Insert page numbers not available

Question

Hello,

when I try simply to insert page numbers in a Word doc, and choose whatever location, for example ''bottom of page'', a single result appears, a message saying: ''More page numbers from Office.com'' (but no option before that message appears) and an arrow ahead opens another ''option'' (greyed out!) that says ''no online content available''. There's simply no way to insert page numbers!

I'm using Office 2021 Professional.

Can anybody help?

Thanks

Answer 1

Hello T A,

I'm Shalom and I'd happily help you with your question. In this forum, we are Microsoft consumers just like yourself.

Here are some steps you can try to resolve the issue:

1. Update Microsoft Office: Ensure that your Microsoft Office 2021 Professional is up to date. Updates can include bug fixes and improvements that may address issues like the one you're encountering.
2. Repair Microsoft Office: You can try repairing your Office installation. To do this:

• Open the Control Panel on your computer.
• Go to "Programs" > "Programs and Features."
• Find Microsoft Office 2021 in the list, select it, and choose "Change."
• Select "Repair" and follow the on-screen instructions.

3. Disable Add-ins: Sometimes, third-party add-ins can cause conflicts. Try disabling any third-party add-ins you might have installed and see if the issue persists.
4. Offline Help: If you're unable to resolve the issue with online content, you can also try using offline page numbers. Instead of choosing "More page numbers from Office.com," select the option for "Format Page Numbers" or "Page Number" and set your preferences without accessing online content.
5. Use a Template: Create a new document based on a built-in template. Sometimes, document corruption can cause issues. Starting with a fresh template might help.
6. Check Permissions: Ensure that your user account has the necessary permissions to access online content. This is particularly relevant if you are in a network environment with restricted access.

Best Regards, Shalom

Answer 2

The command More Page Numbers from Office.com is known not to work.

However, you should see the built-in formats. Below is what I see in Word 2021:

.

A workaround is to activate the header (or footer), click where you want the page number and press Alt+Shift+P to insert a page number field.

To fix the issue with the built-in page number formats, try the following: Exit Word and delete the Built-in building blocks.dotx file in your Windows user profile path.

Answer 3

See Page numbering / header / footer problems Word 2007 - Word 2021! (365).

You can always insert a PAGE field. The keyboard shortcut is Shift+Alt+P.

Page Numbers in Word 2007-2021 (365)