To restart page numbering in Word, insert a Next Page section break where the new numbering should begin, unlink the header or footer from the previous section, and set Start at in Page Number > Format Page Numbers. A regular page break will not do this. Word numbers pages by section, so the new sequence needs its own section.
Why a page break is not enough
Word treats a page break as the end of one page and the start of the next within the same section. Every page in that section keeps counting from the section’s original starting number. A section break is different: it gives the following pages their own page-number settings, including a starting value. That is why restarting numbering is a section-formatting task rather than a page-layout one.
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Restart at 1 in a later section
Follow these steps in the order shown. They assume the document already contains the front matter you want to leave unchanged and the body you want to renumber.
- Click at the end of the content that should finish the earlier sequence, typically the last line of the front matter.
- Go to Layout > Breaks > Next Page. This inserts a section break, and the following content starts on a new page in a new section.
- Double-click the header or footer area on the first page of the new section to open the Header & Footer tools.
- Make sure the cursor is in the new section, then turn off Link to Previous for the header or footer that contains the page number. Headers and footers are linked separately, so unlinking the header does not automatically unlink the footer. Unlink whichever one displays the number.
- Select Page Number > Format Page Numbers. In the dialog, choose Start at, enter 1 (or the value you need), and select OK.
- Close Header and Footer. Scroll to the first page of the new section and to the last page before it, and confirm each displays the intended number.
If the page numbers in the new section still follow the earlier sequence, the header or footer is probably still linked. Repeat step 4 for the header or footer that holds the number.
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Choosing the right section break
Word offers four section-break types. For a chapter or front-matter boundary, Next Page is the usual choice. The other three are useful in specific layouts.
| Break type | Where the new section begins | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Next Page | On the following page | Starting a main body after front matter, or any new numbered part that should begin on a fresh page |
| Continuous | On the same page as the break | Changing columns, margins, or header/footer settings partway down a page without starting a new page |
| Odd Page | On the next odd-numbered page | Chapter openings in a book laid out for printing on recto pages |
| Even Page | On the next even-numbered page | Sections that must begin on a verso page in a printed, double-sided document |
Use Continuous with care when page numbers are involved. A continuous break does not start a new page, so the new section’s numbering begins on a page that is already counted in the previous section.
Hide the cover page number and start the body at 1
Many reports and theses leave the cover page unnumbered and begin numbering on page two as page 1. This setup needs two adjustments.
- Double-click the header or footer on the cover page to open Header & Footer.
- Select Different First Page. The first page of that section now uses a separate header and footer, which you can leave empty.
- Move to the page after the cover, select Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and set Start at to 0. The second page then displays 1.
If the cover page is in its own section, apply the Different First Page setting in that section. If the cover and the body share one section, the starting value of 0 applies to the whole section, so keep the cover in a separate section when you need the body to start at 1 cleanly.
Troubleshooting
Link to Previous is dimmed
Microsoft Support advises that “If Link to Previous is dimmed, check to make sure a section break was created.” Turn on formatting marks with Home > Show/Hide (¶) and look for the “Section Break (Next Page)” label at the boundary. If you see only a page break, delete it and insert a Next Page section break in its place.
A page break did not allow separate numbering
A page break cannot hold its own numbering settings. Replace it with a section break using the steps above.
Changing the new section also changes the earlier pages
Check that the cursor and your header or footer edits are in the section after the break. Microsoft’s section-break guidance says that if formatting has spread backward into the previous section, undo the change and reapply the formatting just past the break.
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Numbers remain after Remove Page Numbers
In a document with multiple sections or separate odd and even headers, the Remove Page Numbers command may not clear every instance. Open the affected header or footer, click the page-number field itself, and press Delete.
Numbers appear on only some pages
Check whether Different First Page is enabled in the section, and whether odd and even pages use separate headers or footers. Each header or footer type has its own link setting, so each may need to be unlinked or edited separately.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Version and interface notes
Microsoft’s support instructions for section-specific page-number formatting cover Word for Microsoft 365, Word 2024, Word 2021, Word 2019, and Word 2016. The support page also includes Mac and web guidance for some of these tasks. Menu labels can vary by platform and version, so if you do not see Page Number > Format Page Numbers or Link to Previous exactly as written, look for the equivalent controls in the Header & Footer tools on your screen.
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