Word will not allow me to add page numbers

This is an old problem. Reinstalling or repairing office will not fix it.

You will find that your Cover Pages, Tables of Contents entries, Text Boxes, Watermarks, and Equations that come with Word are also missing!

Here is my page with detail on how to fix it: https://www.addbalance.com/word/pagenumber10.htm#Solution It was written for Word 2010 but the problem keeps coming up and it has been updated.

The essence is that you need to find and delete all instances of the file "Built-In Building Blocks.dotx" with Word closed. That is the file that contains the building blocks that come with Word; it can be corrupted, requiring re-creation. When you restart Word after deleting it, you will have access to the building blocks that come with Word, including the page numbers.

Long term, you really want to learn how to do page numbers yourself.
Shift+Alt+P will insert a page number wherever you are. The ones listed in the menu for Page Numbers to go in any location are really headers and footers (and replace any current header or footer for that location).

Resources:

• https://www.addbalance.com/word/pagenumber10.htm#Solution
• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#PageNumbers
• https://www.addbalance.com/word/download.htm#hfQuickReference
• https://www.addbalance.com/usersguide/sections2007.htm#Recap_of_Header/Footer_settings
• https://gregmaxey.com/word_tip_pages/building_blocks_autotext.html

Hi,

Thank you for sharing your question. I understand how frustrating it is when Word refuses to add page numbers and only shows “More Page Numbers from Office.com” instead of the usual built‑in options. When you expect page numbering to be straightforward, running into a blank menu can be confusing and stop your work completely.

This issue usually happens when Word cannot load its built‑in page number gallery because the template files are missing, the Office installation is damaged, or Word is unable to access the online template service. In many cases, repairing Office or resetting the template files restores the normal page number options. Opening Word in Safe Mode, renaming the Normal.dotm template, or running an Online Repair in Microsoft 365 typically forces Word to rebuild the missing components so the Page Number gallery becomes available again. Microsoft’s guidance for fixing damaged templates and missing building blocks recommends these steps to restore built‑in features in Word.

To help narrow this down, are you using Word for Windows, Word for Mac, or Word on the web, and did this issue start after an update? Those details will make it easier to pinpoint whether the problem is template‑related or an installation issue.

Feel free to follow up and I’ll be happy to guide you step‑by‑step until you can insert page numbers normally again.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,

Noel

The issue is caused by a damaged Word building blocks file that holds the built‑in page number layouts.

To fix it:

1. Close Word completely (make sure no Word documents are open).
2. In File Explorer, locate and delete the file named Built-In Building Blocks.dotx.
   • This file stores the gallery items (including page number formats). When it is corrupted, the Page Number gallery shows only “More Page Numbers from Office.com.”
3. Restart Word.
4. Try Insert → Page Number again; the full set of page number options should now be available.

As a temporary workaround (or if the gallery still fails), insert a simple page number using the PAGE field:

1. Click in the header or footer where the page number should appear.
2. Press Shift + Alt + P to insert a PAGE field at the current location.

References:

• Insert page numbers
• Insert page numbers option does not work. All I get is a drop down screen with no sub-options on what page numbers to choose - Microsoft Q&A
• Basic tasks in Word