ARCHIVED: In Microsoft Word, how can I begin page numbering after the first page?

Note: These instructions assume your document has no existing page numbering. Although existing page numbers may not be a problem, it is best to back up your document, and then remove all existing page numbers before following the steps below.

On this page:

• Beginning page numbers on the second page
• Beginning page numbers anywhere after the first page

Beginning page numbers on the second page

To begin page numbering on the second page:

Word 2007 for Windows

1. On the Insert tab, in the "Header & Footer" group, click Page Number.
   
   
2. Click Top of Page, Bottom of Page, or Page Margins, depending on where you want page numbers to appear in your document.
   
   
3. Choose a page numbering design from the gallery of designs.
   
   
4. On the Design tab, in the "Options" group, choose Different First Page.

All other versions (Windows or Mac)

1. Put your cursor on the first page, and from the Insert menu, select Page Numbers... .
   
   
2. Select the position and alignment you want for the page numbers.
   
   
3. Uncheck Show number on first page, and then click Format... .
   
   
4. Select your desired format.
   
   
5. At the bottom of the window, select Start at: , and then select the number just below what you want your first page number to be (e.g., if you want the page after the title page to be page 1, select 0 as the starting page number).
   
   
6. Click OK twice to return to Word.

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Beginning page numbers anywhere after the first page

To begin page numbering anywhere after the first page:

1. Determine where you want your page numbering to begin (e.g., page 4), and then place your cursor at the end of the preceding page (e.g., page 3).
   
   
2. In Word 2007, from the Page Layout tab, in the "Page Setup" group, select Breaks. Then, from the drop-down list, select Next Page.

   In other versions of Word for Windows, from the Insert menu, select Break... . Under "Section break types", select Next Page, and then click OK.

   In Word 2008 or 2004 for Mac OS X, from the Insert menu, select Break and then Section Break (Next Page).

3. In Word 2007, from the View tab, in the "Document Views" group, select Print Layout.

   In all other versions, place your cursor on the next page, and then from the View menu, select Header and Footer. The Header and Footer toolbar should appear with several icons.

4. If you want the page numbers at the top of the page, make sure you are in the header. If you want the page numbering at the bottom, switch to the footer. Click Switch Between Header and Footer to toggle between the header and footer.

   Note: In Word 2007, the toggling option is located on the Design tab in the "Navigation" group. In other Windows versions, it is the third icon from the left of the Close button. In Mac OS X, it is the fourth button from the Close button. Mousing over the icon for a couple of seconds will display "Switch Between Header and Footer".

5. Once you are in the header or footer, find the Same as Previous or Link to Previous icon on the toolbar (or Ribbon in Word 2007). It will have a slightly different look from the other icons because it is already enabled. (Again, you can mouse over the icon to see its name.)
   
   
6. Click Same as Previous or Link to Previous to disable it. This separates the section's headers or footers from those above. In all versions except Word 2007, close the Header and Footer toolbar.
   
   
7. In Word 2007, from the Insert tab, in the "Header & Footer" group, select Page Number, and then choose your preferred position and alignment for the page numbers.

   In all other versions, from the Insert menu, select Page Numbers... , and then choose your preferred position and alignment for the page numbers. Leave Show number on first page checked.

8. In Word 2007, in the "Header & Footer" group, click and hold Page Number.

   In all other versions, click Format... , and then in the "Page numbering" section, click Start at: .

9. Select the exact number you want to be your starting number.
   
   
10. Click OK until you return to the document.

Using this method, your document should have no page numbering before the point you selected. Later, you can add page numbers to the first portion without harming your custom numbering. To restart or customize your page numbering at a later section of the document, follow the same instructions.

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