When creating documents in Word, you may sometimes need to start page numbering from a specific page rather than from the beginning. This is common in documents like academic papers, reports, or books, where the initial pages (like the title page, abstract, or table of contents) should not be numbered.

Microsoft Word typically begins page numbering on the first page by default, but you can customize this setting to enhance both readability and user experience. In this tutorial, I'll guide you through a comprehensive process to start page numbering from a specific page in Word.

Start page numbering from page 2 in Word

• On Windows
• On Mac

Start page numbering from page 3 or specific page in Word (Windows & Mac)

Video: Start page numbering from specific page in Word

Start page numbering from page 2 in Word

Starting page numbering from page 2 in Microsoft Word is a common requirement for various types of documents such as reports, theses, and books where the first page is often reserved for titles or introductory material. This section will provide a detailed walkthrough to set up your document so that page numbering starts from page 2 on Windows and Mac.

Start page numbering from page 2 in Word On Windows

For those who prefer keyboard shortcuts for speed and convenience, Microsoft Word provides quick key combinations. The following shortcuts for inserting the date or time create dynamic fields that update automatically whenever the document is reopened.

1. Open your Word file that you want to add page numbers in Word starting from Page 2.
2. Then click Insert > Page Number, and then choose the location (Top or Bottom of the page) and style you need. See screenshot:
   
3. Page numbers will be inserted into the Word as normal. Then, under the Header & Footer tab, check Difference First Page option, see screenshot:
   
4. The page number on the first page will be removed. Still under the Header & Footer tab, click Page Number > Format Page Numbers, see screenshot:
   
5. In the Page Number Format dialog box, if you want numbering to start with 1 on the second page, set Start at to 0. Then, click OK button.
   
6. Then, click Close Header and Footer or press Esc to exit the header and footer mode. Now, the page numbering will be start at page 2, see the following demo:
   

Start page numbering from page 2 in Word On Mac

If you are using the Mac version, the process might differ slightly. Please follow the steps outlined below.

1. Open your Word file that you want to add page numbers in Word starting from Page 2.
2. Then click Insert > Page Number, see screenshot:
   
3. In the Page Numbers dialog box:
   1. Choose the position and alignment where the page number should appear;
   2. Uncheck Show number on first page option;
   3. Then, click Format button.
      
4. Then, in the following Page Number Format dialog box, if you want numbering to start with 1 on the second page, set Start at to 0. See screenshot:
   
5. Then, click OK > OK to close the two dialog boxes. And the page numbering will be start at page 2.

Start page numbering from page 3 or specific page in Word (Windows & Mac)

To initiate page numbering from page 3 or any other specific page in Microsoft Word, follow these detailed steps: Insert a section break at the desired starting point, then unlink the newly created section from the previous one, and finally, apply the new page numbering.

Step 1: Insert a Section Break at the desired starting point

1. Open the Word document in which you want to start page numbering from page 3 or another specific page.
2. Click to put your cursor at the beginning of the page where you want your numbering to start. In this case, it’s page 4.
3. Then, click Layout > Breaks > Next Page, see screenshot:
   
4. This action inserts a section break and starts a new section on the next page. The first one contains pages that you don’t want to be numbered while the second section contains pages you do want to be numbered.

Step 2: Insert page numbers

Now, you can insert page numbers for the whole document as normal.

Click Insert > Page Number, and then choose the location (Top or Bottom of the page) and style you need. See screenshot:

Your whole document should now have page numbers.

Step 3: Deselect the Link to Previous option

Next, we want to unlink this page numbering between the two sections you created in the preparation phase.

Click Link to Previous under the Header & Footer tab to turn it off. This action will disconnect the header/footer from the previous section. See screenshot:

Step 4: Start Page Numbering

1. Still under the Header & Footer tab, click Page Number > Format Page Numbers, see screenshot:
   
2. In the Page Number Format dialog box, set Start at to 1. Then, click OK. See screenshot:
   
3. This will enable you to start page numbering from a specific page in Word, beginning with the number 1.

Step 5: Remove page numbering from the first section

1. To delete page numbers from the previous section, click to select any page number within that section and press the Delete key. This action will remove all page numbers from that section.
2. Then, click Close Header and Footer or press Esc to exit the header and footer mode.

Result:

Now, you can see the first section should now be free of numbers. Subsequent pages, starting from the page that divides the two sections, should be numbered sequentially.

The steps provided for both Windows and Mac users allow for precise control over where page numbers begin, ensuring that initial pages without relevant content remain unnumbered. To explore more tips and tricks for Microsoft Word, please click here to view additional options.

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