full of text or images that you want to remove completely, the manual selection method is the fastest way to do it.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Click at the very beginning of the page you want to delete.

2. Scroll down to the bottom of that page.

3. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.

4. Click at the very end of the page's content. The entire page should now be highlighted.

5. Press the Delete key (or Backspace).

Pro Tip: If pressing Delete once leaves a blank page behind, press it again to remove the remaining invisible paragraph markers.

Method 2: The "Go To" Function (Fastest for Large Docs)

If you are working on a massive 50-page report and need to delete page 32 specifically, scrolling can be tedious. Microsoft Word has a hidden "Go To" tool that makes this instant.

How to use the "Go To" Delete Trick:

1. Click anywhere on the page you want to remove.

2. Press Ctrl + G (Windows) or Option + Command + G (Mac). This opens the "Find and Replace" dialog box.

3. Ensure the Go To tab is selected.

4. In the "Enter page number" box, type exactly this: \page

5. Click Go To. You will see the entire content of that specific page gets highlighted in the background.

6. Click Close on the dialog box.

7. Press Delete on your keyboard.

This is often cited by Microsoft Support as the most accurate way to select a single page's content without accidentally grabbing text from the next page.

Method 3: Using the Navigation Pane (The Visual Way)

For visual learners, the Navigation Pane is a lifesaver. It allows you to see thumbnails of your document, similar to PowerPoint slides.

1. Go to the View tab on the top ribbon.

2. Check the box labeled Navigation Pane. A sidebar will appear on the left.

3. Click on the tab that says Pages.

4. You will now see small images of every page.

5. Click on the thumbnail of the page you want to delete to jump directly to it.

6. Once there, use the selection methods (Method 1) to remove the content.

Note: In newer versions of Word, you can sometimes press Delete directly on the thumbnail, but manually selecting the content is more reliable.

Method 4: Removing Blank Pages (The Common Headache)

This is the most frequent issue users face. You have finished your document, but there is a blank sheet at the end that prints out for no reason.

Scenario A: Extra Paragraphs

Usually, someone has pressed "Enter" too many times.

1. Turn on the Pilcrow (¶) as described in the Preparation section.

2. You will likely see a chain of ¶ symbols running down the blank page.

3. Highlight them all and press Delete.

Scenario B: Manual Page Breaks

A "Page Break" forces text to jump to the next page. If one exists at the end of your text, it will create a new blank page.

1. With the Pilcrow on, look for a dotted line labeled ---------- Page Break ----------.

2. Click right before the line.

3. Press Delete.

For more on managing document flow, you might want to read about formatting section breaks .

Method 5: The "Undeletable" End Page (Advanced Fix)

Sometimes, you delete everything, but one stubborn paragraph mark remains at the very top of the last blank page. You try to backspace, but it won't move.

The Cause: Microsoft Word essentially requires every document to end with a paragraph mark. If your content (like a table or an image) goes all the way to the bottom of the second-to-last page, that final mandatory paragraph mark gets pushed to a new page.

The Solution: The "1 Point" Trick

1. Go to that stubborn blank page.

2. Select the final paragraph mark (¶).

3. Go to the Home tab formatting bar.

4. Click inside the Font Size box.

5. Type 1 and press Enter.

By making that invisible paragraph extremely tiny (1 point size), it creates just enough room for it to hop back onto the previous page, deleting the blank page automatically.

Method 6: Dealing with Tables at the End

If your document ends with a table, this is almost certainly why you have an extra page. Word demands a text line after every table.

Steps to fix:

1. Follow the "1 Point" Trick from Method 5 on the paragraph mark below the table.

2. If that doesn't work, try adjusting the bottom margin.

   • Go to Layout > Margins > Custom Margins.

   • Reduce the bottom margin by 0.1 or 0.2 inches. This gives the table more breathing room, allowing the final marker to fit.

Method 7: The "Section Break" Trap

Section breaks are used to change layout (e.g., having one page in Landscape and the rest in Portrait). However, a "Next Page" section break will force a blank page if not managed correctly.

How to Identify and Remove:

1. Turn on the Pilcrow (¶).

2. Look for :: Section Break (Next Page) ::.

3. If this break is unnecessary, click before it and press Delete.

Warning: Deleting a section break can sometimes mess up your formatting (like headers/footers) because the section above will merge with the section below. If you need to keep the formatting but remove the blank page, change the break type:

1. Click on the Layout tab.

2. Click the small arrow in the Page Setup group.

3. Go to the Layout tab in the pop-up.

4. Change "Section start" from "New page" to Continuous.

Troubleshooting: "Why Won't It Delete?"

If you have tried all the above and the page is still there, check these hidden settings.

1. Page Break Before

Sometimes, a paragraph is programmed to always start on a new page.

• Right-click the first paragraph on the unwanted page.

• Select Paragraph.

• Go to the Line and Page Breaks tab.

• Uncheck Page break before.

2. Widow/Orphan Control

This setting prevents a single line of text from being stranded at the top or bottom of a page. While useful, it can sometimes force a page break you don't want. Unchecking this in the same Paragraph menu might allow your text to tighten up and fit on the previous page.

Check authoritative guides like Adobe's tutorials for more on how PDF conversion can sometimes help you visualize these breaks better before finalizing.

Mac vs. Windows: Key Differences

While Word functions similarly across platforms, the interface has subtle differences.

• Windows: The Backspace key deletes backward (left), and Delete deletes forward (right). Using Delete at the start of a blank page pulls the content up.

• Mac: Many Mac keyboards only have a "Delete" key, which acts like Windows' Backspace. To do a "Forward Delete" on a compact Mac keyboard, hold Function (fn) + Delete.

Summary Checklist

1. Turn on Formatting Marks (¶). You cannot fight what you cannot see.

2. Select and Delete. Use Ctrl+G > \page for accuracy.

3. Check for Breaks. Remove manual Page Breaks and Section Breaks.

4. Shrink the Font. Use the 1pt font size trick for stubborn end pages.

5. Adjust Margins. Give your content room to fit.

Conclusion

Deleting a page in Word doesn't have to be a battle of wills. By understanding the hidden formatting codes that dictate your document's flow, you can take full control of your layout.

Next time you are polishing a resume or finalizing a report, remember the power of the Pilcrow (¶). It is the key to a clean, professional document.

Found this guide helpful? Check out other productivity tips to master Microsoft Office!