Page Numbers Disappearing After Inserting Cover Page and Section Breaks

I’m having recurring issues with page numbering after inserting a Cover Page and section breaks. I started with a four‑page document that had correct page numbering. After inserting a built‑in Cover Page, I added two Next Page Section Breaks so I could place a table on a single landscape page. After doing this: • The landscape page and the page after it lost their page numbers • The last page now shows as Page 1 • The landscape page footer shows First Page Footer – Section 2 • The next page shows First Page Footer – Section 3 • The final page shows Footer – Section 3 It seems that inserting the Cover Page and section breaks caused Word to treat multiple pages as “first pages,” which removed the page numbers. How can I fix this so that page numbers appear on every page and continue correctly across all sections? Also, why does this happen when inserting a Cover Page or section breaks? Please explain in simple terms.

While the terms may be simple, the concepts are a bit convoluted.

Basic concepts:

• Page numbers are fields in headers or footers.
• Headers and footers are a property of Word sections.
• A landscape portion will be in a different section from portrait sections.
• Every section has three different headers and three different footers. You may or may not see all of them in a particular section depending on your settings.
• In a section, link to previous in a header or footer refers to same kind of header or footer in the previous section.
• When you have a section's headers/footers set to have a different first page and then start a new section, that section will continue that setting.
• If you have restarted page numbering in any section and then start a new section, that section will also restart page numbering.
• The different first page setting is a section setting for both headers and footers.
• If you set different even and odd headers/footers, that is a document setting.
• You can change the settings for a section by going into the header or footer in that section.
• You can change the setting to restart page numbering in a section by going to the Format Page Numbers dialog while in that section.

References:

• A pdf Quick Reference Card for Headers, Footers, and Page Numbers: https://www.addbalance.com/word/download.htm#hfQuickReference
• My recap of header and footer settings: https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Recap_of_Header/Footer_settings
  "This is confusing. This is because it really is complex to allow users the flexibility they need. If you don't need that complexity, probably you will never see it."
• My writing on Page Numbers in Word: https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#PageNumbers
• My writing on Cover Page Anomalies: https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Cover_Pages

Hello @Happy Teacher_63

I understand you started with a document that had correct page numbers, but after adding a Cover Page and a landscape section with section breaks, the page numbers disappeared on some pages and restarted at Page 1 on the last page. It also looks like Word is labeling multiple pages as "First Page Footer," which is making the numbering confusing.

This usually happens because of how Word separates your document into sections and treats each section independently. When you insert a Cover Page or choose Section Break (Next Page), Word creates a new section, almost like starting a new mini document inside your file. Each section can have its own header, footer, and page numbering settings.

For example, imagine your document originally has 4 pages numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. After you insert a Cover Page at the beginning, Word creates Section 1 for the cover and Section 2 for the rest of the document. Then, when you insert a Section Break to make one page landscape, Word creates another section, for example Section 3.

By default, Word often turns on "Different First Page" for new sections and may not link them to the previous section. This means:

• The first page of each new section does not show a page number
• Page numbering may restart from 1 instead of continuing

So in your case, the landscape page becomes the “first page” of a new section, the next page may also be treated as a first page of another section, and the final page restarts at Page 1 because it is no longer connected to the earlier numbering.

Here are the steps you can follow with the expected result is that every page shows a page number, and the numbering continues in order from start to finish.

1/ Turn off "Different First Page"

• Go to one of the pages where you see "First Page Footer" at the bottom.
• Double click in the footer area to open it. At the top of Word, look for the "Header & Footer" tab.
• Find the option called "Different First Page" and make sure it is unchecked.
• This ensures that the first page of that section will also show a page number.

2/ Link sections together

• While still in the footer area, look at the top menu for "Link to Previous."
• Click it so it becomes active. This connects the current section’s footer to the previous one, allowing page numbers to continue instead of restarting.
• Repeat this on each section after your cover page.

3/ Make page numbering continue

• In the same footer area, click "Page Number" in the top menu, then choose "Format Page Numbers."
• In the window that opens, select "Continue from previous section." This ensures the numbering does not restart at 1.

4/ Reinsert page numbers if needed

• If some pages still do not show numbers, stay in the footer and go to "Page Number" then choose a position such as "Bottom of Page." This will place the numbers back in the footer.

About the Cover Page, it is normal for Word to treat it differently. If you want the cover page to have no number but the rest to start from Page 1, you can keep "Different First Page" enabled only for the first section, and apply the steps above to the remaining sections.

If you still need my assistance, please come back with screenshots or any additional details so I can review it again and see if there’s anything more I can help you with.  

Have a nice day!  

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