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Blank page isn't actually in the document but it's in the document

Anonymous
2025-12-03T01:55:33.57+00:00

First, yes, I turned on the "view codes" or whatever it's called. It said there was no page break, but clearly there was a page break, because it created an extra page in the center of my document.

Second, when I went to return to editing the document after viewing the codes, it booted me out of Word, which was freaking annoying.

Once I went back into Word, it seems to have deleted the extra page, but dang, that's annoying.

By the way, this problem happens every time in Word. Every time. And the solution works every time.

Start typing past a few paragraphs. Get an extra page in the middle of a paragraph. Turn on "view codes." Notice that there is no page break where you had just seen a whole extra page in the document. Then turn off the codes and get booted from the program. Reopen and everything's fine.

I just googled this, and see that I'm not the first person to have this problem, but other threads have been permanently closed.

So my questions are as follows:

  1. Does Microsoft plan on fixing their mess?
  2. If so, when?
  3. What the #*%&($%? I mean, how is it even possible for a "reputable" company like microsoft to be so effed up like this? My gasters are completely flabbered.
Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | Windows
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  1. Suzanne S Barnhill 277.5K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-03T13:30:05.7866667+00:00

    If you have used an Odd Page section break, the blank page could be a blank even page inserted by Word. See the "True blank pages" section of http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/BlankPage.htm

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  2. John Korchok 232.4K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-03T02:05:13.9733333+00:00

    First, try rebooting.

    Then, if you still have a similar problem, run an Office Repair. The Online Repair option is more thorough.

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  3. AlexDN 11,425 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2025-12-03T13:33:21.97+00:00

    Dear @the singing tax lady,
    Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum. I’m truly sorry this keeps happening. From your description, Word sometimes shows a blank page right in the middle of a paragraph, Show/Hide (formatting marks) says there’s no page break, and turning the marks off can even crash Word. After reopening, the extra page disappears. That’s understandably annoying, thanks for the clear steps you shared.

    From what you described, Word sometimes inserts a blank page even though Show/Hide doesn’t show a page break, and turning it off can cause Word to close. After reopening, everything looks fine again. You’ve done a great job explaining the pattern, and that helps us a lot.

    Typically, Word’s layout engine can create a new page even without a visible Page Break if certain settings or content are present, like “Page break before,” “Keep with next,” “Widow/Orphan control,” section breaks, or hidden objects. Sometimes printer drivers or add-ins can also cause Word to miscalculate layout, leading to a “phantom page.” The crash after toggling formatting marks often points to an add-in conflict or a corrupted template, not anything you did wrong.

    To better assistance, could you please confirm a few details:

    • Is this issue happening in a business account (Microsoft 365 work/school) or a personal Microsoft account?
    • Which version and build of Word are you using?
    • Does this happen in a brand-new blank document or only in certain files?
    • Which COM add-ins are enabled?
    • If you switch to Microsoft Print to PDF, does the phantom page disappear?
    • Are Track Changes balloons turned on?
    • Any section breaks near the jump?
    • Are you working in an organization that enforces add-ins or labeling policies?

    In the meantime, here are some steps you can try right away:

    1/ Start Word in Safe Mode

    • Hold Ctrl while launching Word, click Yes when prompted.
    • Try to reproduce the issue. If it doesn’t happen, an add-in or template may be the cause.

    2/ Disable non-Microsoft COM add-ins

    • Go to File > Options > Add-ins.
    • At the bottom, choose Manage: COM Add-ins > Go…
    • Uncheck all non-Microsoft add-ins, restart Word.
    • Re-enable one by one to find the culprit.

    3/ Check paragraph pagination settings

    • Select the affected paragraph and the one before it.
    • Right-click > Paragraph > Line and Page Breaks:
    • Turn off “Page break before,” “Keep with next,” and “Keep lines together.”
    • Temporarily turn off “Widow/Orphan control.”
      User's image

    4/ Inspect section breaks

    • Switch to View > Draft.
    • Look for “Section Break (Next Page / Odd/Even / Continuous)” near the jump.
    • Delete and re-insert if needed.

    5/ Adjust Track Changes display

    • Go to Review > Tracking > Simple Markup.
      User's image
    • Under Show Markup > Balloons, choose “Show all revisions inline.”
      User's image

    6/ Refresh layout display

    • Go to File > Options > Display/Advanced:
    • Toggle “Show white space between pages” OFF then ON.
    • Toggle “Show text wrapped within the document window” OFF then ON.

    Please note that as a forum moderator, I do not have access to internal development tools or escalation channels. However, I hope the information above helps clarify the behavior you're seeing.
    If the issue continues, I recommend asking your IT administrator to open a support ticket with Microsoft. Our support team has the right tools and resources to troubleshoot this quickly and effectively, so you can get back to work without interruptions.

    Please understand that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution.

    I truly appreciate your patience and understanding. If you have any further questions or need further clarification, please feel free to reach out. I'm looking forward to hearing from you. 

    Thank you for your cooperation.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment". 

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  4. AI answer

    2025-12-03T01:55:42.6933333+00:00

    It sounds like you're experiencing a frustrating issue with Word where an extra blank page appears unexpectedly. This can indeed happen due to various reasons, such as hidden formatting marks or section breaks that aren't visible when viewing the document normally.

    To address your specific questions:

    1. Does Microsoft plan on fixing their mess?
      While I cannot provide specific information about future updates or fixes from Microsoft, they regularly release updates and patches for Microsoft 365 and Office applications to address bugs and improve functionality. It's advisable to keep your software updated to benefit from these improvements.
    2. If so, when?
      The timing of fixes can vary, and Microsoft does not typically announce specific dates for when particular issues will be resolved. Keeping an eye on official Microsoft channels or forums may provide updates on known issues and their resolutions.
    3. What the #*%&($%?
      It's understandable to feel frustrated when encountering persistent issues with software. Many users experience similar problems, and while it can be disappointing, Microsoft does work to address user feedback and improve their products over time.

    If this issue continues to disrupt your work, consider reaching out to Microsoft Support for assistance or checking their support forums for potential workarounds or solutions that other users have found effective.

    References:

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

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