Insert a section break

Applies To
Word for Microsoft 365 Word for Microsoft 365 for Mac Word 2024 Word 2024 for Mac Word 2021 Word 2021 for Mac

Use sections breaks to divide and format documents of all sizes. For example, you can break down sections into chapters, and add formatting such as columns, headers and footers, page borders, to each.

Add a section break

Select where you want a new section to begin.

Go to Layout > Breaks.

Screenshot that shows types of section breaks highlighted on the Layout tab.

Choose the type of section break you want:

Next Page Section break starts the new section on the following page.

Screenshot that shows the next Page section break command to start a new section on the next page in a Word document

Continuous Section break starts the new section on the same page. This type of section break is often used to change the number of columns without starting a new page.

Screenshot that shows the continuous section break command to start a new section on the same page in a Word document

Even Page Section break starts a new section on the next even-numbered page.

Screenshot that shows the even Page section break command to start a new section on the next even-numbered page in a Word document

Odd Page Section break starts a new section on the next odd-numbered page.

Screenshot that shows the odd Page section break command to start a new section on the next odd-numbered page in a Word document