You’re working on an important document in Microsoft Word when suddenly you notice a blank page at the end that won’t go away. You try deleting it, but it just sits there, taunting you. This frustrating problem happens to everyone at some point, but the good news is that it’s completely fixable.
The blank page not deleting in Word usually happens because of hidden formatting marks, section breaks, or special requirements that Word has. These invisible elements can prevent you from removing that extra page, even when it looks completely empty.
In this guide, you’ll learn 7 proven methods to delete stubborn blank pages in Word, from simple fixes to advanced solutions that work every time.
Why Blank Pages Won’t Delete in Word?
Before we jump into the solutions, it helps to understand why your blank word page won’t delete in the first place. Word creates blank pages for several reasons, and knowing the cause makes finding the right fix much easier.
The most common causes include:
- Paragraph marks: Every Word document ends with a paragraph mark that can’t be deleted
- Section breaks: These special formatting elements can create extra pages
- Page breaks: Manual page breaks that you might not see
- Tables: Word requires a paragraph after every table, which can create a blank page
When you’re unable to delete page in word, it’s usually because one of these hidden elements is protecting that blank page from being removed. The key is to find and fix the hidden element rather than trying to delete the page itself.
Quick Fix: Show Hidden Formatting Marks
The first step in solving any blank page problem is to make the invisible elements visible. This simple trick often reveals why you’re unable to delete the page.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 (or Command+8 on Mac)
- Look for paragraph marks (¶), page breaks, or section breaks on your blank page
- Select and delete any visible formatting marks
This method works for many cases where a page will not delete in word because it shows you exactly what’s causing the problem. You might see a paragraph mark, a page break, or a section break that you can now remove.
| Symbol | What It Means | How to Fix |
| ¶ | Paragraph mark | Select and delete or make font size 1 |
| ———- | Page break | Select and delete |
| = | Section break | Change to “Continuous” or delete |
Method 1: Make the Paragraph Tiny (Most Effective)
This is the most reliable method to word remove last empty page, especially when it’s at the end of your document. It works because Word requires a final paragraph mark, but you can make it so small that it fits on the previous page.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show paragraph marks
- Go to the blank page and select the paragraph mark (¶)
- Go to the Home tab
- In the Font size box, type 01 and press Enter
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 again to hide paragraph marks
The paragraph mark is now so tiny that it fits on the previous page, removing the blank page. This method works in almost every case where you need to delete page microsoft word that won’t go away.
Method 2: Use the Go To Feature
When you need to force delete blank page word that’s being stubborn, the Go To feature can help you select and delete the entire page at once.
- Click anywhere on the blank page
- Press Ctrl+G (or Option+Command+G on Mac)
- In the “Enter page number” box, type \page
- Press Enter, then click Close
- Press the Delete key
This method is especially useful when you’re unable to delete last page in word because it selects the entire page content, including any hidden elements you might not see.
Method 3: Fix Section Break Problems
Section breaks are a common cause of blank page not deleting in word. These special formatting elements control how your document flows and can create extra pages.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show formatting marks
- Look for section breaks (they look like double dotted lines with “Section Break” text)
- Double-click on the section break
- Go to the Layout tab
- Click Breaks and select Continuous
- Click OK
This changes the section break type to one that doesn’t create a new page, often solving the problem when a blank word page won’t delete.
Method 4: Adjust Page Margins
Sometimes the solution is as simple as giving the final paragraph a little more room on the previous page. This method works well when you’re unable to delete page in word due to margin settings.
- Go to the Layout tab
- Click Margins and select Custom Margins
- Reduce the bottom margin to something small, like 0.3 inches
- Click OK
This gives the final paragraph more space to fit on the last page with content, often removing the blank page that will not delete in word.
Method 5: The Hidden Text Trick
For truly stubborn pages, you can make the final paragraph “hidden” so it doesn’t appear when printing or in normal view.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show paragraph marks
- Select the paragraph mark on the blank page
- Right-click and select Font
- Check the Hidden box
- Click OK
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to hide formatting marks
The paragraph and blank page are still there, but they won’t show when you print or share the document. This is a great way to force delete blank page word when nothing else works.
Special Case: Blank Page After a Table
Tables in Word have a special requirement: they must have a paragraph after them. When this paragraph gets pushed to a new page, it creates a blank page that you’re unable to delete last page in word.
- Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show paragraph marks
- Find the paragraph mark (¶) after your table
- Select this paragraph mark
- Change its font size to 01 as described in Method 1
This is the most effective way to word remove last empty page when it appears after a table. The paragraph is still there (as Word requires), but it’s too small to create a new page.
Prevention Tips: Avoid Blank Pages in the Future
Now that you know how to fix blank page not deleting in word, here are some tips to prevent this problem from happening again:
- Check formatting regularly: Press Ctrl+Shift+8 occasionally to see hidden elements
- Be careful with section breaks: Only use them when you really need different formatting
- Plan for tables: Leave space after tables so the required paragraph fits
- Use page breaks wisely: Insert them manually rather than letting Word create them automatically
Following these tips will help you avoid the frustration of dealing with a blank Word page won’t delete in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I delete a blank page in Word?
Blank pages in Word are usually protected by hidden formatting elements that you can’t see. Word requires certain elements like paragraph marks and section breaks to maintain document structure. When these elements get pushed to a new page, they create a blank page that seems impossible to delete. The solution is to fix the hidden element rather than trying to delete the page itself.
How do I remove a blank page at the end of a Word document?
The most effective way to remove a blank page at the end of a Word document is to make the final paragraph mark very small. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show paragraph marks, select the paragraph mark on the blank page, change its font size to 01, and press Enter. This makes the paragraph so small that it fits on the previous page, removing the blank page.
Why does Word create a blank page after my table?
Word creates a blank page after tables because every table must have a paragraph mark after it. This is a requirement of how Word handles tables. When this paragraph mark gets pushed to a new page, it creates a blank page. The solution is to make this required paragraph mark very small (font size 01) so it fits on the same page as the table.
I’ve tried everything and the blank page still won’t delete. What now?
If you’ve tried all the methods and the blank page still won’t delete, try these advanced solutions: 1) Use the “Hidden” font effect on the final paragraph mark, 2) Convert your document to PDF and exclude the last page when saving, or 3) Copy all content except the last page into a new document. These methods should work even for the most stubborn blank pages.
How do I delete a blank page in the middle of my document?
Blank pages in the middle of documents are usually caused by page breaks or section breaks. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to show formatting marks, look for page breaks (———-) or section breaks (===), select them, and press Delete. If it’s a section break, you might need to change it to “Continuous” instead of deleting it to avoid formatting problems.
Why does my blank page keep coming back after I delete it?
Your blank page keeps coming back because there’s a formatting element that’s recreating it. This is usually a section break, a table that requires a paragraph after it, or a “Page break before” setting on a paragraph. Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to see what’s causing it, then fix that element rather than trying to delete the page itself.
Conclusion
You now have all the tools you need to fix any blank page not deleting in word problem. Start with the simplest method (making the paragraph tiny) and work your way through the solutions until you find the one that works for your specific situation.
Remember, most blank page issues are caused by hidden formatting elements, not by the page itself.For more helpful tech tips, check out our guides on fixing Excel reference errors or opening MSG files without Outlook. These resources can help you solve other common office software problems quickly and easily.
