How to Remove Page Numbers in Word (Entire Document or First Page Only)
If you need to know how to remove page numbers in word, the quickest method is: navigate to the Insert tab, click the Page Number dropdown in the Header & Footer group, and select Remove Page Numbers. If you only want to hide the number on your cover page, double-click the footer on page 1 and check Different First Page.
Scenario 1: Hide Number on Cover Page Only
- Double-click inside the header or footer area of the first page.
- The Header & Footer tab will automatically activate on the Word Ribbon.
- In the Options group, check the box labeled Different First Page.
- The page number on your cover page will vanish immediately, while page numbers on page 2 and beyond remain intact.
- Click Close Header and Footer (or double-click the main document body).
Scenario 2: Remove Page Numbers from Specific Chapters or Sections
If your document has an executive summary or appendix where page numbers should not appear:
- Insert a section break before and after the chapter (Layout > Breaks > Section Break Next Page). See our guide on Word section breaks.
- Double-click the footer in the section where you want numbers removed.
- On the Header & Footer Ribbon tab, click Link to Previous to turn it off (it should no longer be highlighted).
- Highlight and delete the page number in that section. Because the section is unlinked, other sections will not lose their numbers.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I remove page numbers from only the first cover page in Word?
Double-click the header or footer on page 1 to open Header & Footer Tools on the Ribbon. Check the box labeled "Different First Page". The page number on the first page disappears while remaining on page 2 onward.
Why does deleting a page number on page 3 also delete numbers on all other pages?
By default, headers and footers across an entire Word document are linked together. Deleting the number field in one footer deletes it globally unless you create section breaks and click "Link to Previous" to decouple them.
How do I remove page numbers from an entire Word document at once?
Go to the Insert tab on the Ribbon, click the Page Number dropdown in the Header & Footer group, and select "Remove Page Numbers".
Why does my page number keep reappearing after I save and reopen Word?
If page numbers reappear, your document template or active Word style has an automated PAGE field embedded in the body margin or margins canvas. Double-click the footer and delete the underlying field code.
Need to delete an entire page instead?
Check out our guide on how to delete a page in Word using the \page selection command.