How to Delete an Entire Page in Microsoft Word with Just a few clicks

Have you ever needed to completely remove a page in a Microsoft Word document? Maybe you typed sensitive information on a page and now need to permanently delete it. Or perhaps you created a page as a draft but no longer need it.

Whatever the reason, deleting an entire page in Word is simple once you know the steps. With just a few clicks, you can remove a full page seamlessly, without leaving a blank space behind.

In this comprehensive guide, you'll learn multiple methods to delete an entire page in Microsoft Word, on both Windows and Mac.

Key Takeaways:

• Use the Ctrl+G keyboard shortcut on Windows or Option+Command+G on Mac to open the “Go To” toolbar.
• Type “\page” and hit Enter to select the entire page.
• Press Delete to remove the selected page.
• This deletes text, images, and other elements on the page.
• You can also right-click the page in the thumbnail pane to delete it.

Ready to banish pages for good? Let's dive in.

Delete a Page in Word on Windows

If you use Microsoft Word on a Windows PC, deleting a full page is a breeze. Here are the step-by-step instructions:

Step 1: Navigate to the Page You Want to Delete

Place your cursor anywhere on the page you wish to remove. This can be in the main text body or sidebar—Word will detect the current page location.

Step 2: Open the “Go To” Toolbar with Ctrl+G

Press Ctrl+G on your keyboard. This keyboard shortcut opens the “Go To” toolbar at the top of your Word document.

Step 3: Type “\page” and Hit Enter

In the text field that appears, type “\page” without the quotation marks. Then hit the Enter key.

This will select the entire page your cursor is currently on. You'll see the page highlight in blue.

Step 4: Press Delete to Erase the Page

With the full page selected, simply press the Delete key on your keyboard.

Poof—the whole page disappears! This removes all text, images, tables, and other elements on that page.

And just like that, you've successfully deleted a page in Word on your Windows machine. The remaining pages will join together, closing the gap.

Delete a Page in Word on Mac

The process is very similar for Mac users running Microsoft Word. Follow these steps to delete a page on Mac:

Step 1: Navigate to the Page You Want to Remove

Click anywhere on the page you want to delete to position your cursor there.

Step 2: Open the “Go To” Toolbar with Option+Command+G

Press and hold Option+Command+G on your keyboard. This opens the “Go To” toolbar.

Step 3: Type “\page” and Hit Enter

In the text box, type “\page” without the quotes. Press the Enter key on your keyboard.

This selects the full page for deletion. You'll see it highlighted.

Step 4: Press Delete to Eradicate the Page

With the page selected, press the Delete key to instantly remove the page.

All of the page's contents will vanish into thin air! The surrounding pages will join together seamlessly with no blank space.

And that's all you need to know to delete an entire page in Microsoft Word on a Mac.

Delete a Page Using the Thumbnail Pane

Both Windows and Mac Microsoft Word have another way to delete a full page—using the thumbnail pane.

Here's how:

Step 1: Open the Thumbnail Pane

Click on the “View” tab in the Word toolbar, then click “Thumbnails” to open the thumbnail pane.

This displays miniature previews of all the pages in your document.

Step 2: Right-click the Page You Want to Delete

In the thumbnail preview pane, right-click directly on the thumbnail of the page you want to remove.

This brings up a drop-down menu.

Step 3: Select Delete Page

Click “Delete Page” in the menu that appears.

This immediately deletes the entire page and its contents. The surrounding pages close the gap where that page used to be.

Pros of Using the Thumbnail Pane

Deleting by the thumbnail preview has some advantages:

• See a bird's-eye view of your full document.
• Easily identify which exact page you want to delete.
• Delete non-consecutive pages.

So if you prefer visuals or need to remove multiple separate pages, use the thumbnail pane method.

What Gets Deleted When You Remove a Page?

Deleting a page in Word eradicates everything on that page. This includes:

• Main text contents
• Images, charts, and graphs
• Tables or other embedded elements
• Text boxes and sidebars
• Headers, footers, and page numbers
• Formatting like page margins and orientation

The entire page gets wiped out instantly. All the other pages remain fully intact and reconnect after the deletion.

This is a much cleaner way to delete a page versus manually selecting everything and hitting backspace. With the Ctrl/Command+G method, you don't have to worry about removing individual elements or tweaking formatting.

When You Should Delete Pages in Word

Here are common scenarios where deleting a full page in a Word doc can be useful:

Removing draft pages: Early in the writing process, you may create disposable draft pages for planning or experimenting with ideas. Once you've finished the final draft, promptly delete these working pages.

Erasing sensitive information: If you type confidential data like passwords or personal details on a page, swiftly delete the entire page to wipe that data. Don't leave it lingering.

Deleting unnecessary pages: Sometimes you add pages that end up not being needed in the final document. Delete them for a cleaner file.

Making major revisions: If you rewrite a section and the new version ends up shorter, delete the outdated pages.

Removing blank pages: Any accidental blank pages can be zapped away with the delete page function.

Fixing formatting issues: Glitchy page breaks or margins might force you to delete the problem pages and re-add them fresh.

As you can see, deleting full Word pages can be quite useful while editing documents. Keep the handy keyboard shortcuts in mind the next time you need to remove pages.

Caution: Deleted Pages Can't Be Recovered

A word of warning: Once you delete a page in Word, it is permanently gone. Make sure to save your document before deleting any pages, in case you change your mind!

Unlike deleting text, Word does not store deleted pages in a clipboard or offer an “undo” option to retrieve them. The contents are erased from the document completely.

So be absolutely certain you want to get rid of a page before deleting it. If you think you might want a copy later, either:

• Copy/paste the contents onto a new page before deleting.
• Save a version beforehand.
• Email yourself the document before deleting anything.

This gives you a backup in case you need to salvage anything from that page later on.

Try Deleting Pages in Microsoft Word Now

Now you're an expert on how to delete an entire page in Microsoft Word with just a few clicks!

On Windows, use the handy Ctrl+G shortcut. On Mac, Option+Command+G does the trick.

You also learned how to delete pages visually using the thumbnail pane—excellent for scrubbing multiple pages at once.

The next time you're editing a Word document and need to remove pages, use one of these quick methods. Your document will be cleaner and more polished in no time.

So start deleting those unnecessary pages today. And if you ever make a mistake, at least you have the proper precautions to recover or undo your changes.