Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Odd Page Numbers Disappearing.
Lourdes has a 38-page document and she noticed that after page 32 the odd-numbered page numbers disappear. She wonders how she can get the page numbers back.
It is unclear from the question whether the page numbers are disappearing but the pages are still there (in other words, only the even-numbered pages still show page numbers) or whether all the pages after page 32 have even-numbered pages (34, 36, 38, etc.). In either case, the answer must lie in your section formatting.
Page numbers are one of those things that can be modified on a section-by-section basis in Word. Examine the document somewhere on page 32 to see if there is a section break there. (You may need to turn on the display of non-printing characters to see the section break. Click the backwards P on the toolbar to display them.) Once you discover the section break you can modify the formatting of the section that follows the break so that page numbers are displayed as you want them displayed.
Assuming that your page numbers are displayed in a header or footer, you'll also want to check to see if the layout uses different headers or footers for odd and even pages. If this is the case, check the header or footer for the odd-numbered pages. Ensure that the header or footer contains a page number or, if the header or footer should be the same as in the earlier pages of the document, make sure the header or footer is linked ("Link To Previous") to the header or footer in the previous section. (All of this is controlled through the Design tab of the ribbon. This tab is visible when you are working in a header or footer.)
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (8955) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, and 2013. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Odd Page Numbers Disappearing.
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2018-05-05 20:05:31
Ralph Watkins
Still unable to find hidden format codes in the Word document. Copied text into a WordPerfect document where codes are easily displayed and was able to correct issue in a fraction of the time.
2016-11-04 02:29:14
Roy
unomroman, yes, you fixed my problem. Thank you so much!!!
I can't even begin to believe how STUPID this is that we would have to number odd and even numbered pages separately as if they were separate entities. WTH??? Word is going to the dogs.
2015-11-23 16:13:16
MStokely
I had this problem.
What the user may be experiencing is Microsoft Word's weird design, where they will NOT let you see the true print version of your document with the missing "black pages" after odd section breaks. Even "Print Layout" will not let you see your missing white pages, say, between chapters, where a page ended on an odd page with text, but the even one is blank before starting the next chapter.
It turns out, the ONLY way to see that missing blank pages is to go to FILE > PRINT. Then scroll manually through your document. You will then see the blank pages, which btw, will often NOT have page numbers, yet carry the page number sequencing so that your next sections or chapters do start with page numbers that do factor in the blank pages.
How confusing is that??? Why Microsoft did this is beyond me. Its counter-intuitive and confusing.
2015-01-17 13:57:33
Celine
Hello unomroman,
It helps a lot, that was exactly my problem, and now it's solved. Thank you!
2014-04-07 14:39:55
unomroman
Hello,
When selecting different odd and even pages you'll have to insert page numbers in both footers (of odd and even pages) separately. Select the footer of odd pages, go to insert, click on page numbers. Do the same with the footer of even pages and you should have all pages continously numbered.
I hope it helps
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Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, and 2013. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
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