How to Start Page Numbering in the Middle of a Word Document

Techwalla may earn compensation through affiliate links in this story. Learn more about our affiliate and product review process here.
Set the number to start your pagination.

When you add page numbers to a Microsoft Word document, you usually begin with the number "1" starting the first page. However, if you've combined all elements of a document into one file, you may need to re-start numbering in the middle of the file itself. If, for example, you've added an appendix, bibliography, index or table of contents in the document, the numbering for each of these differs from the numbering of the main document. Use the tools available to ensure your numbering is correct throughout.

Advertisement

Step 1

Place the cursor on the page of the document where you want to start numbering. Go to the Page Layout tab, click "Breaks," and then click "Next Page" under Section Breaks.

Advertisement

Video of the Day

Step 2

Open the header or footer.

Double-click the header or footer in which you want to place the page number to activate the tools for this area of your document section.

Advertisement

Step 3

From the Header & Footer Tools that are in the Navigation group, click "Link to Previous." This will break the link from the previous section and allow you to begin numbering here.

Advertisement

Step 4

Format the page numbers.

Click "Page Number" in the Header & Footer group and then click "Format Page Numbers."

Advertisement

Advertisement

Step 5

Choose the starting page number.

Click "Start at" and type the number "1" into the box. Click "OK."

Advertisement

Step 6

Return to your document.

Return to your document by selecting "Close Header and Footer" from the Design tab, which is under Header & Footer Tools.

Video of the Day

Advertisement

Advertisement

references

Report an Issue

screenshot of the current page

Screenshot loading...