01Remove the number from the cover page only
- Double-click the footer area of page 1 to open it.
- On the Header & Footer tab, tick Different First Page.
- Insert the page number as usual: Insert, Page Number, Bottom of Page. The first page stays blank and page 2 shows the number.
Tip The cover is still counted as page 1. If you want the next page to read "1", go to Insert, Page Number, Format Page Numbers and set Start at to 0.
02Roman numerals for the front matter, 1 for the first chapter
Theses and long reports often number the front matter (abstract, contents) in Roman numerals and restart at 1 for the body. That needs a section break.
- Put the cursor at the end of the last front-matter page.
- Go to Layout, then Breaks, then Next Page under Section Breaks.
- On the first body page, open the footer and switch off Link to Previous.
- Insert, Page Number, Format Page Numbers: choose Start at 1 and the Arabic number format.
- Go back to the front-matter footer and choose the i, ii, iii format.
03Page X of Y
- Double-click the footer to edit it.
- Insert, Quick Parts, Field. Choose Page, then type " of " and insert the NumPages field.
- Center the footer and apply the font you use for body text.
04If the numbers look wrong
- Numbers did not change after a section break: Link to Previous is still on.
- Every page shows the same number: you typed the digit instead of inserting a field. Delete it and insert Page Number.
- The number sits in the body: you inserted it at Current Position. Use Bottom of Page instead.
- PDF export shows different numbers: update fields (Control-A, then F9) before exporting.
Q&AFAQ
How do I number only from page 3?
Insert a section break before page 3, unlink its footer from the previous section, and set Start at to the number you want. Delete the number in the earlier section.
Why does my cover page still show a number?
Different First Page is probably off, or the cover and the next page are in the same section with the box unticked.
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