How to Add a New Page in Microsoft Word

To add a new page in Word for Windows, place your cursor where the page should begin, then select Insert > Blank Page. To move the text after your cursor onto the next page, press Ctrl + Enter on Windows or Command + Return on Mac. These desktop steps apply to Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024; the browser steps below apply to Word for the web.

Add a blank page in Word for Windows

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, click where you want the new page to begin. Open Insert and select Blank Page. To append a page, place your cursor after the document's final content before choosing the command.

Choose this method when you want an entire blank page. A page break moves the content after your cursor to the next page, without necessarily leaving an empty page between existing pages.

Start the next page with a page break

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, click where the current page should end. Press Ctrl + Enter, or select Insert > Page Break. If you want to move existing text, place your cursor before that text so it follows the break onto the next page.

You do not need an insertion command just to keep writing. In Word for Microsoft 365 and Word 2024 on Windows and Mac, and in Word for the web, continue entering content in the document body. Word automatically continues onto another page when the current one fills.

Add a page on Mac or in Word for the web

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Mac, place your cursor at the intended page boundary and press Command + Return. For the menu method, select Layout > Breaks > Page. Both methods insert a page break.

In Word for the web, click where the current page should end, then select Insert > Page Break. Content after that point moves to the next page. This does not necessarily create an empty page between existing content.

Copy an existing page onto a new one

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, select the content on the page you want to duplicate. Press Ctrl + C, then place your cursor at the destination. Select Insert > Blank Page, or press Ctrl + Enter to insert a page break.

Place your cursor on the new page and press Ctrl + V to paste the copied content. If you end up with an unwanted extra page, follow the steps to remove a page in Word.

Add a designed cover page

For a designed opening page, use the cover gallery in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows or Mac. On Windows, open Insert and select Cover Page in the Pages group. On Mac, select Insert > Cover Page.

Choose a design from the gallery, then replace its placeholder text with your own. Inserting another gallery cover replaces an existing gallery cover, so it will not add a second one. Use a page break when you want to start ordinary content on another page.

Start a page with separate section formatting

Use a section break when the new page also needs separate section formatting. In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows or Mac, place your cursor where the new section should start. Select Layout > Breaks > Next Page to create a section boundary and start the section on the next page.

For a specific layout change, follow the steps to make one page landscape in Word or change margins in Word. Adding the section boundary is separate from choosing the formatting you want.

For an even-numbered start, place your cursor where the new section should begin, then select Layout > Breaks > Even Page. For an odd-numbered start, place your cursor at the intended section boundary and select Layout > Breaks > Odd Page. Either option can leave an intervening blank page to reach the required page number.

Microsoft says Word for the web cannot insert section breaks. Use Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows or Mac for these section-break steps.

Make a paragraph begin on a new page

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, select the paragraph you want to start on a new page. Open Layout, select the Paragraph dialog box launcher, then select Line and Page Breaks. Select Page break before, then select OK.

In Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 for Mac, select the paragraph, then open Format > Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks. Select Page break before, then select OK. This setting makes the selected paragraph begin on a new page.

Keep paragraphs together as pages fill

To keep a paragraph's lines together in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows, right-click the paragraph. Select Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks, then select Keep lines together. Select OK to apply it.

For a heading or paragraph that should stay with the following paragraph, right-click the first one. Select Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks, select Keep with next, then select OK. This keeps the adjacent paragraphs together as Word lays out the text.

These options can move text to the next page when there is insufficient room on the current one. They do not unconditionally insert a blank page or force every selected paragraph onto a new page. Choose Page break before when a paragraph must always begin on a fresh page.

Add a page insertion button to the toolbar

In Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows, open Insert and right-click Blank Page or Page Break. Select Add to Quick Access Toolbar. When you next need that command, place your cursor at the destination and select its button on the Quick Access Toolbar.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add a page by repeatedly pressing the return key?

Repeated Enter presses are not a reliable page-layout method. Microsoft advises against adding extra paragraph breaks for spacing, so use a page break when you need a new page.

Which shortcut inserts a line break instead of a page break?

Shift + Enter inserts a line break. Use a page-break command when you want the following content to begin on another page.

Can I select just one page with the select all shortcut?

Use Ctrl + A only when you intend to copy the entire document in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows. To duplicate one page from a longer document, select that page's content instead.

Does a continuous section break start a new page?

A Continuous section break does not start a new page. For a new section that begins on the following page in Word for Microsoft 365 or Word 2024 on Windows or Mac, choose Next Page.