Start page numbering at 1 on page 3 in Word
Create a section break in the desktop version of Word, unlink it from the previous section, and start numbering from 1. The web version supports simple hiding of the first page, but the desktop version is reliable for complex delimited editing.
Published · Updated · FaultNote editorial policy
Who this guide is for and what to prepare
- People who want to start the main text from 1 without using numbers on the cover and table of contents
What you need
- Make a copy of the docx with at least 3 pages of cover, table of contents, and body text
Add a section break just before the main text
Place the cursor at the end of page 2 and select [Layout] > [Breaks] > [Section Breaks] > [Next Page]. Turn on ¶ from [Home] and confirm that one section break appears immediately before the main text.
- Select the end of the second page
- Insert section break from next page
- Check with editing symbols
Disconnect from previous section
Double-click the footer on the third page and uncheck "Same Header/Footer as Previous" on the "Header & Footer" tab. If you place a number on the header side, remove it from the header as well.
- Open text footer
- cancel same as before
Start number from 1
Choose a position from [Insert] > [Page Number], then select [Page Number] > [Format Page Numbers]. Set [Start at] to 1 and choose [OK]. The setup is correct if page 3 shows 1 and page 4 shows 2.
- Insert page number into text
- Select starting number 1 in format settings
- Check if the next page is also sequentially numbered.
Delete the number on the cover side
Move to the section on page 1 or 2, select the page number in that section only, and delete it. If the main section's number also disappears, press Ctrl+Z, turn off [Link to Previous] in the main section, and try again.
- Delete numbers from previous section
- Check if the text number remains
- Return with Ctrl+Z in case of failure
Limitations and requirements
- Requires section breaks, not page breaks
- You can't add section breaks in Word for the web, so edit in the desktop app
Frequently asked questions
If you erase the number in the main text, the cover will also disappear.
Same header/footer as before is enabled between sections. Delete it after canceling it on the main text side.
What if I want to hide the number only on the second page?
Create a section for each boundary that changes the display, such as separating the cover page and table of contents into separate sections.
Official sources and verification date
Sources checked: . Check the official sources below for changes to supported systems, plans and menus.