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how to insert section break in word

To insert a section break in Microsoft Word, place your cursor where the new section should start, then use the Layout tab and choose the appropriate break type from the Breaks menu.

How to Insert a Section Break in Word (Quick Scoop)

What a Section Break Does

A section break lets you format different parts of a document independently. For example, you can have separate headers, footers, page numbering, margins, or columns in different sections.

Typical uses include:

  • Different page numbering styles (e.g., intro in Roman numerals, main text in Arabic).
  • Different headers/footers or no page number on the cover page.
  • Changing page orientation or margins partway through a document.
  • Changing the number of columns on only part of a page.

Step‑by‑Step: Insert a Section Break (Word on PC & Mac)

These steps apply to modern versions of Word (Microsoft 365/2019/2016/2013 and Word for Mac).

1. Position your cursor

  • Open your document in Word.
  • Click where you want the new section to begin (just before the text that should be in the new section).

2. Open the Breaks menu

  • Go to the Layout tab on the ribbon (older versions may label it Page Layout).
  • In the Page Setup group, click Breaks.

You’ll see:

  • Page breaks at the top (regular page breaks).
  • Section breaks at the bottom.

3. Choose the section break type

Under Section Breaks , you’ll see options like these:

  • Next Page – Starts a new section on the next page.
* Use this when you want the new section to begin on a fresh page (e.g., new chapter, new part).
  • Continuous – Starts a new section on the same page.
* Use this to change formatting mid‑page, such as switching to multiple columns for just part of a page.
  • Even Page – Starts a new section on the next even‑numbered page.
* Useful when printing double‑sided and you want new sections to always start on the left‑hand page.
  • Odd Page – Starts a new section on the next odd‑numbered page.
* Useful for book‑style layouts where new chapters start on the right‑hand page.

Click the type you need, and Word inserts the section break at the cursor.

Quick Examples (Real‑World Scenarios)

Example 1: Different page numbers after a cover

  • Place the cursor at the end of your cover page.
  • Layout → Breaks → Next Page (section break).
  • In the second section, add page numbers in the footer and start numbering at 1.

Now the cover can have no page number, and page 2 can start as “1”.

Example 2: Two‑column section in the middle of a page

  • Place cursor where the multi‑column section should begin.
  • Layout → Breaks → Continuous.
  • With the cursor in the new section, set Layout → Columns to two or three columns.
  • At the end of that text, insert another Continuous section break to go back to normal layout.

How to See, Change, or Delete Section Breaks

Show section breaks

  • On the Home tab, click the Show/Hide ¶ button to display formatting marks.
  • Section breaks appear as labeled dotted lines across the page.

Change an existing section break (PC & Mac)

On PC:

  • Click anywhere in the section you want to modify.
  • Layout tab → click the small dialog launcher in Page Setup → Layout tab.
  • In Section start , choose a new type (Next page, Continuous, etc.), then click OK.

On Mac:

  • Click in the section you want to update.
  • Format → Document → Layout tab → change Section start , then OK.

Delete a section break

  • Turn on Show/Hide ¶ so you can see the section break line.
  • Place your cursor at the start of the section break text.
  • Press Delete on your keyboard.

Note: When you delete a section break, the section formatting from after the break usually merges into the previous section, which can change headers, footers, and page layout.

Different Types at a Glance

[4][7] [7] [9][6] [4][7] [7] [6][7][3] [10][7] [10][7] [7][10] [10][7] [7][10] [10][7]
Section break type Where it starts Typical use
Next PageNew section on following pageNew chapter, part, or layout on a fresh page
ContinuousNew section on same pageChange columns, margins, or formatting mid‑page
Even PageNew section on next even pageDouble‑sided layouts starting sections on left pages
Odd PageNew section on next odd pageBook‑style chapters starting on right pages

Mini “Forum‑Style” Tip Thread

“Do I use a page break or a section break?”

  • Use a page break when you only want to move content to a new page, with no change in formatting.
  • Use a section break when you need different headers/footers, page numbering, margins, orientation, or columns for part of the document.

“Why did my headers and page numbers suddenly change?”

  • You probably inserted or deleted a section break; each section can have its own header/footer setup.

SEO‑Style Meta Description

Learn how to insert section break in Word step by step: use the Layout tab, Breaks menu, and choose Next Page, Continuous, Even, or Odd Page to control headers, footers, and layout.

TL;DR:
Go to Layout → Breaks → Section Breaks , choose Next Page for a new page section or Continuous to change formatting on the same page, then adjust headers, footers, and layout as needed.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.