If you’re scrambling to figure out how to get page numbering to begin on the third page of your document, you’re not alone.
It’s a common puzzle for many people working on reports or assignments.
Whether you’re using a word processor or laying out a PDF, starting the pagination later in your document can be confusing.Maybe it’s to maintain the professional look of a title page, or perhaps it’s required by formatting guidelines.
But why does such a seemingly simple task give even seasoned document creators a moment’s pause?
Starting Page Numbers On The Third Page
If you need to start page number on page 3 in MS Word, you must use section breaks. Open your document and place your cursor at the end of the second page.
Click the Layout tab and look for Breaks. Choose Sections Breaks and then Next Page.
This creates a break that separates your early pages from where you want numbering to start.
Next, double-click in the footer on the third page. If you also see page numbers on the first two pages, don’t worry.
Click on Link to Previous to turn it off. This step ensures the first section stays separate from your page numbering system.
Once the Link to Previous is off, go to the Insert tab. Click on Page Number and decide where you want the numbers.
You can put them at the top, bottom, or the sides. Choose your style and position.
Then, click Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 1. Click OK to finish.
Initiate Page Count From Page Three
Now, you might still see numbers on the first and second pages. Go to each and click on the number.
Press Delete to remove them. Check your work by clicking on View then Reading View.
This lets you see your document as it will look finished, without editing marks.
If you’re using a Mac, the steps are similar. Keep in mind Microsoft 365 training can help if you run into trouble.
Remember, for double-sided printing, you might need a different first page. In that case, after clicking on Edit Header or Footer, select Different First Page.
This option lets you format the first page header and footer differently from the rest.
- Use section breaks to separate the first two pages from the rest.
- Deactivate Link to Previous to start page numbering fresh on page 3.
- Position your page numbers and set their start point using Insert > Page Number > Format Page Numbers.
- Delete unwanted page numbers from the first two pages manually.
- Use Reading View to check the result without editing symbols.
Pagination: Begin On Page 3 Tutorial
To start page numbers on page 3, first add a section break. Click on the Layout tab in Word, then find Breaks. Choose Next Page under Sections Breaks. This will let you separate the first two pages from the rest of your document.
Next, place your cursor at the top of what will be page 3. Open the Insert tab and click on Page Number. Pick where you want the numbers to show on the page. Different spots can match what you need, like top or bottom of the page.
Now, it’s key to disconnect this section from the earlier pages. This means the footer or header won’t link back to the pages before. In the Header & Footer menu, uncheck Link to Previous. This step stops page numbers from appearing on your first and second pages.
Set Numbers To Start On Third Page
Once you’ve separated the sections and removed the link to previous pages, you’re ready to set the numbers. Click back into the header or footer on page 3. Then, open the Page Number menu again and click on Format Page Numbers.
Here, you’ll see an option labeled Start at. Click this and make sure it shows the number 1. That’s because you want the third page to read as page 1. This will apply to your whole document, not just the one section.
Finally, you may need to clean up. Sometimes, numbers can still appear where you don’t want them. If that happens, just click into the header or footer of those earlier pages. Use your cursor to highlight the page number and press Delete. Your document should now start numbering from page 3. It’s as simple as that.
Customize Starting Page Number To Page 3
In Word, you can decide where page numbers begin. To start on page 3, first add a section break. Click the Layout tab and choose Breaks, then Next Page under Section Breaks. This lets you change numbering on different pages.
Got to Insert, then Header & Footer. Find Page Number and click it. Choose where to put the number—top, bottom, or the sides. Next, in the Header & Footer menu, make sure Link to Previous is off. This stops page 3 from copying earlier headers or footers.
Now, click on Page Number again. Go to Format Page Numbers and a box will pop up. Here, pick Start at and type 1. This tells Word to begin counting from 1 on page 3. If your earlier pages still show numbers, click on each and press Delete to remove them.
Page 3 As A Starting Point For Pagination
Documents like theses or dissertations often start numbering on page 3. This is because of title pages and tables of contents. To fix page numbers, you need to remove those on the first two pages.
Press ¶ to see the breaks that define sections. Go to the first two pages and double-click the header or footer. Look for the page number. Click on it and then press Delete. This erases the number. If a Different First Page option is checked, uncheck it for now. Repeat this process on the second page to ensure no numbers there as well.
Now you have a clean start for your number on page 3. Review your work by going to View, then Reading View. Scroll through to check page 3 starts at 1 and no numbers are on the first two pages. This should give you a properly numbered document for your formal text.