How to Fix Disappearing Page Numbers in Word
Microsoft Word provides the functionality to insert page numbers in your document, allowing you to easily understand its length and monitor specific sections. While this feature typically performs well, users occasionally encounter issues where page numbers may unexpectedly disappear.
Some individuals have experienced situations where certain page numbers vanish, while others find that all page numbers in their documents stop displaying altogether.
Understanding Missing Page Numbers in Microsoft Word
To prevent page numbers from disappearing in your Microsoft Word document, adhere to the following steps:
- Toggle ‘Link to Previous’ on or off
- Change to Print Layout view
- Enable white space visibility between pages
- Inspect for hidden text or modified field codes
Let’s explore these solutions in detail.
1] Toggle ‘Link to Previous’ on or off
The Link to Previous option in Word enables different header and footer information across various sections of your document. By default, it connects similar sections, but poor management may result in missing or inconsistent page numbers.
For instance, if your document has section breaks, one section might inadvertently link to another that does not feature page numbers, resulting in their disappearance.
Moreover, if ‘Link to Previous’ is turned off for a section where the headers or footers are empty, or where page numbers are not properly set, you will also notice the absence of page numbers.
Depending on your specific case, you might need to either enable or disable ‘Link to Previous’ to restore missing page numbers. Here’s how:
Double-click on the header or footer of the page lacking a page number. Find the ‘Link to Previous‘ option in the Navigation group within the Header & Footer menu at the top.
- If highlighted, it means it’s on; click it to deactivate. Then, place your cursor at the desired location for the page number and press Alt+Shift+P.
- If it is off, click it to activate. This will link the page’s header/footer with that of the preceding section, restoring the page number.
Also, confirm that page numbers are set for both odd and even pages if your document utilizes odd-even page settings, especially around section breaks.
2] Change to Print Layout view
Another frequent cause of disappearing page numbers in Word relates to the layout you are currently using. Word features five distinct layouts: Print Layout, Read Mode, Web Layout, Outline, and Draft. Out of these, neither Read Mode nor Web Layout displays page numbers.
If you don’t see page numbers throughout your document, you may be viewing it in a layout that does not show them. Navigate to the View menu, switch to Print Layout, and check if the page numbers reappear. You can also alter layouts using icons in the Status Bar located at the bottom-right of your screen.
If the page numbers still fail to show in the Status Bar, ensure they are activated. Right-click the Status Bar to access the Customize Status Bar menu. Confirm that the ‘Page Number‘ option is selected.
3] Reveal white space between pages
Page numbers might disappear if the ‘show white space’ feature is disabled within your Word document. White space refers to the empty areas at the top and bottom of pages. Word allows you to conceal this space to minimize the visual gray area between pages in Print Layout view.
Though hiding white space creates a more compact view, it also conceals the top and bottom margins, including the areas where headers and footers, including page numbers, normally appear.
To restore visibility, you need to re-enable the white space setting.
Navigate to File > More… > Options. In the Word Options dialog, select the Display tab and check the box for ‘Show white space between pages in Print Layout view‘.
Alternatively, move your cursor to the page boundary and double-click, which will make the white space visible, including the previously missing page numbers.
4] Inspect for hidden text or modified field codes
Missing page numbers may also occur if their field codes have been unintentionally modified. Field codes act as dynamic placeholders that insert specific content into a document based on designated conditions.
To reveal hidden formatting, press Ctrl + Shift + 8. If you can see the page number, double-click on the header/footer and select the page number text. Press Ctrl + D to open the Font dialog, then uncheck the Hidden option.
Click OK to confirm the changes, exit the header/footer, and press Ctrl + Shift + 8 again to hide the formatting symbols.
If your page number appears as {PAGE}, use Alt + F9 to toggle the visibility of field codes.
I hope these outlined solutions assist you in resolving the issue of disappearing page numbers in your Word documents. For any questions or further concerns, please feel free to share in the comments section below.
What causes my page numbers to vanish in Word?
There are multiple factors that can result in missing page numbers in Word. For instance, if your document comprises various sections and ‘Link to Previous’ is not enabled, the page numbers will not transfer unless they are manually added. Additionally, if the white space is hidden in Print Layout View, the header and footer areas that usually contain page numbers will also be concealed. Accidental alterations in formatting within the header/footer sections can lead to unintentional removal of the {PAGE} field code.
How can I restore my page numbers in Word?
If your document is sectioned, double-click the headers or footers where the numbers are absent. In the Header & Footer Tools tab, check whether ‘Link to Previous’ is enabled; if it is not, activate it to synchronize headers/footers with the preceding section. If you’re using ‘Different First Page’ or ‘Different Odd and Even Pages’ settings, you may have to manually add page numbers in the affected sections. To recover missing top and bottom margins, double-click the boundary to bring back the white space, which will make the headers/footers and page numbers visible again.
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