Word Section Break Adds Unexpected Landscape Page: Fix

When you insert a section break to switch a single page to landscape orientation, Word sometimes adds an extra blank landscape page before or after the intended page. This happens because the section break inherits the page orientation from the preceding section and creates a new page for the break itself. This article explains why Word inserts the extra page and provides two reliable methods to remove it.

Why a Section Break Creates an Extra Landscape Page

A section break in Word acts as a boundary between two sections. When you set one section to landscape, the section break itself occupies a position in the document. If you insert a Next Page section break at the start of a landscape section, Word places the break on the preceding page. That preceding page then inherits the landscape orientation from the section that follows, creating an extra blank landscape page.

The root cause is the section break type. A Next Page section break always starts the next section on a new page. If the break is placed after the end of the portrait content but before the landscape content, the break itself resides on the portrait page. Word then creates a new page for the landscape content, but the page containing the break remains in the previous section and adopts its orientation. This results in an unintended landscape page with no content.

How Section Breaks Control Orientation

Each section in Word can have its own page orientation setting. When you change the orientation of a section, Word applies that orientation to every page within the section. A section break that uses the Next Page type forces the next section to start on a new page. The break itself is stored at the end of the previous section. If that previous section is portrait and the next section is landscape, the page that contains the break remains portrait, but the next page becomes landscape. This is correct behavior. The problem occurs when you place the break in the wrong location or use the wrong break type.

Method 1: Delete the Extra Section Break

The fastest way to remove an extra landscape page is to delete the section break that is causing it. This method works when the extra page is completely blank and you do not need to preserve the section structure.

1. Show formatting marks
   Press Ctrl+Shift+8 on your keyboard. This displays hidden formatting symbols including section breaks, which appear as double dotted lines with the words “Section Break (Next Page)”.
2. Locate the extra section break
   Scroll to the blank landscape page. The section break is usually at the top of that page or at the end of the page immediately before it.
3. Select the section break
   Click immediately to the left of the double dotted line that represents the section break. The break line becomes highlighted.
4. Delete the break
   Press the Delete key on your keyboard. The blank landscape page disappears, and the content from the next section moves up.
5. Verify the result
   Press Ctrl+Shift+8 again to hide formatting marks. Check that the landscape page now contains only the intended content and no extra blank page exists.

Method 2: Change the Section Break to Continuous

If you need to keep the section structure for headers, footers, or page numbering, change the section break type from Next Page to Continuous. A Continuous section break does not force a new page, so it eliminates the extra landscape page while preserving the section settings.

1. Show formatting marks
   Press Ctrl+Shift+8 to reveal the section break.
2. Click on the section break
   Place your cursor directly on the double dotted line of the section break.
3. Open the Layout tab
   Go to the Layout tab on the ribbon. In the Page Setup group, click the dialog launcher icon (the small arrow in the bottom-right corner).
4. Change the section start type
   In the Page Setup dialog, click the Layout tab. In the Section start dropdown, select Continuous. Click OK.
5. Adjust page orientation if needed
   The landscape page now starts immediately after the previous portrait content without a blank page. If the landscape content still appears on a separate page, check that the section break before the landscape section is also set to Continuous. You may need to repeat steps 2 through 4 for that break as well.

Common Issues After Removing the Extra Landscape Page

Landscape content moves to the wrong page after deleting the break

If you delete the section break and the landscape content shifts onto a portrait page, you have removed the wrong break. Press Ctrl+Z to undo the deletion. Show formatting marks again and confirm you are deleting the section break that belongs to the blank landscape page, not the break that defines the landscape section.

Headers or footers change after altering the section break

When you delete a section break, Word merges the two sections. The headers and footers from the second section are lost and replaced by those from the first section. To preserve headers and footers, use Method 2 (change the break to Continuous) instead of deleting the break. After changing the break type, you may need to re-link or un-link headers and footers using the Link to Previous button on the Header & Footer tab.

Extra blank page appears after the landscape section

If a blank landscape page appears after your intended landscape content, a section break exists after the landscape section that is set to Next Page. Show formatting marks, locate the section break at the end of the landscape content, and change it to Continuous using Method 2. This prevents Word from starting a new page for the next section.

Section Break Types and Their Effect on Orientation

Item	Next Page	Continuous
Creates a new page	Yes, always inserts a page break	No, stays on the same page
Causes extra blank landscape page	Frequently, when placed before a landscape section	Rarely, only if page margins force a page break
Preserves header/footer separation	Yes	Yes
Best use case	Starting a new chapter or major section	Changing orientation within the same page or paragraph flow

An extra landscape page caused by a section break is a formatting error that stems from using a Next Page break when a Continuous break would suffice. By deleting the offending break or changing its type, you can remove the blank page without losing the landscape orientation for your intended content.

After applying either fix, check your document in Print Layout view to confirm no extra pages remain. If you frequently work with mixed-orientation documents, consider using the Page Setup dialog to set orientation per section before inserting breaks, which reduces the chance of unwanted blank pages. For complex documents with many sections, use the Navigation Pane to jump between sections and verify each section break type.