How to Add Page Numbers in Word Starting on Page 4

To add page numbers in Word starting on the fourth page, insert a Next Page section break at the end of page 3, unlink the new section’s header or footer, and add page numbering there. You can make page 4 display either 1, as the first numbered page, or 4, to match its physical position in the document. The method below is for Microsoft Word for Microsoft 365 on Windows; Mac differences are noted where they matter.

What You’ll Need

A Word document with at least four pages. Save a copy first if the document has complex headers, footers, or existing page numbering.
Access to the Layout, Insert, and Header & Footer controls in Word. The ribbon may look slightly different if the Word window is narrow, but the commands are the same.

Step-by-Step

Decide what number should appear on page 4. Most documents that leave the first three pages unnumbered show 1 on page 4, then 2 on page 5. This is useful when the cover, contents, or opening pages are not counted as part of the main text. If you want the number to reflect each page’s position, choose 4 instead. You can set this later in the Format Page Numbers dialog, so you do not need to decide before inserting the break.
Go to the end of page 3. Click after the last character or paragraph on the third page. If the last paragraph mark is hard to locate, turn on formatting marks with Home > Paragraph > Show/Hide ¶. Put the insertion point after the final content on page 3, not at the top of page 4. Word places a section break at the cursor, and its position determines which pages belong to the new section.
Insert a Next Page section break. In the Windows ribbon, choose Layout > Breaks, then under Section Breaks choose Next Page. This starts a new section on page 4. Do not choose Page Break: a page break moves content to a new page but does not create a separate section, so it cannot independently control numbering for the first three pages. If page 4 already begins with a manual page break, the section break can still be placed at the end of page 3; check the layout afterward for an unintended blank page.
Open the header or footer on page 4. Double-click the area at the top or bottom of page 4 where you want the number to appear. Alternatively, click on page 4 and choose Insert > Header > Edit Header or Insert > Footer > Edit Footer. Page numbers are normally placed in a header or footer, so select the location that suits the document’s design. Word displays the Header & Footer tab while that area is being edited.
Turn off Link to Previous for the relevant area. On the Header & Footer tab, find Navigation and click Link to Previous so it is no longer selected. The header and footer are separate: if you plan to put a number in the footer, unlink the footer; if you plan to put it in the header, unlink the header. If you will edit both, check each one. This step separates section 2 from section 1, allowing its numbering and contents to differ. The words Same as Previous should disappear from the page 4 header or footer when the link is off.
Insert a page number in section 2. Keep the page 4 header or footer open, then choose Header & Footer > Page Number. Select Top of Page or Bottom of Page, choose a layout, and let Word insert the number. The available choices include different alignments and styles; choose one that fits the document. If you want to place a number at the cursor instead, choose Page Number > Current Position. Avoid typing a number manually, because it will not update on later pages.
Set the starting number and check the result. With the page 4 header or footer active, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers. Under Page numbering, select Start at and enter 1 if page 4 should display 1, or enter 4 if it should display 4. Click OK. Close the header and footer with Close Header and Footer, or double-click in the body of the document. Scroll through pages 1 to 5: the first three should be unnumbered, page 4 should show your chosen starting value, and page 5 should show the next number.

On Mac: The same section-break approach applies. Place the cursor at the end of page 3, choose Layout > Breaks > Next Page, then open the header or footer on page 4. Use the Header & Footer tab to turn off Link to Previous and use Insert > Page Number to add numbering. The tab layout and wording can vary slightly between Word for Mac releases. If you do not see the control, double-click the header or footer to reveal its contextual tab.

Common Mistakes

Using a page break instead of a section break. A page break only starts a new page. It does not make page 4 independently configurable, so numbers may appear throughout the document or changes may affect earlier pages. Use Layout > Breaks > Next Page under Section Breaks.
Leaving Link to Previous on. A linked section shares its header or footer with the preceding section. If you add or remove a number in the linked area, the change can show up on pages 1 to 3 too. Unlink the exact header or footer that contains the number before making changes.
Choosing Different First Page instead of making a new section. That setting hides or changes the first page’s header or footer, not the first three pages. It is useful when only the cover page needs different treatment, but it does not replace a section break for this task.
Removing a number before unlinking sections. Deleting a page number in a linked header or footer can remove it from both sections. First unlink the relevant area, then edit or delete the number in the section where you want the change.
Assuming page 4 must display 4. The page’s position and the number printed on it are not the same thing. Word can begin numbering at 1 on the fourth physical page, which is common for reports and manuscripts.

Tips

Show formatting marks while setting up the break. Home > Show/Hide ¶ reveals section breaks and paragraph marks. A Section Break (Next Page) label makes it easier to confirm that the break is in the right place. Turn the marks off again with the same control; they do not print.
Choose the number position before formatting the whole document. A number at the outer edge is often suitable for printed pages, while a centered number can suit a simple report. Use the built-in page-number layouts so Word maintains consistent alignment across pages.
Keep section breaks when editing later. If you delete the break between pages 3 and 4, Word joins the sections. That can change headers, footers, and numbering. If page layout shifts, inspect the break before rebuilding the numbering.
Check more than the first numbered page. Page 4 can look correct while page 5 or a later page has an unexpected number or position. Review at least a few pages, and check the final page as well if the document has other section breaks.

Troubleshooting

Numbers appear on the first three pages. Open the page 4 header or footer and check that Link to Previous is turned off for the area containing the number. Then go to section 1 and remove its number if one is already there. Be careful to edit section 1 only after the sections are unlinked; otherwise, a change may carry across.

Page 4 shows the wrong starting number. Click in its header or footer, choose Page Number > Format Page Numbers, and select Start at with the value you want. If the number continues from earlier pages, confirm that page 4 begins a new section and that the numbering option is set to Start at, not Continue from previous section.

The page number is missing on page 4. Confirm you inserted it while editing the page 4 header or footer, which belongs to section 2. Check that the number is not formatted in the same color as the page background or placed outside the printable area. If Different First Page is selected for section 2, Word may be showing a separate first-page header or footer on page 4; inspect that area or turn the option off in the Header & Footer tab.

A blank page appears between pages 3 and 4. Turn on Show/Hide ¶ and inspect nearby page breaks and section breaks. A manual page break immediately before a Next Page section break may be forcing extra space. Remove only the redundant break, then confirm the section break still starts the new section on page 4. If the page has too much content to fit, Word may also move text naturally; adjust spacing or content rather than deleting the section break.

The number disappears from later pages. Check whether the document contains another section break. Each new section can have its own header and footer settings. Open the first page after that break, check Link to Previous, and insert or continue numbering as appropriate. Use Format Page Numbers to select Continue from previous section if numbering should carry on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can page 4 show 1 while the first three pages have no numbers?
Yes. Create a new section on page 4, unlink its header or footer, insert a page number, and set Start at to 1. The later pages in that section will count upward from there.

Can I make page 4 display 4 instead?
Yes. In Format Page Numbers, select Start at and enter 4. The physical pages before it can remain unnumbered, while page 5 displays 5.

Do I need a section break if I only want to hide the first three numbers?
Yes, if page 4 and later pages need independent numbering. A section break separates their header or footer from the earlier pages. Different First Page only applies to the first page of a section.

Will the numbers update if I add or remove pages?
Yes. Insert a page-number field using Word’s Page Number command, rather than typing digits. Word updates the sequence when pagination changes, though you should review the document after substantial edits.

Can I use Roman numerals on the first pages and regular numbers from page 4?
Yes. Put the front matter in its own section and the main text in section 2. Use Format Page Numbers to choose a number format for each section, unlink the relevant headers or footers, and set the main text to start at 1 or 4.

Try it: the Date Difference Calculator: days, months, years and weekdays between two dates, with the DATEDIF formulas.

More in How-to basics

Sources: Function behaviour and menu paths: Microsoft Support documentation for Excel. Method & sources

Spotted an error in this guide? Let us know.