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How to fix pagination and header/footer formatting issues within the Word Sample Template download from Kindle Direct Publishing

Amy J Miller 0 Reputation points
2026-05-22T18:45:38.64+00:00

The numbering should begin with #1 on the right-side with Chapter One. In my template it doesn't. The pagination begin on the blank page, right side before the chapter, with #2. The #1 appears on the left-side blank page. Chapter one begins with 3. But, there's no four on the next page, the numbering takes up with #5, the skip, then #7, then skip, then #9, and so forth. This only occurs in Chapter One, the subsequent chapters the page numbering is correct.

As to the Header, if the Odd and Even pages box is checked, what is typed on the left-side repeats on the right side, and throughout the entirety of document, including the front matter - title, copyright, dedication, etc. If the typed word(s) - which should be Author's Name on the left, Book Title on the right - are edited, it appears thusly throughout the rest of the document. If Odd and Even pages is unchecked, there's no even pages.

The formatting was not altered from the original template, except to add in a prologue, which is neither Front Matter Roman numeral numbered, nor a part of the main text body that is numbered with Arabic. It begins on the right side as expected, directly after a section break that ends the Table of Contents, and a blank page.

All the text was copied from another Word document, and pasted into the Word Sample Template, baked in formatting not altered. While pagination was included, as First Line and single spacing, there were no Section breaks or Page breaks formatted within that original text.

As the document now sits, the Word Sample Template document, it is unusable. And over a week of formatting work and worry utterly wasted. I could try again, start again with a blank Sample Template, however, without further guidance, the notion of ending right back here typing my frustration into Help...well, future technology choices going back into committee.

Asking for any assistance with this Word Sample Template formatting fiasco.

Thank you.

AmyJ

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

Answer recommended by moderator

Stefan Blom 342.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
2026-05-23T19:38:56.06+00:00

Your screen shot, part of which I reproduce below, indicates that your document contains multiple sections. If both "Different odd and even" and "Different first page" are enabled, you have three headers (and three footers) per section.

You will have to carefully investigate which content is in which type of header (or footer) and which header (footer) is linked to which. The "linkage" applies to a header (footer) of the same type in the preceding section. For more, see http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/HeaderFooter.htm .

Screen Cap 2026-05-23 at 21.33.45

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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 278.1K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-05-23T01:14:24.3766667+00:00

    For each section that you want to start with an odd page, you need an Odd Page section break. You can then enable Different Odd and Even and Different First Page. You will need to put your content in the First Page Header, Even Page Header, and Odd Page Header. Be aware that Word will not display an odd/recto page on the right in Print Layout view; you need to view the document in Print Preview to see true facing pages. This view will also display any blank even page that has been inserted before a new odd page after an Odd Page break.

    For more on formatting books, see http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/FrontMatterRibbon.htm.

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  2. Stefan Blom 342.8K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-05-22T19:26:16.1766667+00:00

    Which type of document or template is this? Is it something that you downloaded from Microsoft's templates site?

    If you shared a representative sample, it would be easier to diagnose the issue.

    Note that part of what you said so far is consistent with how headers/footers work in Word. For example, if "Different odd & even pages" is activated, and you then clear the option, the even headers/footers are lost and replaced with the odd page header/footer content.

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  3. Amy J Miller 0 Reputation points
    2026-05-22T19:18:17.79+00:00

    AI Answer:

    In the Kindle template, both the page numbering and the headers are controlled by section breaks and by the “Different first page” / “Different odd and even” settings in the headers.

    There is no First Page Header distinction. I don't understand what your instructions are.

    How do I add in content, such as a Prologue, after the Table of Contents, without adding in a Section break?

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  4. AI answer

    2026-05-22T18:46:10.9166667+00:00

    In the Kindle template, both the page numbering and the headers are controlled by section breaks and by the “Different first page” / “Different odd and even” settings in the headers. The symptoms described match a combination of:

    • Section breaks that restart page numbering
    • Sections set to “Different first page” (so the first page of each section has a different header/footer)
    • Sections set to start on odd pages (which can create intentionally blank even pages that Word may skip in Print Layout)

    To repair the document, work section by section in the header/footer area.

    1. Fix the page numbers in Chapter One
    2. Go to the first page of Chapter One.
    3. Open the header or footer where the page number appears (for example, double-click in the header/footer area).
    4. Check the header/footer label Word shows (e.g., “First Page Header,” “Odd Page Header,” etc.). If it says “First Page Header,” that means “Different first page” is turned on for this section.
    5. On the pages where the page number is missing (for example, the first page of the chapter or the page that should be page 4), in the Header & Footer tools, turn off “Different first page” if you want the same header/footer (with page number) on all pages of that section.
    6. With the cursor in the footer that contains the page number for Chapter One, open the page number formatting dialog and ensure:
      • The numbering is set to “Continue from previous section” if the chapter should follow the front matter numbering, or
      • “Start at: 1” if Chapter One should begin at 1 and the front matter uses Roman numerals in a separate section.
    7. Repeat for any section breaks around the prologue and Chapter One. Make sure only the intended section break separates front matter, prologue, and main text, and that each section’s page number setting is correct.

    If Word is skipping a page number (for example, jumping from 3 to 5), check whether there is a section break configured to start on an odd page. Word will insert a blank even page and may omit it in Print Layout if it is intentionally blank. This matches the behavior described in which a page appears to be skipped.

    1. Fix headers so author name and book title appear correctly
    2. Go to a body-text page (not front matter) where the header should show Author on the left (even pages) and Title on the right (odd pages).
    3. Open the header.
    4. Ensure “Different odd and even” is turned on for that section.
    5. On an odd page header, type the book title. On an even page header, type the author name.
    6. Check the “Same as Previous” / “Link to Previous” setting for each section. If headers in the front matter are linked to the main body section, changes in one will propagate to all. To have different headers in front matter vs. main text, turn off “Link to Previous” in the first main-text section, then set the headers there as desired.
    7. For front matter sections (title page, copyright, dedication, etc.), either:
      • Turn off “Different odd and even” and “Different first page” and clear the headers, or
      • Leave them on but customize those sections separately, ensuring they are not linked to the main body section.
    8. Check for problematic section break types

    In the Kindle template, section breaks are often set to “Odd page” to force chapters to start on a right-hand page. This can create blank pages that Word may treat as intentionally blank and skip in Print Layout, which can look like missing page numbers. If a section break before Chapter One is set to “Odd page,” Word may insert a blank page and shift numbering.

    If the template’s behavior is too complex to repair, copying the text into a fresh copy of the template and carefully controlling section breaks and header/footer settings as described above may be faster. When doing so, avoid adding extra section breaks; rely on the template’s existing breaks and adjust only the header/footer options and page number formatting.

    For additional background on how Word handles pagination and page numbers, see the related pagination and page numbering resources.

    References:

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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